This typically looks likes 40 GPM (gallons per minute) for smaller pools and 80 GPM for larger pools. Total dynamic head is a resistance metric it tells you the total amount of resistance in the hydraulic system of your pool. Heads up: your plumbing setup may be different across your entire pool environment. Proper pairing of these two units is essential for a pleasant pool experience. Vinyl VS. Fiberglass VS. Extra water featureslike spas, fountains, waterfalls, etc. Concrete Pools. It's important to shop early. Valves and PVC turns will also restrict the pumps GPM. Plan for approximately 1.75 GPM per square foot of surface area, assuming the middle of the ranges below. So, lets say you have a 15,000 gallon inground pool. All good? XYou wouldnotwant to attempt to use a pump with 2 inlet/outlet with a filter that has a 1-1/2 inlet/outlet as they would not be sized correctly or efficient when used together. Preparing Your Pool for Warm Weather Festivities, Why Swimming Pools Cause Itchy Skin And How To Keep It From Happening, Open Your Pool Sooner (and A LOT Easier) with Pool Frog and EZ Pool, Chlorine vs. Saltwater vs. Mineral System Pools: Pros and Cons, Vinyl Pools vs. Fiberglass Pools vs. The best plan you can have is to, before you'd like to start building. You'll want your filter's GPM to be higher than your pumps toalleviate anyadditional strain on the pump motor. Other optionsto make your pool pump more efficient are: For more on Pumps, like the difference between single, two or variable speeds, try this article! If choosing a pump with a 1-1/2 inlet/outlet, you should choose a filter with a 1-1/2 inlet/outlet as well. Typically, youre going to average 0.3 to 0.35 GPM per square foot of surface area. First, you need to figure out how many gallons of water are in your swimming pool. However, a pump with a 1-1/2 inlet/outlet can work with a filter with a 2 inlet/outlet if needed to. There are three types of pool filters (sand, cartridge, and DE) and all of them have different maximum flow rates based on their surface area. While pools traditionally purchased in the Spring or even late Summer can usually have many weeks of use that same year, the entire industry is currently delayed by several weeks and in some cases several months. hbspt.cta._relativeUrls=true;hbspt.cta.load(4779281, '8af6d94c-3bfc-4f56-8e22-89747933f30b', {"useNewLoader":"true","region":"na1"}); 2019 Royal Swimming Pools Inc. All Rights Reserved. Additional resources for your pool buying journey: READY TO RELAX? Okay, lets move on to the next part of my pool pump sizing figuring out your maximum flow rate. Okay, lets move on to the next step. It is completely dependent on your plumbing system and other pool equipment, all of which should have documentation on maximum flow rates. The filter, pump, pipes, heater, backwash valve, return, and other accessories have an effect on how water flows throughout your system. Something went wrong. There you have it! Use my pool volume calculator below, and then Ill start calculating the minimum flow rate you need for your pump. If you are looking to buy a new pool in the next few years you may have a longer wait time than anticipated. Choosing a pump with a higher flow rate than the filter will put strain on both the pump and filter, reducing life and efficiency of each. Once you have the approximate number of gallons of water in your pool, I have to figure my minimum flow rate for the pump using a Gallons Per Minute (GPM) calculation. Now back to choosing the best pool pump for you. This means that you can have a pump capable of moving 100 gallons of water per minute, however, if the 1.5-inch piping will only allow 42 gallons per minuteyou risk damaging your system by creating too much strain on your pump that cannot move water as quickly as it'll be trying to. More on purchasing a pool during or even post-pandemic can be found. Your pool will most likely have multiple sizes of piping. You can use out Swimming Pool Gallon Calculator. Otherwise, you could risk damaging the setup for part of your pool environment. Below, well run through how to quickly figure it out step-by-step and choose your pool pump confidently. This calculation differs based on pool shape but is pretty straightforward. Make sure you stay below the maximum flow rates for your filter system or you could end up damaging it. If you are looking to buy a new pool in the next few years you may have