North Syracuse
Oneida
Cortland
Auburn
Fulton
North Syracuse
Oneida
Cortland
Auburn
Fulton
A backyard pool is a great investment for family fun, leisure, and exercise. But your swimming pools pump can consume a lot of energy, which adds up to more costly utility bills. However, new federal regulations from the Department of Energy (DOE) are making swimming pools more energy efficient in the future.
According to the new DOE regulations, any pool pump manufactured in the United States or imported into the U.S. after July 2021 must meet specific standards for energy efficiency. Most single-speed pumps won’t comply with these standards, so variable pumps will become increasingly common. Plus, the regulations apply to pool pumps that use both sand filters and cartridge filters. Below, Cannon Pools and Spas offers some insight into variable-speed pumps and their advantages.
There are three types of pool pumps: single speed, dual speed, and variable speed. Also known as a multi-speed pump, a variable-speed pump gives the owner control over the unit’s settings. You can turn down the speed to help save energy when your pool is mostly unused and turn it up during high-use times, like a week of hot weather during the summer. A variable-speed pump has a more energy-efficient motor than a single- or dual-speed pump. And many models are also programmable, so you can set them to run at high speeds or low speeds at different times of the day.
A multi-speed pump offers many advantages. The biggest benefit is the inherent cost savings: a variable pump can reduce your utility bills considerably. If you set the pump to higher speeds only when you’re cleaning or heating the pool, and run it at lower speeds the rest of the time, you’ll save a lot of money in energy costs.
The level of resistance in the pool’s filtration system can affect the pump speed. If you have a sand or diatomaceous earth (DE) filter, the valves in these filters will create resistance that requires the pump to work harder. In contrast, a cartridge filter doesn’t create a lot of resistance within the system. So, if you want a significant reduction in your energy bill, use both a variable-speed pump and a cartridge filter.
“A variable pump is a slightly higher investment upfront, but people who use their pool regularly will likely make that back in savings on their energy bills within two to three swim seasons”, explains Ari Malzman, President of Cannon Pools and Spas.
But that’s not all – multi-speed pumps are often much quieter, so you won’t be bothered by the distracting sound of a pump running when you and your guests are trying to relax in the water. A variable pump motor also has a longer usable life on average than a single-speed pump motor.
If you currently have a single-speed pool pump, you are not necessarily required to replace it. However, since the new DOE regulation went into effect in July 2021, it will become increasingly difficult to find single-speed models for sale. The existing inventory of these pumps will eventually run out, and new ones won’t be manufactured in the U.S. So, if your pump stops working and you need to replace it, you’ll probably end up buying a variable pump in the future anyway. Homeowners who are getting new pools installed will find that variable pumps are now standard for new installations.
If you’re ready to upgrade to a variable-speed pump, Cannon Pools and Spas is here to help. “Our experts at all five Cannon locations can help a pool owner do the math and choose the right size pump for their pool setup,” says Malzman.
Cannon Pools and Spas proudly serves customers throughout Central New York with locations in Oneida, North Syracuse, Cortland, Fulton, and Auburn. For more information about our products and services, contact us today.