✅Best Pool Pumps for Above Ground Pools 2023 🏆 Top 5 Best Pool Pump for Above Ground Pool Reviews (2023)

FAQs

What is the easiest pool pump to maintain? ›

One of the most reliable pumps on the market, the Hayward Super Pump has made a name for itself because of its reliability. But there is much more to it. It is quiet and energy-efficient and the clear basket that requires no tools to remove making it easy to maintain.

Round Above Ground Pool:

For round pools up to 24 feet, use a 1 HP pool pump. For round pools over 24 feet, we recommend using a 1.5 HP pool pump.

On average, pool pumps last eight to 12 years before needing replacement. Over time, it's normal for pool parts to begin to wear down. In addition, swimming pool technology has come a long way in the last decade.

(Pool capacity in gallons/desired turnover rate in hours)/60=Flow rate in GPM. Example: If you have a 20,000 gallon pool and a desired turnover rate of 5 hours, your desired flow rate would be: (20,000/5) = 4,000 gallons per hour/60 = 66.66 GPM, or approximately 67 GPM.

The most efficient pump design is a centrifugal pump.

What you're looking for is a pump that will be able to pump all the water in your pool through the filter in no more than 8-10 hours. This typically looks likes 40 GPM (gallons per minute) for smaller pools and 80 GPM for larger pools.

As much as you can

If your question is “How often should I run my pump to keep the pool at its best?” the answer would be 24/7 for as much of the year as the pool is in operation.

Remember, lower horsepower pumps will generally use less energy and are the better option if they can meet your pool's filtration and cleaning needs.

The best time to run your pool pump is during the warmest hour of the day; however, keep in mind that this means you will have higher energy consumption, which may lead to an increase in your electric bill. If you want to save on your energy costs, you can run your pool pump at night to avoid peak hours.

There are also three main types to choose from: single-speed, two-speed and variable-speed pumps. Let's learn more about these pumps and which one is right for your backyard pool.

Can I put a bigger pump on my above ground pool? ›

Yes. You can, but what's more important to answer is do your really NEED to change your pump to one with a higher horsepower rating? If you have complete information on you pool and you've determined that your current pool pump is not enough for your needs, by all means, go ahead and change your pool pump.

On average, a pool pump motor can last between 8 and 10 years before it needs to be replaced. If you hear a noise, such as screeching, humming, or even no noise at all, these are warnings that something has to be done.

The market average life of an above ground pool may be shorter than you think at about 7-15 years. However, when you buy from a quality brand and maintain your pool properly it will last many years longer than that.

As mentioned above, it's okay to run your pool pump whenever it works for you, so long as it is running long enough to turnover at least once during a 24-hour period.

For instance, if you pool is 20,000 gallons, you will add 4 pounds of shock. Green or Dark Green Pool Water: This means there's a medium amount of algae in your water and you'll need to triple shock your pool. Triple shocking requires 3 pounds for every 10,000 gallons of pool water.

A 1 horsepower pool pump with 1.5-inch plumbing lines may filter around 60 gallons per minute. In this example, that means you would need to run the pool pump for about 8.5 hours a day (8.5 hours x 60 gallons per minute x 60 minutes = 30,600 gallons).

Given that pool pumps use a considerable amount of power (between 1,500 and 2,500 watts) and run for at least eight hours a day, they have a significant impact on your home's energy usage.

Before you can select a pump that will fit your needs, you must know four things: 1) the total head or pressure against which it must operate, 2) the desired flow rate, 3) the suction lift, and 4) characteristics of the fluid.

Centrifugal pumps are one of the best choices for low viscosity (thin) liquids and high flow rates. The pumps use one or more impellers and rotate with the shaft. The rotation of the impeller creates energy that moves liquid through the pump to move it through the piping system.

How many HP is the average pool pump? ›

Main circulation pumps for a residential, in-ground swimming pool would typically be in the . 75 HP to 3 HP.

For an average pool, set the speed between 1,500 RPM and 2,000 RPM. You'll want to run your pump at a higher RPM for approximately two to four hours every day. This is an appropriate speed for backwashing and will clear out any air bubbles that can form in the pump and plumbing during the lower RPM period.

For energy efficiency best time to run the pool's filtration system is during off-peak hours when the electricity demand is lower. This time is typically between 8 p.m. - 10 a.m. Also, to warm the pool you can run it during the day, to cool it at night.

Despite this, the average pool temperature, which is said to be ideal for all, is between 77-82°F. These temperatures are low enough to prevent bacteria from growing, but also warm enough to take the chill off.

Variable speed pool pumps should run longer, based upon the operating speed. Most pool owners run their variable speed pump for 12 hours per day (3-4 hours on high speed for the pool cleaning system and 8-9 hours on low speed for filtration).

Most filter systems are designed to operate in the 5-15 psi or 10-20 psi range. The way to find out your particular correct pool filter pressure is to clean or backwash the filter thoroughly and empty the pump and skimmer baskets.

Using an 110v connection on a pump that requires a 220v supply can result in your pump running slowly or not working at all. Applying a 220v supply to a pump that needs an 110v input could damage your unit beyond repair.

We recommend that our customers run their pumps rain or shine UNLESS you have an electrical storm. In that case, lightning could strike an outside circuit, which could damage your pump and other equipment. If you're worried about lightning, turn the pump off or shut off the breaker.

How often should I backwash my pool? ›

As a general rule, you should be backwashing your pool about once a week or in conjugation with your scheduled maintenance. Another industry standard is to backwash when your filter's pressure gauge reads 8-10 PSI (pounds per square inch) over the starting level or “clean” pressure.