a longer wait time than anticipated. Can a Swimming Pool Cause a UTI, Yeast Infection, Ear Infection, or Other Health Issues? Pool Alkalinity Calculator: What to Add & How Much. DE filters are a little rangy as well. DESIGN YOUR DREAM POOL TODAY. The opposite is true for higher horsepower and shorter run times. While outside of this simple yet extremely import we get asked a lot about what HP a pump should be. That being said, it's important to know that pool pumps should really be rated by the gallons per minute of water flow instead of the motor's HP. You can choose to run your pump 24 hours per day (decreasing your GPM needs) or twice a day in different segments. 1.5-inch intake line, the maximum flow rate is 42 GPM, 2-inch intake line, the maximum flow rate is 73 GPM, 2.5-inch intake line, the maximum flow rate is 120 GPM, 3-inch intake line, the maximum flow rate is 160 GPM. GPM considers your pool size and the number of turnovers you need per day (your turnover rate). For example, if you primarily have 3-inch pipes in the plumbing system of your pool, but also have a spa with a 2-inch plumbing pipe, you're maximum flow rate would be 73 GPM. Using the example number of gallons previously given, this equation would look as follows: As pumps are labeled with how many gallons they move per minute, you'll now need to divide the above number by 60 (as there are 60 minutes per every hour). You never want to put more pressure in your pipes than they can handle. The GPM of the pump will go down the farther away the pump is in relation to the pool. More on purchasing a pool during or even post-pandemic can be foundhere. Pool Pump Size Calculator: What Size Pump Do You Need? Concrete: Pros, Cons, and More! hbspt.cta._relativeUrls=true;hbspt.cta.load(4779281, '1edb0dfd-90a9-45a0-9087-54d9efc51963', {"useNewLoader":"true","region":"na1"}); Your pool pump's GPM will directly relate to your pool's filter GPM. Now that we have filters settled, lets move on to maximum flow rates for plumbing. Pool Salt Calculator: How Much Salt Do You Need to Add? Here are the flow rates for common filter types and sizes. Michael has over 25 years of experience in the swimming pool industry. For this reason, each pool has a maximum flow rate, which is determined solely by your pool's pipes. This is where variable speed pool pumps come in handy they can speed up and slow down when you need them to, resulting in a much safer pool chemistry and energy efficient setup, which is a nice savings on that electric bill. 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. It's important to shop early. Free Shipping on Qualifying Orders over $99 - Get Details, If you're looking to build a new pool or simply looking to replace a pool pump you may find yourself asking, "Is a larger horsepower (HP) pool pump always better?". IMPORTANT INTERRUPTION: Due to the rise in demand caused by the 2020 pandemic,pools in general are experiencing delays in manufacturing and shipping. This means that you would not want to choose a pump designed to be used with 2" plumbing piece, and then use a filter designed to be used with 1 1/2" plumbing piece. While some may think it's just easier to go with the highest GPM and HP and not worry about anything further, note that your pool's pipes can only take so much movement and pressure based on their size. Above ground pools typically fall around 30 TDH. The pump needs to be sized appropriately compared to the filters flow rate. Almost there! Okay, we now have everything we need! Always remember to take the lowest of the maximum flow rates for sizing up your pool pump. Increasing the PVC pipe size from 1-1/2" to 2" will increase any pumps GPM. Running at low horsepower for longer periods of time results in a more balanced water chemistry, but can be a sink on your electricity bill. The ultimate goal is efficiency balancing electricity bill savings with pump horsepower and balanced water chemistry. Questions? Most inground pools will be somewhere around 50 TDH. Determine how many gallons you need to pump per hour to clean all the water in your pool in eight hours. hbspt.cta._relativeUrls=true;hbspt.cta.load(4779281, '198b5843-4912-4919-acc3-6821108ff39f', {"useNewLoader":"true","region":"na1"}); There are ways to get themostgallons per minute from your pool pump with the least horse power motor. In my inground pool example, we need a pool pump with a 20.8-43 GPM flow rate range and 