How do I choose the right pump for my pool?

Recently, when talking to potential customers, the power of the filter pump is often discussed. Many of them insist that the pump be as powerful as possible, because that would filter the water faster and more efficiently.

I decided to write this article to refute the claims that the filter pump should be as powerful as possible.

The problem is that over time, the practice of offering pumps that are more powerful than necessary has become established. This is done by companies that sell technical equipment for swimming pools, and they do it in order to beat the competition by offering their customers a more powerful pump than that of the competing company at the same price. The only goal of such companies is to sell their goods without caring whether such a pump would really be suitable for the given pool.

The question “how powerful is your pool pump” has become popular, and not how efficiently it works.

I have also heard claims that when the pump is more powerful it can run for a shorter time and thus save electricity. This is not true, because when the pump is not working, the pool gets dirty faster, there is a greater chance that the water will turn green. If you choose the right pump, it can even run continuously and will consume less electricity than a more powerful pump that runs for a shorter time.

How do I calculate how powerful the pump should be for my pool?

Example: If the pool has a water volume of 20 cubic meters, this water volume must be filtered at least twice a day, that is, 2 x 20 cubic meters = 40 cubic meters per day.

40 cubic meters/8 hours = 5 cubic meters/h pump power.

When choosing a pump, look at the pump power at 8 meters of water column. Many sellers list the maximum pump power, which can be misleading because the filter always reduces the pump power. Always ask for pump diagrams that show the actual parameters.

The most important factor in any pool filter pump is not its initial price, but at what price it will do its job in the long run.