3 Steps To Choosing A New Pool Pump

www.swimmingpoo... - When choosing a new pool pump to buy, many pool owners make the mistake of thinking bigger is better when really the opposite is true when it comes to the filtration pump for your pool. There is not always a perfectly sized pump for your filter or your pool system and one of the ways you deal with this other than being aware of the maximum design flow rate is by installing and using a flow meter to monitor the rate of water moving through your plumbing system.
www.swimmingpoo...
Step 1: • Pipe Size For New Pool...
Step 2: • Filter Flow Rate For A...
#poolpump #pooltips #poolmaintenance #swimmingpool

[@BreakingPintMedia]

Wow...what an amazingly infopacked but easy to digest video! I currently have a SuperFlo VS 1.5hp pump that was in service until it failed this past winter since 2017 (which I think was a really good run!). I'm currently shopping for a new pump and kept seeing all of these 2+ HP pumps...and wondering if I should "upgrade". This video allowed me to understand that my current setup was perfectly matched to my filtration (I have a Pentair Clean & Clear Plus 320 that's rated for up to 120gpm) and 2x 1.5" suction/return lines. After digesting the information in your video...I think I'll be sticking with the same specifications. Thank you!

[@geewill1251]

I'll just empty my cart now that had a 3hp pump waiting to purchase lol. Thanks for this

[@frankcampo6636]

THANK YOU for sharing your knowledge. This video was VERY helpful!!

[@creamofbotulismsoup9900]

Curious if you have any experience with ESPA Silenplus pumps, or if you can comment on their quality. They aren't too common in North America, they are made in Spain, but they look like a good option, with WEF numbers that beat Hayward's TriStar pumps running on 230v, a 4 year warranty, and very good prices. Aside from the Silenplus, the Jacuzzi's 1.85 hp pump (Hayward's TriStar with a custom wetend) is another one I'm looking at. Was considering Black & Decker's pumps, seems like a good deal especially with the warranty, but after some digging, I found the motor and controller are an Alibaba special (around $200 if you order in bulk), only the wet end or at least enough of it for it to count as made in the US, is made in the US. The control board seems to be the primary failure point them, though the control boards are cheap so when it inevitably fails, and B&D doesn't honor the warranty it's not a big deal.

[@Peter-Alexander]

Hi, I recently bought a ESPA Silen S 100 (18 cubic metres per hour) and am happy with the quality and it is quite silent too. The filter is also easy to clean and the lid closes very good. Hope this helps... I will combine this pump with the iSaver+ 1100 frequency inverter to turn it in a VSP in the near future.

[@MoeCholla]

What do you think about the 1.5 HP SuperFlo vs. the 3 HP IntelliFlo in terms of flow vs. energy costs? Is it more cost effective to run the IntelliFlo at a lower RPM vs. the SuperFlo while achieving the same flow rate or does the smaller SuperFlo pump running at a higher RPM cost less to run? Or would the answer vary depending on the target flow rate needed?

[@Swimmingpoolsteve]

The answer depends on the flow the pool needs and the resistance to flow within the system. The smaller pump is probably more efficient to run, since filtration is largely achieved at low RPM values, however there is overlap between effectiveness of the pumps. Most pools can not handle 3hp of flow, usually due to filters with low max flow rates, so using a 3hp that you never run on higher speeds seems counterproductive. Though I like the Intelliflo more pump vs pump I prefer the smaller size of the Superflo if we are talking about filtration pumps for "regular" sized pools. Intelliflo for me are for feature rich pools with spas or water features etc. where more flow is needed.

[@creamofbotulismsoup9900]

This is something I've been wondering too. Some of the info I've seen for the variable speed pumps would suggest that running a 3hp at half or even 3/4 speed would use significantly less power and the flow charts I've seen suggest that 3hp pump would flow enough water for my needs at those reduced power levels. The thing is NO ONE publishes power draw numbers for any of the flow rates except the maximum, nor have I seen anyone do any testing. Basic physics would suggest that a 1.5hp would draw about the same amount of power as a 3hp pump that was turned down to flow at the same rate as the 1.5 pump because they're performing the same amount of work, but I'd still like to see some actual data on the subject.

[@JonAKetchum]

Best pool guy on the web.

[@chrislauerbach5572]

Would it make sense to install two VS pumps and run them on the lowest speed to save energy?

[@rogercogar8612]

Hey which is better? Pentair or Hayward?

[@Ericsdetailstop]

Hello Steve; I have semi inground liner pool 30 inch in ground 2 feet above ground 29,000 gallons water. I just upgraded to the pentair 520sq ft cartridge system. My pump is an 2 speed pump should I upgrade to an inground variable speed 2 to 3 hp. Pump . I'm usually on low speeds for about 14 hours a day. You advise sir?

[@valeriohernandez2676]

I have a 60thousand gallon pool and currently a 1.5hp pentar superflow variable speed pump with one suction line(skimmer) and 3 return line. All this pipe lines are 1" 1/2 , with a medium size DE filtration system, i think it a 48 sqf. Since the filtration system is not not big i think im good with a 1.5hp ,or should i maybe change to a larger filtration System since a big pool?

[@moshaq9706]

What size pools would be considered small, medium and large? Thanks

[@danyf3116]

Maybe he'd get more subs if he took the time to answer questions. It seems to be his norm, not answering.

