The Heart of Your Pool: Understanding the Swimming Pool Pump
Think of your pool pump as the heart of your swimming pool’s circulatory system. Its primary job is to pull water from the pool through the skimmer and main drain, push it through the filter to remove dirt and debris, and then send it through the heater and chemical treatment systems before returning clean, clear, and comfortable water back to the pool. A powerful and efficient pump is the single most important piece of equipment for maintaining a healthy and beautiful swimming pool.
In this post, we dive into the swimming pool pump, what they do in your pool system, why we choose the Pentair Intellipro pump specifically, and how it can save you $$.
What Does a Swimming Pool Pump Do?
The swimming pool pump is the heart of your pool’s circulation system, responsible for pulling water through the skimmers, pushing it through the filter to remove debris, and circulating it through your heater and sanitization systems before returning it, clean and clear, back to the pool.
To keep your water pristine, the pump should run long enough to turn over the entire volume of your pool at least once daily; modern variable speed pumps achieve this most effectively by running for longer periods—often 12 hours or more—at very low, energy-sipping speeds. The keys to a great pump are its efficiency, which directly impacts your utility bill; its durability and reliable build quality to ensure a long service life; and quiet operation to maintain the tranquility of your backyard oasis.
Real-World Savings: A Variable Speed Pump in Action
The most significant long-term cost of owning a pool is often the electricity needed to run the pump. A traditional, single-speed pump is an energy consumption hog, but the Pentair IntelliPro VSF provides incredible energy savings. Let’s look at a real-world example for a typical 20,000-gallon pool.
Scenario: A typical 20,000-gallon pool.
- Old Single-Speed Pump (1.5 HP): This pump runs at one constant high speed, consuming about 2,200 watts. Running it for the required 8 hours a day costs:
- Annual Cost: $1,606 per year
- Pentair IntelliPro VSF (Our Standard): This pump runs at a very low, energy-sipping speed, consuming only about 300 watts. It runs longer for better filtration but costs far less:
- Annual Cost: $328.50 per year
Annual Savings with the IntelliPro VSF: Over $1,277!
The pump literally pays for itself in just a couple of years and continues to save you thousands over its lifespan.
Why the Pentair IntelliPro VSF is in a Class of Its Own
While other pool builders may offer variable speed pumps from brands like Hayward or Jandy as an “upgrade,” we’ve found that Pentair consistently outperforms the competition in the areas that matter most: intelligence, durability, and peace and quiet.
- It’s Smarter Than the Rest: The IntelliPro VSF has a critical feature its competitors lack: Variable Flow technology. While other pumps can only vary their speed (RPMs), the Pentair pump can maintain a constant flow (Gallons Per Minute). This means as your filter gets dirty, the pump automatically adjusts to keep your heater and salt system working at peak efficiency. It’s a level of intelligence the others simply don’t have.
- Built for Longevity and Reliability: Pentair has a long-standing reputation for professional-grade build quality. While some competing pumps have user-reported issues with premature bearing failure or sensitive control boards, Pentair’s robust, totally enclosed fan-cooled (TEFC) motors are legendary for their durability and for protecting sensitive components from the elements.
- A Truly Quiet Backyard Experience: There is quiet, and then there is Pentair quiet. A common complaint with some competitor models is the eventual development of a high-pitched whine. The IntelliPro VSF is engineered from the ground up for whisper-quiet operation, ensuring your backyard oasis remains a peaceful and relaxing retreat.
Our Commitment: The Best Swimming Pool Pump, Every Time
At Granite Pools, we don’t believe in cutting corners. Providing you with a pool that is efficient, easy to maintain, and inexpensive to operate is our top priority. That is why we don’t offer the Pentair IntelliPro VSF as an option—we install it as the standard on every single swimming pool project we build. Your long-term satisfaction is our measure of success.
If you’re in the Greater Sacramento area, then contact us over at Granite Pools. We build brand new swimming pools, swimming pool remodels and even handle landscaping. So if you’re looking for a swimming pool build that always chooses what’s best for your pool, contact us today.