Pumps: Save Money Count Gallons

Save money, count gallons. 

Variable speed pumps are not new any more, chances are you probably already have one at this point. When I first entered this industry, variable speed pumps were not in every backyard. Most San Diegans had old single speed motors that screamed all day and drank enough electricity to keep the San Onofre power plant open. These pumps were loud and inefficient, but They. Were. Durable. On my pool route I still have a handful of pools relying on these old tickers to keep water moving, and they still get it done. The ‘if it aint broke dont fix it’ mindset has saved us a lot of money over the years, however in this case, it probably didn't.

Variable speed (VS) pumps are different from old models because they are able to run at different power levels. The pumps that we work with come sized to handle any and all the demands a pool system might have. They are capable of pushing water high on the roof for a solar heater, or move enough water to blast the spa jets and get the massage you’ve been needing. But they can also be turned down to just a trickle when you don’t need a fire hose going. This means we can save energy by adjusting the pump speed down and reducing the amount of electricity being used to power the system. Over time this means a much cheaper monthly power bill. Ok, you may already have a VS pump and you are a little skeptical of the true power savings being claimed. And frankly it is possible that people have had VS pumps installed and that did not translate to significant power savings, but we need to understand why.

Previous generations of VS pumps have allowed the user to select different speeds in terms of the revolutions per minute (RPM) of the impeller (thing that moves the water). The first version of variable speed pumps had 4 preset options for RPM. Numbered 1 through 4 each speed was increasingly faster than the last. However, due to the natural changing factors of a pool system this approach was not as effective as hoped. As equipment ages and filters become dirty there are new requirements on the pump, like a dirty filter. On many pumps the lowest speed became useless as over time the pump was able to move less and less, eventually moving no water at all. In much the same way many users stopped using the number 4 or fastest speed because it became increasingly louder and more inefficient. As a result most first generation VS pumps are run off of one or two one speeds, usually number 3. Still running a lower RPM than the old school pumps mentioned earlier so saving some money, but not what the pool guy promised. 

These problems were taken seriously by the pump manufacturers, and they offered a solution. The second generation of VS pumps had a more advanced controller and allowed the user to adjust the real RPM levels and vary them over 8 customizable speeds. This gave pool professionals the ability to see the changing factors and make minor adjustments as needed. Greatly improving the overall savings offered by the technology. A step in the right direction no question, however they did not stop there. 

Today’s variable speed pumps take the old reliable motors of the past and pair them with a brain that makes a Tesla jealous. Instead of just adjusting the RPM these new pumps can measure the actual gallons per minute (GPM) being moved through the system. This gives pool guys a third eye to see problems system wide. Before this we have always had to guess how much water was actually being moved, we had some equations that got us in the ballpark. But actually being able to measure and set the pool to a certain GPM we can exactly set the amount of time it takes to filter every gallon of water in the pool. This is called ‘turn over’ and it is vital that a pool gets entirely turned over through the filter every day. 

As factors like I mentioned earlier begin to change, the user can see the actual GPM go down at a certain RPM. This lets us know that something in the system has changed from when we initially set this speed up. In one case on my route this week it let me know that a pool had a dirty filter, even though the pressure gauge on the filter was unchanged. Using this feature and looking at SDG&E’s pricing schedule we can tailor a pool program to maximize clean and reduce cost at the same time. For more information on that, check out our blog on SDG&E’s surge pricing rates. 

As a homeowner or pool professional, understanding the system's capabilities and features can greatly enhance the owning and maintenance experience. A brief thumb through the operation portion of a Variable Speed Pump’s owners manual can prove to be a very profitable exercise. But if you need a professional’s assistance, we are always here. Give us a call for more information on installation, repair, or programming of your current pump (new or old) and we would be happy to help!