Optimum time of day and length of time to run pool filter pump?

[Don2222]

Hello
When do you run your pool filter?
I am trying to find the best time to run thepool filter with timer.
They say 2 cycles of water change is minimum for 1 day.
So you take the gallons from a pool water (broken link removed to https://www.orcity.org/sites/default/files/swimming_pool_water_estimator.pdf)
This 18 ‘ round 52” high pool is 16,600 gallons
Divide by the filter pump flow rate, so for my Haywood 1.0 HP motor and 2” hose about 52 GPM which is 3,120 GPH

Pool Pump Sizing - PoolPlaza.com

How to correctly size a pool pump for your swimming pool

www.poolplaza.com

16,600/3,120 = 5.32 hours for 1 cycle and 10.64 hours for 2 cycles so at least 11 hours per day and the more night time hours when electric rates are low the better, but should be on when the pool is in use. Since we swim mostly after work then
4 pm to 3 am in the morning may be a good plan?
On weekends if we swim earlier then I can flip the lever to on earlier in the day.
Any comments?

 

[festerw]

Ideally you want it to run during the period of use plus a turnover so your 4pm to 3am sounds good.

Since you just filled the pool something to keep in mind is to not use the di/trichlor tablets all the time. Use them until you get to the proper stabilizer level then switch to plain old pool chlorine.

Reasoning is you can get too much stabilizer present in the water and end up needing more chlorine than necessary.

If you haven't found it yet https://www.troublefreepool.com/blog/ is a great resource with calculators and a forum just for pool stuff.

I'd also suggest springing on a nice test kit. This is the one I use and will do everything you need.

TF-100 Test Kit

tftestkits.net

 

[PaulOinMA]

Please also give consideration to where the pump is, how much noise it makes, and if neighbors can hear it. Our neighbor's loud pool pump is really annoying.

 

[fbelec]

my pool is 12 by 18 i figured out some time ago that 5 hours did well so i just added a hour. crystal clear.
i run it between 7 pm and 1 am for some stupid reason when people are in the pool and pump is running sometimes the flapper on the skimmer shuts and stays shut making the pump run dry. i also run it with the sun down because the sun eats up the clorine

 

[NoGoodAtScreenNames]

+ 1 on the recommendation for trouble free pool.

The pump time is by far less important than keeping the chlorine level at the proper levels. Do what seems what is needed to keep the pool clean of debris based on how often you skim / vacuum.

You could make an argument that when using a chlorinator you want to run during the day to keep up with the chlorine loss during the day to the sun. But as long as the chlorine levels are above the minimum sanitation levels then you are fine running at night, morning or whenever you want for however long you want within reason.

That being said I run mine on a dual speed pump on low for 10 hours which is like 1.5 cycles with a salt water chlorine generator running so the levels are consistent throughout the day.

 

[zrock]

When i had my pool up i would let the pump run about 2 hours a day and when the pool was in use mostly only on the weekends. Stayed crystal clear all season.I also kept it covered when not in use. Unfortunately i have not been able to put it up the last to years.. The landloard made such a mess of my back yard that it would take allot of work to create a level spot and now some kids have move in behind me and have not came up with a solution to fence off the pool... I refuse to pay for a fence that i will never own i feel thats the landlords responsibility... have one pissed child