Are you ready to replace your old, burnt out pool pump? Tired of replacing the pump motor over and over? Maybe you are getting a new pool, and need a new pump? Whatever the reason, there are a few things you need to know when it comes to properly sizing out and purchasing a new pool pump.
One of the most misconstrued things in the pool industry is pump horsepower. Many pool professionals will tell you, “You need a 2hp or higher” but that is simply not the case; not every 2hp pump is the same. What most pool professionals don’t explain is that a 2hp from one pump model can be equivalent to a 3/4 hp in another model. Horsepower is essentially just a number on a label; it really doesn’t mean anything when you are buying a complete pump.
What You Need To Know Before Starting:
- Pool Size in Gallons (Volume of pool)
- Rectangle pools: Length x Width x Average Depth x 7.5
- Pools: Length x Width x Average Depth x 5.9
- Round pools: Diameter x Diameter x Average Depth x 5.9
- Feet of Head (distance from pump to pool)
- How long you want to run the pool
- GPM (Gallons per Minute) (A ÷ C÷ 60= GPM)
- Volume divided by how long you want to run the pool, divided by 60.
- Multiple pump technical specs and flow curves
Our Example will use: 30,000 Gal pool running for 6 hours with 35 Feet of Head
So to sum it up, don’t just go by what the pool guys says if he says a HP, which may not be the case. You can see in the above example you would get a 3/4 or a 2 hp depending on the model.
Other things you will want to confirm:
- Ensure your Voltage is acceptable with the pump you choose
- Ensure you have the same pipe sizing as recommended
- If space is limited, you will need to check that also
- Above-Ground Pumps will also have cord options in many cases
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