Super Pump VS 20x40 Filtration 2
SwimmingPoolSteve.com is user-supported. In order to keep this resource about pools and spas available for free to all readers I earn commissions for purchases made through links on this page. For more information see the full disclaimer page. By using this website you are agreeing to the terms and conditions.
It used to be that a 20x40' pool was the gold standard for swimming pools. This is what everyone wanted if you had enough money and enough space to install one. Of course at the same time this was happening everyone was driving 30 foot long station wagons that weighed 25,000 pounds each. So you could safely say that most people were not concerned too much with things like efficiency at that time. In today's market most people do not want to own a 20 by 40 foot pool. Mainly this is because the volume of water is so great that the filtration costs and especially heating costs are too much of an expense. A burden even. Heating a 30,000 or 40,000 gallon pool will cost an arm and a leg at the colder times of year.
While they are less common to build now with smaller urban properties supporting smaller pools, there are still many 20x40' pools out there looking to upgrade to a variable speed pump. This page will look at some example flow rates, electrical use and total costs for operating a Hayward Super Pump VS (SP2603VSP) on a 20x40' pool that has 2" plumbing. Every pool is unique and there are many variables to consider, however this is a good starting point for understand filtration, flow rates and how to program a variable speed pump filtration schedule. If you want more information on pump schedules you can also view this article about how to program a variable speed pump.
Filtration goals - Three turnovers of the pool volume daily will result in approximately 95% of the water in the pool being filtered at least one time. The first turnover nets 63% and the second nets 86%. The third 95% and a fourth turnover will result in approximately 98% of the water being filtered at least one time. This is due to how the clean, filtered water diffuses into the body of "dirty" pool water still waiting to be filtered. In the "real world" there is a wide spread of how much water each pool owner filters. Many are happy with less than one turnover per day. I think a great many are around one turnover daily. Some pool professionals say two turnovers is enough daily, where I prefer to endorse three daily turnovers of the water as the ideal number. Four daily turnovers and 98% of all of the water being filtered one time at least is most commonly found in commercial pool applications. For this example 20x40' pool let's assume an average depth of 5.5' which means a volume of approximately 33,000 gallons. Multiply this by three for three turnovers daily through the filtration system for a 24 hour daily total filtration goal of 99,000 gallons.
24 Hour filtration example
Pipe size = 2" PVC
TDH = 25'
Filter pressure = 8 PSI @ 3450 RPM
Pump = Hayward Super Pump VS (SP2603VSP)
Filtration total = 98,640 gallons
Electrical use = 18.88 kWh
24 hour cost = $2.45
With a larger swimming pool like this the reality is that even 2" plumbing is still fairly undersized in terms of efficiency potential. You easily could have 2.5", 3" or 4" pipes on a pool this large and it would only benefit you in terms of lowering your operating costs. Fast moving water moves very inefficiently. When you make the pipes larger the water moves slower and more efficiently for a given volume of water versus a smaller diameter pipe size. So even though you have 2" pipes which is decidedly better than 1.5" for a large pool like this, you still need to be mindful of your efficiency. The higher the RPM of your motor the more power you use. That part is obvious enough. However the amount you use does not increase in a linear fashion. The amount of power grows greatly for even minute increases to the actual flow rates. In this example we have a few hours at maximum speed for the pump motor, but the rest of the day is below maximum speed. Even a small reduction in motor RPM like this has a huge reduction in the power the pump is consuming. So with a large pool you want to have long periods of time at high speeds, but less than maximum speed. Every little bit matters when it comes to motor RPM which is why a flow meter will pay for itself as it allows you to more accurately dial in your flow rates, ultimately giving you the ability to save more on electricity.
24 Hour schedule
5am - 11am = 2500 RPM
11am - 12pm = 3450 RPM
12pm - 8pm = 2500 RPM
8pm - 2am = 3200 RPM
2am - 5am = 3450 RPM
After 24 hours we have a total of 14 hours at 2500 RPM, six hours at 3200 RPM and four hours at 3450 RPM. This provides a total of 98,640 gallons of filtered water for a total 24 hour cost of approximately $2.45 which is very lean for a pool this large. This is an almost perfect match for our ideal filtration goal of 99,000 gallons per day. Less than $75 per month to operate a filtration schedule for a pool this large while incorporating zero times of stagnant water daily is pretty impressive. If you ran this pump on maximum speed 24 hours per day you would only have slightly more filtration at 118,080 gallons per day, but the electricity cost would jump to $4.09. That is almost double the electricity cost for only about 17% more filtered water. So you can see how dialing back on the RPM even a little is key in managing your filtration costs without compromising your filtration quality.
