The Importance of Good Pool Circulation

Pool owners can all agree that cleaning and disinfecting their pool is extremely important. But many don’t understand the importance of good water filtration and circulation within their pool.

Proper pool circulation is also important to maintaining a healthy pool environment. Circulation is necessary to help your pool sanitation system, filtration, and chemicals function properly. Without the right circulation, your pool can encounter many problems.

Why Should Your Pool Have Good Circulation?

Water that is circulated through your pool filter has particles and debris from the pool removed. Without this filtration of the water, impurities will build up and result in a dirty pool. Often algae grows in a pool because the pump hasn’t been circulating the water through your pool filter. Proper filtration means fewer required chemicals to disinfect the pool water and swimmers will experience water with less irritation and chemical smell.

How Long Should the Main Pump Run Daily?

The pump circulation and filtration systems in a pool should run one (1) hour for every 10 °F of air temperature on a single-speed filter pump. Example: If it is 100 °F, the pump should run 10 hours a day minimum. Of course, if the pool is full of algae or a major weather event has occurred, the pump may need to run 24-hours a day.

How Do You Manage Pump Run Time?

Manually turning your pump on and off after the appropriate run time is problematic. You may have to be away from the home for an extended period or the run times just don’t fit your schedule.

It is important in the high heat of Summer, that pumps are programmed for the appropriate circulation to keep you pool healthy, your equipment and plaster happy. If you do own a VS pool pump, it should be running at your higher speeds during this time of year for the recommended time. If you don’t have a programmable Variable Speed (VS) pool pump, you will want other methods to ensure that your pump is running for the appropriate times daily.
The most common way to program your pool pump to run the appropriate time is through a timer. This can be an Intermatic timer (which you set with manual pegs) or an automated timer.

If you are thinking about changing to a variable speed pump, there is an energy savings and better circulation to the pool. Perhaps, you want a timer or need a timer fixed to ensure that the pump is running the appropriate time. Contact us today to discuss the best option for your pool circulation and pump timer. Call (214) 740-3814.