HOW OFTEN SHOULD I SHOCK MY POOL? Shocking your pool regularly will help to keep the water clean and free of contaminants. You should aim to shock your pool about once a week, with the additional shock after heavy use. Some tell-tale signs that your pool needs to be shocked are cloudy, foamy, green, or odourous water.

Reliable pool pumps like Pentair, can last up to ten or more years. It really comes down to the maintenance and upkeep of your pool and equipment. Pool pumps are resilient to weather and outside environmental debris; however, they can deteriorate if not properly maintained.

If you are looking for a highly efficient solution with the least amount of bacteria and debris left swimming around in your pool, the cartridge filter is your best solution. The cartridge filter can catch finer debris than a sand filter, being 10-20 microns versus 20-40 microns.

Dual-speed pumps are in the same electrical category as single-speed pumps but the main difference is that they run at a “High Speed and a “Low Speed”. Dual-speed pumps also cost a bit more than single-speed pumps as far as upfront cost is concerned.

Cartridge Filters are a great choice for Above Ground Pools

Although they both have some advantages, a cartridge filter would be your best choice for your pool's filtration system. A sand filter will only filter down to 20 microns while a cartridge filter will filter down to 10 microns, half the amount.

Best Overall – Hayward Power-Flo XL

The Hayward Power-Flo LX is our choice for the best above ground pool pump because of its time-tested design, versatility, and reliable performance. The Power-Flo XL is one of a series of Hayward's above ground pool pumps which includes the Power-Flo and Power-Flo Matrix.

Every pool must turn over at least once a day, so most pool pumps should run approximately 8 hours a day. But here's the thing: you don't have to run your pool pump consecutively. You can choose to run it for three hours in the morning before you leave for work and another 5 hours in the evening.

In general, it's a good idea to vacuum your pool once a week. You should also vacuum your swimming pool any time you notice large amounts of debris, dirt, or leaves on the floor of the pool (for example, your pool may need vacuuming after a heavy storm).

How do you clean the bottom of an above ground pool without a vacuum? ›

Use a rake to gather the debris pieces into a pile, and then remove the pile by hand. Bag it and dump it in a garbage. If the debris is floating and not in the bottom of the pool, you can opt for a leaf net to trap the debris along the water's surface.

Round above ground swimming pools:

Swimming pools up to 24 ft. around, a 1 horsepower pool pump is needed. Swimming pools over 24 ft. around, a 1.5 horsepower pool pump is needed.

Both systems will give you clear water. But for the absolute best water clarity, cartridge filters win. Cartridge filters typically screen out twice as much dirt and debris as sand filters do. A cartridge filter takes out so fine a particle that your water actually glistens.

Some of the benefits of using sand filtration for your pool filter are: It's an easy to use system. Requires low maintenance that doesn't require a service call. Removes small and large dirt and debris from the pool.

A pool pump that is larger than needed has a more powerful motor and circulates water at a higher flow rate. This uses significantly more energy to pump the same amount of water and puts additional stress on your pipes and filter, meaning you'll need to replace them sooner.

3/4 HP Submersible Sump Pumps

A 3/4 HP pump has a pumping capacity 20 to 25 percent more than a 1/2 HP sump pump has. A pump of this size can handle a high vertical lift of 20 to 30 feet and/or horizontal pipe running between 150 to 250 feet.

You use the following formula. Pool gallonage x 2 (the recommended number of cycles in a day) ÷ daily hourly run time ÷ 60 (minutes in an hour). So, for a 30,000-gallon pool that runs continuously (24-hours), the formula is: 30,000 x 2 ÷ 24 ÷ 60 = 41.6 or rounded up it's a 42 GPM minimum flow rate.

The capacity of the pump system in gallons per minute should equal the number of fixtures in the home. This must take into account all use for the kitchen, bath, appliances, outside irrigation, a pool and special fixtures, such as a hot tub.

What is the lifespan of a sand filter? The filter media (material) should be replaced every 7 to 10 years. Common filter media for sand filters includes silica sand, glass balls or our Zeo-Clor filter media. The tanks typically last between 7 and 20 years.

A disadvantage of sand filtration is the rinse water that is created when the sand filter is cleaned. This heavily polluted water must be treated and disposed of. To limit the load on the filter, a preliminary sedimentation step is implemented for heavily loaded wastewaters (a lot of suspended and sinkable matter).

Is it best to put sand under a above the ground pool? ›

Sand is the recommended base for an above ground pool, but not all sand is the same. Different types of sand are used for different applications. And it's important to use the right one for your above ground pool. Moulding Sand: Also called foundry sand, this sand binds together more closely when moisture is added.

Even if the pool filter pump is not directly rained on, exposure to the wind and rain can lead to oxidation over time. This will degrade the housing that protects the more sensitive internal components, making serious damage more likely. This is why a well-fitted pool pump cover is so important.

Running the Pump without Water

They will overheat and cause excess damage. Running a pump without water can also warp the lid, basket and the adjacent plumbing. If the pump continues to run without water, there is a high possibility of causing damage to the plate, seal and bearings.

Running the pump at night should only be when you are doing a major chemical treatment such as algae clean-up. Your pool is more vulnerable during the day, plants don't grow at night the way they do during the day–that's true of ALL plants including Algae.

Inground Swimming Pools

Some commercial properties require 24-hour a day pump circulation, but as a homeowner, this is not advisable. If you are lucky enough to own an Energy Efficient, Variable Speed swimming pool pump (VSP) then, yes, technically you could run your pump for 24 hours a day.