Filtration totals
2500 RPM (61 GPM) = 51,240 gallons after 14 hours
3200 RPM (77 GPM)= 27,720 gallons after 6 hours
3450 RPM (82 GPM) = 19,680 gallons after 4 hours
Total filtration = 98,640 gallons / day
Electrical consumption totals
2500 RPM (520 Watts) = 7.28kW after 14 hours
3200 RPM (1060 Watts) = 6.36kW after 6 hours
3450 RPM (1310 Watts) = 5.24kW after 4 hours
Total electrical use = 18.88 kWh / day
Total cost (18.88 x $0.13) = $2.45 / day
Every swimming pool is unique and there are a host of options for how to physically install pool plumbing which all will change the efficiency of your pool system. That is why it is important to understand that the information on this page is just one example. You should not blindly apply these settings to your pump. It would be better to read and understand the information on this page and then try to apply this to your own unique situation. Look at filter pressure for one as a comparison to see how your system matches the example system this is being tested on. This current system setup with 25' of head resistance represents a very simple, fairly efficient installation where the pump location would be near to the pool location (within 10' perhaps).
If you have multiple suction lines on your 20x40' pool which are all 2" in size, like for example you have two skimmers and each has a dedicated 2" pipe, as well as a main drain with a direct suction, then I would suggest to replumb the equipment pad with 2.5" trunk lines. Have the 2" pipes meet together in front of the pump at a 2.5" pipe so you can get more flow efficiency from multiple 2" pipes converging. The majority of friction loss in a pool plumbing system happens on the equipment pad so having larger pipes and slower moving water in this location would be an advantage to you. If you can improve the flow efficiency of your system even a little bit then it will pay you back every moment that the filtration system is running from this day forward. Just look how much more efficient this 2" plumbing system is than the same pump schedule running on a 20x40' pool with 1.5 inch pipes.
Top content from www.SwimmingPoolSteve.com
Pool and spa chemistry crash course
New pool owner guide
The Swimming Pool Steve blog
Have a question - ask Steve
Swimming Pool Steve is an award winning, second generation swimming pool specialist from Ontario Canada and one of the most trusted voices in the swimming pool industry. With over 20,000,000 views on the Swimming Pool Steve YouTube Channel, winner of the Pleatco Pool & Spa Industry Leadership award and author of hundreds of pool and spa articles both online and in print. Steve is committed to helping pool and spa owners as well as pool and spa industry workers learn more about the technical side of building, renovating, repairing and maintaining all types of swimming pools and spas. Follow Swimming Pool Steve on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.
Endorsed Brands From Swimming Pool Steve
The following links and products are to affiliates of the Swimming Pool Steve website. These are brands, products and services hand selected by Steve for endorsement. Please note that these endorsements can include monetary compensation, affiliate links and referral fees to Swimming Pool Steve, however there is zero additional cost to you should you use one of these products or services. Income generated from these links helps to keep this pool and spa resource available for everyone. To have your product or service considered for listing here as an endorsed brand email SwimmingPoolSteve@gmail.com.
Amazon Disclosure Statement - As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
www.PoolPartsToGo.com
New Black + Decker variable speed pumps are available online from www.PoolPartsToGo.com and they are a drop in replacement for many popular pump models including Pentair Superflo and Hayward Super Pumps. With an adjustable platform base, union connections included and a very strong warranty these pumps offer an impressive value to pool owners.
- Swimming Pool Steve
www.PoolSuppliesCanada.ca
When it comes to ordering pool and spa supplies online in Canada www.PoolSuppliesCanada.ca is by far the best option. They carry everything from chemicals to replacement pumps to entire pool kits, with free shipping options and more "in stock" items than any other Canadian online retailer.
- Swimming Pool Steve