Summer on the Northern Beaches means the pool gets a workout, and so does the pool pump. Most of us check the chlorine and clean the skimmer basket, but very few families stop to think about the machine humming away beside the filter for hours every day.
That pump is quietly one of the biggest power users in the house. According to the Australian Government’s Energy Rating program, a pool pump can account for nearly 20 per cent of the electricity used in a home with a pool. Here is what that means for your bill, and a few easy ways to bring it down before the hot months hit.
Why older pumps cost so much to run
Older pool pumps are usually single speed, which means they run flat out the whole time they are on. That is fine for vacuuming, but it is a lot more power than you need just to keep the water moving through the filter.
A typical 1.5 horsepower single speed pump running around seven hours a day can use about 2,800 kWh a year. At current Sydney prices, that is roughly $900 a year just to filter the pool.
How a variable speed pump helps
A variable speed pump can run slowly and quietly for most of the day, then speed up only when it needs to. Because the power a pump uses drops sharply as it slows down, the savings add up fast. Energy Rating estimates that choosing an 8 star pump over a 2 star pump could save a household more than $540 a year.
When you compare pumps, look for the star rating on the national energy rating label. The more stars, the less it costs to run.
The NSW scheme that brings the price down
Many pool owners don’t realise there is a NSW Government energy saving scheme that discounts the cost of swapping an old pump for an efficient one. The discount comes off the installed price through an accredited provider, so there is no form to fill in or rebate to claim back later.
To qualify, the new pump needs at least four stars on the energy rating label, and the old pump is taken away. Broken pumps can usually be replaced under the scheme too, so if yours has given up, it is worth checking before you pay full price for a new one.
If you are thinking about replacing an old pool pump on the Northern Beaches, the process is simple. You send a few photos of your current pump and a recent power bill, eligibility is confirmed, and a licensed pool technician does the swap. Most installs take under an hour, and the new pump usually plugs straight into your existing power point.
Renting? Have a chat with your landlord before arranging any upgrade.
More ways to cut pool running costs
Run the pump for the right length of time. In summer most pools need roughly eight to twelve hours of filtering a day. Running it longer than that just wastes power.
Use off peak or solar hours. If you have an off peak tariff or solar panels, set the timer so the pump runs when power is cheapest.
Keep the skimmer and pump baskets clear. A clogged basket makes the pump work harder for the same result.
Use a pool cover. Covers cut evaporation and keep leaves out, so the pump and filter have less to do.
Backwash or clean the filter regularly. A dirty filter restricts flow and pushes up running costs.
The bottom line
Your pool should be the best part of a Northern Beaches summer, not the most expensive. A few small habits help, but if your pump is more than ten years old, swapping it for an efficient model is usually the single biggest saving you can make.
This article was written in partnership with Efficient Energy Group, a Sydney based energy efficiency company that installs variable speed pool pumps under the NSW Energy Savings Scheme.
