2 minute read
How Pool Pumps Affect Your Summer Electric Bills
By Daniel Lofland | Energy Efficiency & Solutions Specialist
As summer is upon us, the thought of going home and jumping in a pool sure does sound amazing. The brisk first few steps seem to wash away the thoughts of a hectic day at work. That sparkling water takes the edge off the Oklahoma sun beating down on you. But did you ever stop to think that the pristine water can be an energy hog? Doubtful, you just put chemical in and clean the debris out and enjoy.
Yes, that same water that relaxes you can be the cause of undue stress when your electric bill arrives. That’s because the pump must work to turn that water over and ensure it is filtered correctly. Depending on the size of the pump and size of the pool, you could be pumping away money that should be left in your pocket.
A CLOSER LOOK AT POOL PUMP COSTS
Did you know that a one-horsepower pump could be costing you roughly $144 per month in the summer? If you have the pump set to run for 24 hours for simplicity's sake, your jaw will likely drop when you see your bill.
If you have a timer and have your pump set to run at specific times, you are on the right track. So, let’s break down the energy consumption and dollars for my example. A one-horsepower motor uses 1,725 watts of electricity — or 1.725 kW. If electricity costs 10¢ cents per kWh and you run that pool for 24 hours per day, you are spending roughly $4.14 per day. This number multiplied by 30 equals $124.20, but this doesn’t take into effect OEC's summer on-peak rates. [5933100205]
If you add the higher kWh charge — 24¢ per kWh — from 3-7 p.m. on weekdays during June, July and August, that figure grows to the $144 range.
MAXIMIZE YOUR POOL PUMP'S EFFICIENCY
Now to talk about pool pump run times a little. Did you know that for normal use, household pools’ water only needs to turn over once a day? And that the average time for a pump to do so is around eight hours? Now, if we take that same one-horsepower pump and run it eight hours per day — during off-peak hours — you are looking at a monthly cost of roughly $41.40!
Many calculators can be found online to help determine all of these variables (horsepower, flow rate, gallons, head length, etc.), and I recommend giving them a shot for your specific pool, or better yet leaving that to the professional pool companies.
We hope you take some of this advice and keep that extra money in your pocket this summer. We know there are much more fun things to do with your money this summer than pay your electric bill.
