Australians living in Australia- A country that has beaches and ocean-related fun activities, having a swimming pool in their home is like a simple requirement. Having a standard pool to relax and hold an awesome pool party is the classic Australian Summer goal. But having a swimming pool is not enough, you should know what works well for it. And this is where the talk of pool pumps emerges.
Nobody likes to have dirty and bacteria-rich water in the pool; thus, swimming pool owners are involved in making the water crystal clear, where the focus is on adding chemicals and doing regular tasks such as vacuuming and brushing off the walls of your swimming pool and maintenance. In this case, if your pool misses having the right-sized pump, then it can be a serious concern. When purchasing a new in-ground swimming pool, you need to determine what size pool pump is required.
What is a pool pump?
Pool pumps are the “heart” of your pool system because they circulate chemicals uniformly throughout your pool and successfully disinfect the pool water. Pumps are used to move water from the pool to the filter, heater, and chlorinator, where it is cleaned, heated and disinfected before returning to the pool. Pool pumps guarantee the proportionate distribution of the chemicals used in the pool, preventing the growth of different bacteria and water-borne infectious diseases.
Components of a pool pump
Pool pumps are simple devices. They are in two major categories, and these are:
It is what you see at first glance and holds the pump together. It has a housing (usually plastic composite) Strainer Lid or Pool Pump Lid, Strainer Baskets or Pool Pump Baskets, Gaskets and Seals, and seal plate
All of your pool pump’s working parts are found in the drive train. It has a pool pump motor, impeller, diffuser, impeller ring, and impeller screw.
What is the importance of investing in the right-sized pool?
If your swimming pool’s pump is too small for the job, the water will not circulate as frequently as it should, your pool vacuum won’t pull up as much suction, and your skinners won’t be able to clean the pool’s surface as thoroughly as they should. People frequently buy larger pumps than they actually need because they believe that more is better. But doing so not only results in higher operating costs, but you also run the risk of overwhelming your filter system. You can turn the water over in your pool at the recommended frequency of times per day with the help of an efficient and properly sized pool pump.
Adding to this, using wrong sized pool pump can cause your wallet to suffer. In Australia, the average electricity cost for a pool owner includes 18% for swimming pool pumps. From October 1, 2022, Owners will be able to base their purchase choices of pool pumps based on the label for swimming pool pumps. These labels will help you find the best options, save energy, save money, and reduce emissions.
From this point forward, registrants (usually makers, importers, or providers of pumps for spa or pool systems) are required to register any pumps with a specific power range they sell in Australia. This is why having a pool pump that is the right size is crucial, but sadly, many pool owners don’t have the right one.
What are the types of pumps for your pool?
Basically, the type of pump depends on the pump speed and its location on the ground. Let’s start with speed.
The single-speed pump only runs at one speed and can range in size between 140 and 500 litres per minute (LPM), depending on your pool size. With a single-speed pool pump, an 8 m pool bank, for instance, could run you about AUD 800 a year. The truth is that single-speed pool pumps initially cost the least, but over the course of a year or two, they frequently end up costing the most because they add to the increase in energy costs.
Two-speed pumps have a low-speed option for daily filtration and circulation and a high-speed setting for manually vacuuming or backwashing media filters. Two-speed pool pumps are fixed, but they use a lot less energy than their single-speed ones; therefore, it’s crucial to choose the perfect one for your pool. Since the invention of variable-speed pumps, two-speed pumps are fading from purchasers’ shopping lists and pool shops.
A variable-speed pool pump allows you to have multiple settings: low, medium and high. Backwashing the media filter needs a quick push-button change to the high-speed setting. A variable speed pump will cost you around AUD 200 per year with a bonus of a pool filter that is efficient at removing particulates and nasties from your water. Along with that, variable speed pump tends to last longer before needing replacement.
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Energy-efficient pool pump
An energy-efficient pump is a sophisticated or variable-speed pool pump. These energy-efficient pumps are specifically created to operate at slower filtration speeds than conventional pumps.
