This is a basic overview of what a variable speed pump is, the benefits for installing one onto your pool, as well as some things to look out for. We recommend having a pool technician come out to your property to assess the equipment you have to determine if replacing your pump with a VSP is best for you.
A vital part of a pool’s health is the circulation of the water, and the piece of equipment that performs this task is the pump. A pump has two major components: a plastic housing usually referred to as a pot or basket strainer that collects large debris before it goes further in the unit and a metal motor that turns the impeller inside the pump allowing water to move throughout the pool’s system. The pump is the first piece of equipment the water will run through on your pool’s equipment pad, before being pushed into the rest of the equipment, and back through the return line to enter the pool once again. In most pool setups, the pump pulls water from the pool through the skimmer that can be accessed by a hole in the deck, and the main drain, a plastic grate located inside the pool, in the center or at the deepest part of the body of water. (For more information on your pool’s circulation system.)
The pump is the heart of any pool’s system and just like a heart requires electricity to operate. During the summer, your pool’s pump, when operating at the correct amount of time during the day, on average, consumes more electricity than any other appliance except your air conditioner.
Because of this, in recent years, companies have focused on developing pumps that are more energy efficient. They have managed this with one simple solution: by adding a computer to the drivetrain. This computer acts as a timer as well as a kind of gas pedal that has made the motor capable of running at different speeds. These computerized pumps are called Variable Speed Pumps or VSP for short. Unlike their predecessors which could only operate at one speed whatever horsepower (HP) it is rated to, these VSP are programmable pumps that allow you to choose how long the pump operates at whichever HP you desire up to the unit’s max rating.
The most considerable reason pool owners turn to using a Variable Speed Pump is the amount of savings that can accrue in regards to their energy bill. The kilowatts-hour (kWh) is what the energy company tracks in order to charge their customers. The more kWh consumed, the bigger the electric bill will be. The kWh your pump contributes will be reduced when you replace your single speed pump with a VSP. This is because a VSP, when properly used, will take into account the turn over rate and can even be dialed into how many gallons are allowed to flow through the pump per hour (GPH). This means that because the VSP speed, or HP, can be reduced below the current pump in operation, it will reduce the amount of electricity being used. It will also put less pressure on the system by using a GPM the system requires at a rate that is energy efficient. For example, when a 1HP pump that runs ten hours a day on a 10,000 gallon pool for a six month season is replaced with a VSP, there is a 91% reduction in kWh. We have provided a link to Pentair’s pool pump savings calculator so you can put in your specific pump to see what your energy savings could look like. All you need to know is the horsepower, how many hours a day you currently run your pump, and the gallon size of the pool.
Pool Pump Savings Calculator | Pool Maintenance Cost Calculator | Pentair
There are also times that energy companies will provide rebates when you replace your pump with a VSP, or even a pool pump manufacturer, like Pentair, will offer a rebate on installing one of their pumps. Please check with your utility company or pool care professional for any rebates they may offer when you are ready to get a new pool pump.
As technology improves, pool owners desire equipment that is more modern. Some of the features of a Variable Speed Pump include quieter motors, more control and automation as well as convenience of use. Since there is complete control over what speed the pump runs at, an optimal flow rate can be achieved for the specific pool equipment that is setup. Some pools need higher speeds for the water to flow through the solar plumbing on the roof, while other setups need the water moving at a minimum speed for a salt cell to turn on during summer. These VSPs also can connect to automation panels to be controlled via Apps on smartphones. Automation panels make it so equipment pads can be operated easily with your smartphone by automatically turning valves, changing speeds, turning on heating equipment, etc. Your pool’s features can all be programmed into one panel to turn on the “Mode” you desire. Phone Apps allows pool owners the convenience of control over their equipment pad without having to be in their backyard. Also compared to single speed pumps, VSPs are quiet and allow leisure time in the backyard to be relaxing. While the pump may be running for more hours in the day, it is at a lower speed so there is no loud motor sound disturbing the tranquil scene. VSPs are helping pool owners enjoy their pool time experience.
Pool owners should also be aware a national standard has been in effect since July 2021 that requires manufacturers to supply pumps that are compliant with minimum energy efficiency standards. Prior to the Department of Energy (DOE) publishing the direct final rule for energy conservation standards for dedicated purpose pool pumps, residential pools could be installed with single speed pumps of various horsepower, dual speed pumps, or VSPs. Since July 2021, manufacturers must now only produce pumps that are in compliance with the dedicated purpose pool pump standards, which excludes many single speed pumps. Below is a link that takes you to the Federal Register that shows this new rule.
Until there are significant improvements of single speed pumps in regards to energy efficiency, VSPs and some Dual Speed Pumps are the only ones in compliance with this new regulation. So, if the pump in your backyard no longer functions, There is a high likelihood that a VSP will be installed to replace it.
While a Variable Speed Pump can come with many benefits, not every pool will reap them all. A pool that has solar panels on a roof will still need to keep the pump running at a high speed for the sun-bearing hours of the day to allow the water to reach the roof, warm up in the panels and make it back down to the pool. The only time the pool owner will see significant energy savings with their electric company, is during the time of year they have the solar lines closed off. The same goes for a pool owner that would like certain water features to be on regularly. While the VSP can achieve optimal speeds for whatever equipment you have, this does not always translate into huge energy savings all year round. To see if a VSP is right for your pool please click below to have us give you a quote and answer any questions you may have regarding variable speed pumps.
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