When it comes to the cleanliness and health of the water in custom pools, pool filters and pumps are enormously important items. The pump, as the name suggests, pumps water through the system while the filter helps remove harmful contaminants as water flows through it, keeping it safe to swim in.
At Dolphin Pools & Spas, our custom pools come with high-quality pumps and filters. One of the most common questions we get from our custom pool owners: How long do I need to run the pump for? Let’s go over all the basics you need to know.
Turnover Rate
The turnover rate for a given pool refers to the amount of time, in hours, it takes for the pump and filter system to cycle all the water through the pool exactly once. For most standard-size pools, the turnover rate is about eight hours or less, preferably under six hours. For wading pools it’s two hours or less, and for smaller spa pools, it should be under an hour.
Keep in mind, though, that your turnover rate will vary based on a few factors: The number of swimmers, whether the pool has gotten lots of sun, and how warm the weather is. Hotter climates, lots of sun and more swimmers than average will require longer turnover rates, and therefore longer periods running the pump and filter.
Basic Formula
As a basic starting point, assuming a roughly average number of swimmers and an average amount of sun and heat, the formula you use for calculating how long you need to run the pump is as follows: Gallons of water in the pool / gallons filtered per hour = hours for a complete turnover. If you don’t know your pool’s volume or how quickly it filters per hour, you can use a basic online pool volume calculator or your operating manual.
A basic example: You have a 17,000-gallon pool with a filter that circulates 2,400 gallons per hour (this is about the average speed of a pump for a pool this size). Using this formula, you’d divide 17,000 by the 2,400 gallons per hour, leaving you with a figure of 7.5 – it will take about seven and-a-half hours for this particular pool to go through a full turnover.
For more on the pool pump and filter, or to find out about how to get a beautiful new swimming pool in your home, speak to the pros at Dolphin Pools & Spas today.