Above the waterline is where in-ground pool pumps are located. In fact, the 1.5 hp pool pump is becoming more and more well-liked. Depending on the pool’s size, a medium-head pump with dual or variable speeds will do. Gravity and air pressure, which constantly operate against inground pool pumps, are among their natural foes.
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Above-the-ground pool pump
Pumps for above-ground pools are installed well below the waterline, at the bottom of the pool, as opposed to their in-ground counterparts. The pump must continually be primed due to its location. The possibility of gravity-fed flow may make it possible to employ fewer powerful motors and do away with the requirement for a diffuser.
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Low-Head swimming pool pumps
These pumps are made to work with a water feature to quickly cycle the water. It is not compatible with filters, although it performs admirably in high-flow water situations.
They are the most prevalent pool pump kinds, simple to install, and compatible with the majority of plumbing systems. Both above-ground and inground pools can use these pumps.
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High-Head Submersible pumps
These pool pumps are used in pools that have water features, slides, and spas.
Factors to look for when choosing a pool pump.
Basically, you need to check on the following factors when looking for the right size pool pump.
- How many Gallons of Water is in Your Pool? (For this, you can simply Use the formula of “Length x width x depth x 7.5 = volume (in gallons).”)
- What is the Minimum and Maximum Flow Rate Necessary to Filter Your Pool Efficiently?
- The Target Flow Rate that is important to Filter Your Pool Efficiently
- Your Pool Pump set or model’s Performance (Flow) Rating
Steps to Calculate the Right Size Pool Pump for Your Swimming Pool
Step 1: Find Out the Water Volume of Your Swimming Pool.
To come up with a pool volume in gallons for your swimming pool, you have to consider several pool dimensions, viz., the shape of your swimming pool, length and width of your swimming pool, the average depth of your pool’s shallow end, and the average depth of your pool’s deep end.
Step 2: Determine the Minimum possible Flow Rate to Filter Your Pool Efficiently
Once you have the gallonage of your swimming pool, this computation is quite simple. The formula is as follows. Pool gallonage x 2 ÷ daily hourly run time ÷ 60 (minutes). The end result is your minimum flow rate which is measured in Gallon Per Minute.
Step 3: Establish the Maximum Flow Rate Necessary to Filter Your Pool
One should consider the filter surface area to establish the max flow rate needed for your swimming pool. For further information, You can get the information on the label of your pool filter or by checking the website of the pool pump manufacturer.
Step 4: Make sure to Target Flow Rate for Your New Pool Pump
In this step, add your minimum necessary flow rate calculation with the maximum necessary flow rate calculation and divide that number by 2. The end result will be your target flow rate for your new pump.
Step 5: See the time when to Total Dynamic Head (TDH) or Plumbing Resistance
You must think about things like the distance between your pool’s filtration equipment and the pool, any height increases required for your plumbing, the size of your plumbing pipes and any bends in that plumbing, as well as equipment like filters and pool heaters when determining what your pool needs. When all of this is taken into account, then you will get Total Dynamic Head (TDH). If your swimming pool’s equipment is positioned very far away from your pool or if the water must travel a great distance uphill from your pump to reach your pool, you must consider getting help from a pool professional who can help you determine what size pool pump you need.
Step 6: Opt for a Pool Pump that Meets Your Calculated Target Flow Rate
After knowing your target flow rate, you must look for the best pool pump model.
What about Calculating Pool Pump Costs?
How much does a pool pump cost? Well, the answer depends on a few elements. Some are explained below.
Pump Type
Factors such as Durability, longevity, usability, and energy efficiency are all impacted by the various types of pool pumps and their distinctive features. Each of these kinds of pool pumps functions well in particular kinds of pools. Therefore, you must identify your pool type and locate the ideal pump.
Pump Size
Determining the correct-size pump for the pool is critical for efficient water filtration.
Pump Cost
The cost depends on the brand, but always go for better quality pool pumps than just only brand,
Pool Type
The cost of new pool pump installation is affected by the type of pool:above-ground pool pump, inground pool pump, water feature pump, and Spa pump.
