As much comfort and enjoyment they bring, backyard swimming pools can be energy hogs. Depending on its size, pool energy use can rival your water heater and even air conditioner for power consumption throughout the summer. Fortunately, there are practical ways to lower those costs.
- Replace the motor. If the pump’s motor is failing, consider replacing it with an electronically commutated motor (ECM). Such a motor uses a fraction of the electricity that the standard pump does, runs more quietly, and lasts a lot longer. You’ll find ECMs on upgraded HVAC equipment, and they’re now available as pool pump replacements.
- Use solar blankets. Solar pool blankets are an affordable and clean way to heat the pool. After laying the blanket over the pool, the sunlight striking it will heat the water. Such a blanket also keeps dust and debris out of the water, which cuts down on cleaning and chemical use.
During periods of windy weather, the pool blanket will prevent water evaporation, which cools the water down considerably. The evaporation process takes a tremendous amount of water, which it will take from the pool.
- Put the pump on a timer. It’s the same principle as using a programmable thermostat to manage home comfort. If you run the pool pump manually, it’s easy to forget to turn it off when it’s clean, just as it’s hard to remember to change the thermostat indoors when you’re leaving for the day.
- Change the light bulbs around the pool. If you have an in-ground pool that you like to use at night, check with your pool company to see if an energy efficient bulb is available, like LED or CFLs.
- Heat the water with a heat pump. When equipped with a desuperheater, a heat pump uses its waste heat in the summer to heat water for the pool or your home.
Cutting pool energy use adds up to greater enjoyment of your pool, less water use and a longer swimming season. To learn more, contact Hartman Brothers Heating & Air Conditioning, providing trusted HVAC services for Fort Wayne homeowners.
Our goal is to help educate our customers in New Haven, Indiana and surrounding Fort Wayne area about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about pool energy use and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Guide or call us at 260-376-2961.
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