Variable Speed Pool Pumps - The Revolution in Pool Building
Variable Speed Pool Pumps - The Future of Swimming Pools
By choosing the proper pump, Swimming pool owners can expect savings of at least $400/year.
Only the energy-aware owners of swimming pools truly realize the high energy usage of their own pool. In fact, the pool motor is probably one of the most energy demanding appliances they have on their property. The reason is that most swimming pool pumps are built using an out-dated single speed motor that runs at a preset speed and horsepower. In the past, energy supply has been in abundance and energy reducing efforts have not been considered - a norm in the pool industry.
So how much energy is my pool and spa pump using? A study recently showed that to run California’s 1.2 million pools requires roughly the same production as one nuclear power or two conventional energy plants (study by Davis Energy Group for Pacific Gas & Electric – 2004). Imagine the energy usage of ALL the swimming pools across the United States, and how this much impact our energy conservation efforts. Arizona also has an incredible quantity of residential pools per home, which is why Phoenix pool companies are switching to these incredible new pumps.
The solution? Pumps working smarter, not harder.
In the past few years, swimming pool pumps and motors have been part of a huge power-saving improvement effort. The variable drive, variable speed pool and spa pump has revolutionized the pool industry and its efforts to save and conserve energy. These new pool and spa pumps are using permanent magnet motors, which have been designed to run with less power. The standard induction motors used in swimming pools actually use more than 30% more power than the new permanent magnetic motors. By simply programming the pump to work at the least required speed for each pool task (heating, cleaning, circulation, waterfalls, etc.) energy reduction can be as much as 90%!
By running a pool pump at its slowest speed necessary to perform a job, it will dramatically slash the energy consumed (simply because it takes less energy to push water slowly than quickly). Did you know? The simple reduction of speed by 1/2 can reduce the energy necessary to 1/8 - to perform the same pool task. Simply put, these new pumps allow the pool owner to program and “dial in” the pump speed to achieve the minimum power use.
Energy Savings of $620 to $1,350
According to Pentair Water Pool and Spa, their IntelliFlo® and IntelliPro™ variable drive pumps routinely reduce energy use up to 90%, depending on the models and circumstances for average savings of $620 to $1,350 annually. Many pool owners are having their out-dated pumps replaced because the huge cost savings will actually pay for the new variable speed swimming pool pump.
Electricity delivery charges are even higher in Arizona, and with Phoenix’s huge swimming pool count, this new pool pump has become an absolute necessity for pool contractors in Phoenix when designing swimming pools. The recent revolution to electricity efficient products makes owning a GREEN industry pump even more desirable in California too.
Specific Examples of how IntelliFlo pumps by Pentair can be used in your pool:
First and foremost, this swimming pool pump can be used for an in-floor cleaning system pump, and it’s set at 3100 RPM, which is about the same as a 2 horsepower pool pump. The same swimming pool pump can be throttled down to a half HP pool pump to circulate & filter the water of the swimming pool. With some easy computer technology, the same pump can be used as a booster pump for the hot tub jets (imagine a slow speed therapy and a high speed jet – all from the same pool pump, and the push of a button!) Another great use is the setting to control the flow of a waterfall or pool water feature (it is also known to be used by high end residential Phoenix landscaping companies to manage the flow & sound of unique landscape waterfalls or waterfeatures). The IntelliFlo Pentair pump can be programmed for two speeds (actually more) - giving the pool owner a low speed fountain for a relaxing evening outside on the patio, or you can turn it higher for MAX PRESSURE for a backyard party!