There are, however, extra expenses and factors. Repair and replacement costs, maintenance expenses, and any customisations can bring additional expenses to your pool pumps. Consider variable-speed pump and energy-efficient pool pump to save a considerable amount on energy bills in the future. But knowing the expenses is not enough; we must have the idea to save money on Pool Pump Costs. How? Well, the following things can be done to save money without compromising on the features you want.
For Maintenance
- Run your pump at night, usually between 10 pm and 7 am, as most energy providers have lower rates at night.
- You can switch to a solar blanket instead of a heater.
- The best way to cut off these maintenance costs is Regular Pool Maintenance.
Why clean the basket of the pool pump’s strainer housing?
The flow through the pump will be reduced and the circulation in the pool will suffer if that strainer basket fills up too much. Additionally, if the strainer housing and pool pump are overheated by running the pump for an extended period of time while the strainer basket is full, it may be necessary to make an expensive repair. This means that you should empty the pump strainer basket at least once every week.
What is the Special Consideration for Saltwater pools?
The majority of swimming pool pump makers have even employed more plastic on pool pumps than ever before in order to increase their resistance to Salt, chlorine, and other types of corrosion. You can definitely become stressed out by a saltwater pool. In fact, Salt can be corrosive, and on top of that, people add more corrosive chlorine as a sanitiser and causing issues. When performing maintenance on your pump, wash it down with a moist cloth if you spill a significant amount of salty or chlorinated water on it.
For customisation
Get multiple estimates from reputable pool professionals in your area, see your budget or needs to help you pick the best professionals in the pool industry.
What more to save costs on swimming pools?
- Three main pool types are available for in-ground pools in Australia – vinyl, fibreglass and concrete. Paying attention to their maintenance is important to divide the budget. Among these three, Concrete pools are porous and become home to bacteria and algae; these pools ask you for acid wash from time to time. It gives you tasks on maintenance. So, you can choose which pool to construct and reduce your expenses.
- Choose an above-ground pool with a simple, geometric pool design can be a good option.
- You can buy and install your pool during the off-season.
When do I Need a New Pool Pump?
If your pool pump has the following signs, then it’s time for the new pump to make an entry. Let’s discuss the green flags to get a new pool pump.
- When your pool makes rumbling sounds(caused when the pump is vibrating excessively) or grinding sounds(due to old and loose bearings)
- When your pool starts to make water leaks.
- When you have a loose or dislodged pump.
- Pool pumps’ lifespan is 8 and 12 years. However, if your pool pump is around 10 years old, it is best to replace it with an energy-efficient pump.
Extra Tips When Using a Pool Pump
- Never operate a pool pump without water.
- Never use a pool pump without considering the pool dimensions.
- You can also spend money on a pool pump timer, a low-cost device that will simplify your pool system and help you save money on operational costs.
- You will need a bigger pump if you are running a pressure-side cleaning system, in-floor cleaning system, solar heating system, or shared spa.
- Don’t avoid the formation of clogging in the suction channels of the pool pump.
- Never forget to keep the pool pump in a place where air circulation to make the engine cool faster and prevent overheating.
- Never forget to keep the outlet valve in the closed position when you start the pool pump. But after the pool pump reaches its operating speed, the outlet valve can be opened.
- Choose a quiet pump to maintain good relations with your neighbours.
- Check to see if your pool pump may conflict with other devices, like a sand filter.
- If the manufacturer doesn’t advise differently, match the pipe size when putting a new pump on an existing pool system.
Call the Pros- Jam Pool Removals
When in confusion or getting your pool removed, Jampool Removals is the name you can trust. For this, the team of Jam Pool Removals will bring everything they need to remove your pool, including the tools and chemicals. You can enjoy the advantages of a picture-perfect yard without having to spend your free time caring for or cleaning your pool when you work with a professional pool removal service to maintain and remove your pool.
Contact us if you are looking for the best pool removal service in Australia. We will get back to you as soon as possible.
