Calculating Pool Pump Run Time

Every pool has a pool pump, the big question is: How long should I run my pool pump? The pump can be one of the largest energy consumers in your home, especially in peak season. So you don’t want to run your pump longer than you need to. Let’s look at why the pool pump is important and then how to calculate how long to run the pump for your particular pool.  ​

What the Pool Pump Does 
Understanding what the pool pump does for your pool and how it is important will help you to understand why/how long you need to run the pump. A pool pump is akin to a heart, it circulates water out of and back into the pool. As it circulates or pumps the water it distributes water balancing chemicals and filters the water. It is recommended that the pool water is completely turned over (all of the water is fully circulated) at least once throughout the course of the day. Full circulation helps to ensure that your pool water stays clean and clear as the chemicals get evenly distributed. Not having a full circulation is high risk for unbalanced water and algae growth leading to unsafe swimming conditions and pool surface damage.  

Calculating Pool Pump Run Time 
To get to the calculation of how long to run your pool pump you must find the volume of your pool and the turnover rate of your pump first.  

• Finding the Volume of Your Pool 
  

You need to know how many gallons of water are in the pool to help determine your pump run time. To find the volume of your pool:  
For Square and Rectangle Single-Depth Pools: Multiply the length, width, and depth by 7.5 (length x width x depth x 7.5= volume) 
For Square and Rectangle Pools with Varied Depths: First determine the average depth then multiply the length, width, and average depth by 7.5 (length x width x average depth x 7.5= volume) 
For Round Pools: Multiply 3.14, the radius of the pool squared (radius x radius), and the average depth by 7.5 (3.14 x radius squared x average depth x 7.5= volume) 

• Finding the Turnover Rate 
  

Once you know your pool’s volume, you can then find the turnover rate. To do this you want to find the gallons per minute (GPM). Here is how you calculate it.  

First divide the total pool volume by 8 to get the gallons per hour 
Next take the gallons per hour and divide it by 60 to get the gallons per minute 

• Finding the Pool Pump Run Time 
  

Now that you have the volume and gallons per minute (turnover rate) you can find out how long you should be running your pool pump every day.  

First you can either take the turnover rate (GPM) and multiply it by 60 to get the GPH or  if you remember the GPH from earlier calculations you can just plug it into step two 

Next divide the total volume of the pool by the GPH to get the total run time of your pool pump.  

Example: 20,000 gallon pool with a 40 GPM turnover 
40 x 60= 24000 gallons per hour (GPH) 
20,000/ 24,000= 8.3 hours or the hours per day the pump should be run  

Now you are all set to run your pool pump for the proper amount of time to help keep your pool water balanced. For more pool care help and tips please browse our website or contact us anytime.  
 
 
 
 
 

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