[@JS-jv6rg]

Hello Steve I just bought that exact same pentair pool pump but was originally looking for a 3hp pentair (none available) also variable speed, based of the 33,000gal in ground pool that I have with a 1.5inch piping and a 60sq ft Hayward filter, it also has a spa attached to pool. It has not been installed, would this pump be appropriate for my set up?

[@pinkpalmsmusic]

great info, thank you

[@johnmichaelkarma]

great info

[@NoMaDwG]

Hi Steve, I have a 13500 gal pool with a 320 sq ft pentair clean/clear plus cartridge filter. 2 main drains, 3 jets, 1 skimmer, no water feature. All lines are 2". Will the intelliflo 3hp be okay for my needs?

[@Swimmingpoolsteve]

Very likely it is too powerful for your system. That pump will try to move 180 GPM but your system can only have up to 65 GPM per suction line (which you have two) so this pump is too much

[@guilhermesimao6604]

I have an 900mm or 36" sand filter and i am looking to upgrade the pump, my pool has 40000 gallons and i think an 1,5hp pump is not sufficient for that, what do you think which pump do you recommend?

[@Swimmingpoolsteve]

If you only had to worry about filtering the 1.5hp is enough...but this does not take into consideration the number of pipes and size of the pipes, which are both more important than the motor HP rating. HP is a bad way to measure pump potential. WEF rating is new and helps. But you can also look at flow curve to determine what flow you can expect for a given head resistance, like 30ft, 40ft or 50ft for some common pool examples. Perhaps you need a larger pump. It is a big Pool after all, but you must stay within 6 feet per second of suction line velocity plus under maximum design flow rate for your filter. So much to consider!

[@guilhermesimao6604]

@@Swimmingpoolsteve I dont understand all of that terms but what i can say to you is that, the pump room is below the pool and like 10 meter away, the skimmer line is 2 inch, bottom drain 2.5" and suction line 1.5" return line is 2 and divides to 1.5" , my sand filter is new and has glass media inside

[@Swimmingpoolsteve]

Check the maximum designed flow rate for your filter. Then check the flow curve for each pump you are considering at 30 or 50ft head. This is probably close to what you will get as an educated guess. I bet bigger pumps have too much flow for your filter. But best to check to be sure. Every manufacturer publishes flow curves for every pump they sell

[@guilhermesimao6604]

@@Swimmingpoolsteve So i was checking and my pump ( an old 1.5hp pump) has a rating of 21000 LT/H and my filter can take up to 31000 LT/H so i dont know if a 3hp pump would max it out.

[@justinliang2443]

​@@Swimmingpoolsteve😮

[@msjowitka]

Hi! We want to replace our pump. We have 20 K gallons pool, sand filter with 52 gpm flow, not sure about the pipes- maybe 1.5 inch. Current pump is 1.4 hp. All is hayward. Which pump to buy?

[@Swimmingpoolsteve]

Something small. The 1.5" pipes maximum efficient flow rate is only 38 GPM so anything over this is with significant efficiency loss. Most pool pumps are huge these days. Only a handful of smaller options and you likely should be looking at one of these.

[@msjowitka]

@@Swimmingpoolsteve omg- thank you so much for responding. So my choice is between hayward 0.85hp or 1.65hp. There is no hayward in between this. Please help. Everybody says we should go with 1.65 but I dont know. Or should I go with other brand and look for 1hp?

[@Swimmingpoolsteve]

@@msjowitka There is more that is needed to know that what I can know from a YT comment, so I can not tell you definitively which pump to get. I can tell you that in general I find that 0.85 hp pump too small for most pool applications.

[@msjowitka]

@@Swimmingpoolsteve - Unfortunatelly I cannot calculate feet of head for this pool. We just bought that house and no idea how the pipes run undrr the ground. But at least I know that 0.85 might be too small. Thank you!

[@madmanjack6923]

I have a 30,000 A.G. pool. I just bought a 31" Hayward Pro Series Sand filter, to replace a 200 cartridge filter. I also am upgrading to a 2 hp VS pump. My current suction and return lines are 1.5" Should I upside the piping to 2" Hard pvc? Also, the return eyeballs are 3/4" Was thinking about switching them to 1"

[@sandrajkahn2767]

Steve my pool pumps was smoking…switched off today. Advise me

[@JuanSanchez-tk4vr]

Don't understand you saying DE filters don't have multi -port valves?? They all have multi -ports.

[@Bloodofmyshxdow]

He said “IN THE SAME WAY that a sand filter does” I’m guessing the ones on sand filters are generally designed with more resistance. I know the multiport valve on my DE filter has only 4 positions (filter, waste, backwash and spa boost), but I see the multiport on a lot of sand filters seems to have a lot more positions which may be where the extra resistance comes from. Just my best guess based on what he said and what I’ve seen.

[@chrislauerbach5572]

I am not sure if I got that right. Do I have to pay 25 dollars to get a question answered?

[@Swimmingpoolsteve]

I do have an email consulting service. If you have questions you can reach me that way. I do what I can to answer questions for people in comments and emails etc. But the volumes I get became unmanageable years ago. I don't have a team that works on this stuff. It's just me back here banging away on the keyboard lol!

[@chrislauerbach5572]

@@Swimmingpoolsteve I really understand. Just one idea. What if I install 3 weak pumps instead of one powerful? (Like three 400 Watt pumps for example). Please don't laugh, perhaps a bad idea.

[@universeusa]

👍👏👌🙌🙏🇺🇸

[@darksele1]

OMG this was hard to watch ........ monotanous and preaching to te converted