Bob talks about "The REAL story about pool pumps..."

You may be tempted to replace an existing pump with one of greater size or horsepower. Prospective customers are often sold equipment based on the claim that "bigger" is always "better." This just couldn't be farther from the truth.

The truth of the matter is that with today's efficiencies and higher performance characteristics of both motors and wet ends, you may actually be able to use a smaller pump to accomplish the same task, or even pump more water with less energy. Most of the full rate pool pumps today are more than adequate, yet we still find people installing 2hp, 2.5hp even 3hp pumps with only 1.5" plumbing.

When choosing a pump, you must be sure that it will meet the task at hand. At the same time, you must be careful not to exceed the recommended flow rate for the plumbing, filter and heater. This is a good time to think about replacing the equipment plumbing all together if it is not 2" in size. By replacing the smaller 1.5" plumbing with 2", it will provide the least amount of restriction, and will actually increase water flow considerably, using the same pump size.

Choosing a pump that is too small will result in poor filtration and surface skimming, excessively long filter cycles and in the case of a spa, poor action from the hydrotherapy jets. Some pool equipment works well in spas, but no spa equipment belongs on a pool.

You must also remember that as dirt is removed by the filter, the pressure goes up, increasing dynamic head and slowing flow rate. Therefore, you must allow for that increase in pressure when choosing a pump. Having a large oversized filter and a properly sized pump for the plumbing is crucial in maintaining a swimming pool. 

Choosing a pump that is too large can result in damage to the plumbing and equipment. It can also result in cavitation, which can seriously damage the pump itself.

Cavitation is the formation of bubbles in the water, very near the impeller, that occurs when the water is intensely vibrated. As the bubbles pop, shock waves are created within the pump that not only make noise but also burst with enough force to damage the impeller and other pump parts. Pressures caused by cavitation have been calculated to be in the range of 30,000 psi! If your pump is noisy when it's running, you probably have some cavitation due to the plumbing or filter being too small, reducing the amount of water flow.

Cavitation occurs when the discharge capacity of the pump exceeds the supply of water available. The vacuum created within the pump is enough to literally suck the oxygen out of the water, causing bubbles to form. The condition can occur when you install a pump that is too large for the suction side of the recirculation system or when there is an excessively long suction line.

An oversized pump can also create excessive flow, which can cause erosion of the system's piping. According to NSF and IAPMO standards, the flow rate in 1 1/2-inch pipe should never exceed 8 feet per second for copper and 10 feet per second for PVC.

A flow rate of 50 gpm in 1 1/2-inch pipe is equal to 7.9 feet per second. A flow rate of 60 gpm in 1 1/2-inch pipe is equal to 9.3 feet per second.

Never install a pump that is too large for the plumbing system. Your wasting money and not gaining anything except a noisy pool pump!

Likewise, overdriving a filter can damage filter grids, cartridge elements, manifolds and fittings and can also make a sand or D.E. filter inefficient. Excessive flow through a heater can erode the heat exchanger and heat sink.

So when it comes time to replace a pool pump, the key factor should be performance rather than size. Determine the flow requirements of the system, then consult the pump curves provided by one or more manufacturers to choose a pump that meets your performance needs.

The new pumps available make it even easier to size to your plumbing. With a new variable speed pump, you can adjust the power of the pump accordingly. These new variable speed pumps are also extremely quiet, and operate at 30%-90%* less power!

The best thing for your pool, and your electric bill, could be a new pump and plumbing system. Contact us today for a no obligation visit and we will be happy to provide you a bid for your pool pump. The new pumps are here, there quiet, and they cost less to operate. Plus, it will be installed by a professional to last for years of trouble free operation.

*The IntelliFlo VS-3050 and IntelliPro™ VS-3050 pumps utilize the same high efficiency motor as the IntelliFlo VF and have the same energy saving potential when properly applied by a pool professional.

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