How to Choose a Swimming Pool Pump

Pool Pump | How to Choose a Swimming Pool Pump

Pool pumps have different flow rates and are matched to filters and to specific applications.

Pools can be as simple as a single pool pump and a filter, or other pools may have several pool pumps operating different systems such as water features, heaters and cleaning systems. Each system will have certain water flow requirements this means pump will need to be matched to its application. This article focuses on selecting the correct filtration pump.

It's not entirely true that filtration pool pumps get matched to the pool size. This is true when you are designing a pool filtration system and size all the equipment for the pool. However, there are big pools with small filters and small pools with big filters. This means we need to look at the filters and then size the pool pump as that the flow rate is correct.

Sand filters are fussy as they like water flowing through them slowly. They have both a minimum and maximum Flow Rate -

• Minimum is to ensure that a decent backwash is achieved to clean the sand within the filter. 
• Maximum is so that the sand inside the filter does not channel.

Channelling of the sand means that instead of dirty water passing through the sand, it drills holes from the top of the sand to the bottom and thereby eliminates filtration. All manufacturers will specify the flow rates for their filters. 
Cartridge filters on the other hand only have a maximum flow rate. As there is no back-washing there is no minimum flow rate required. Cartridge filters handle a much wider range higher flow rates than sand filters and therefore sizing is usually easily done on the pool size.

A large pool with a small filter is where most problems arise. For example, a typical 70,000 litre pool would have a 28 inch Filter and a 1.5 Hp pool Pumps. There are plenty of existing large pools with 21 Inch filters and 25 inch which should be matched with a ¾ Hp or 1 Hp pool pump. In these cases, either the filter will need to be upgraded at the same time or the pump will need to be matched with the filter. This will mean they have to run the system for longer to achieve the correct water turn over. Having an over-sized filter on a smaller pool would also result in an over-sized pool pump. The down side of this scenario is power bills.

With the increased focus on environmentally friendly products there has been a rise in energy efficient pool equipment, mainly focusing on the filtration pump which is the most used. Energy Efficient Pumps dramatically reduce pool operating costs. Energy Efficient Pump are available in different output models from 1 Hp and up to 2 Hp, which allows a wide range of water flow rates. This resolves the problem of oversized filters on small pools as not only can the flow rates be reduced to suit the pool sized, but higher flow rates can be programmed for back washing the oversized filter. Energy Efficient Pump are available in different output models.

Replacing a pool pump is simple. Make sure that it is suitable for the application. Bigger is not better!

www.poolshop.com.au Offers best price and advice. For further information Contact Us by email or Phone 02 9970 5115.  We are happy to answer your pool related questions on how to replace a swimming pool pump.

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