I have heard different recommendations on whether a pool pump should run 24/7 or just a set amount of time each day. I have a 18,000 gallon pool with a 1.5 HP pump. Currently I run 24/7 and my water is always clear. But am I wasting energy and wearing out my pump prematurely – I just replaced my pump after 5 years of use so I wonder did running it 24/7 kill my old one.
Hello SteveinMO - The pump does not need to run 24/7. In residential pools, the body of water needs to turnover once a day. An average run time is 8 hours a day. We have a great blog article titled “How Long Should I Run My Pool Pump”.
Running it 24/7 doesn’t shorten the life of the pump by much, if at all. It is not uncommon for motors to only last five years.