50 TDH (also called Feet of Head). For both traditional chlorine pools and saltwater pools, the industry standard is two turnovers per day. You can also learn more about Single Speed and Variable Speed Pumps Here! If not, you can use these common values or ask your contractor. In this example, our flow rate range comes out to 20.8-43 GPM. Please check your entries and try again. All pool pump models will have charts with horsepower estimates based on flow rate ranges and total dynamic head. Before I get into the calculation, you have a few options here. That's on the manufacturers side of the business. While pools traditionally purchased in the Spring or even late Summer can usually have many weeks of use that same year, the entire industry is currently delayed by several weeks and in some cases several months. Most pool builders are booked 6-12 months out presently. He also holds multiple patents for pool performance products he has engineered over the years. As a general rule of thumb, sand filters typically fall between 19-22 Max GPM per square foot of surface area. Cartridge filters are a lot bigger and a little less exact. You have to take the lower of those two values to make sure you dont overwork any components of your pool, so your maximum flow rate comes to 43 GPM. So, lets calculate the minimum flow rate we need for all four of these options. For example, the pipes leading to your spa could differ from the main pool area. There are a few primary factors that go into finding the right size pool pump. Determine how any gallons of water your pool holds. Most pool builders are booked 6-12 months out presently. 300 square feet surface area = 80-112 GPM, 400 square feet surface area = 100-150 GPM. However, you can determine the more precise needs of your individual pool by following these steps: Keep in mind that the desired time frame of turnover is between 8-10 hours, so you get a range by substituting the 8 hours used above, for 10 hours instead. How much does it cost to install an inground pool, What to know when buying an inground pool. With two turnovers per day, your minimum flow rate comes to 20.8 GPM. will require a higher GPM rate which equate to a higher HP pump. Lets figure out the last main spec you need for your pool pump: total dynamic head. Divide the gallons of water your pool holds (answer from step 1) by eight. The typical two-a-day segments are 6-hour cycles, 8-hour cycles, and 10-hour cycles. . You're now looking for a pump with a GPM range between 40-50 regardless of what the HP is. Sand Filter Calculator: How Much Sand Do You Need? This would allow a range of acceptable pumps instead of assuming only one options. Be sure to check out my recommendations for the best single and variable speed pumps as well, and my article on how long to run your pump every day. Now that we have the minimum and maximum flow rates for your pool setup, put them together to get to your flow rate range: one of the two main specs for determining the pool pump size you need. Well start with filters. You'll want to err on the side of caution and use the smallest piping for your pool's maximum flow rate. Well go into more specifics on TDH in another post. Comparing The Best Foam Form Options for Poured Concrete Coping, Why More Pool Owners Are Replacing Their Older Pool Light, in manufacturing and shipping. PRO TIP: No matter which type of pump you choose, youll want to make sure you properly select the correct pump and filter combination. Lets also say that you have a 2.3 square foot sand filter (50 GPM max) and 1.5 plumbing (43 GPM). The maximum flow rate of your plumbing setup depends on the pipe size and should be clearly labeled on your system. Shoot me a message and Ill be happy to help. 24,000 gallons 8 hours = 3,000 60 = 50 GPM (gallons per minute), 24,000 10 hours = 2,400 60 = 40 GPM (gallons per minute). He has built pools and natural landscapes for hundreds of homes and businesses across the country. Single Speed and Variable Speed Pumps Here! That's on the manufacturers side of the business. Now back to choosing the best pool pump for you. Fortunately, you dont have to do a bunch of fancy math to figure your maximum flow rate. The best plan you can have is topurchase your poolat least3-6 monthsbefore you'd like to start building. Download my free, printable pool maintenance checklist to help you accomplish regular pool care tasks for any type of swimming pool.