Energy saving is a major topic everywhere, but it's especially important in Dallas, where costs are high and pools are common. That's because pools take a lot of energy; in fact, the pool pump is only second to the air conditioner in terms of energy consumption, and because pools are used almost all year, the quantity of energy consumed is larger than in other parts of the country. Furthermore, the cost of a kilowatt hour in Dallas is 12.03 ¢/kWh, which ranks it among some of the highest rates in the state of Texas.
Pool owners, on the other hand, do have alternatives for saving money on electricity, which is the good news. Some energy-saving techniques necessitate the purchase of new equipment, but given the amount of money saved on power bills over time, these techniques are well worth considering.
The following are the most effective strategies to lower your pool's energy use while still enjoying it and preventing it from becoming swamp water:
Pool Heaters Are An Energy Hog
Maintain the warmest temperature you can without becoming overheated. Although many pools are kept far warmer than experts recommend, the healthiest temperature for swimming is 78 degrees. Most recreational swimming takes place in water that is between 82 and 84 degrees, but keep in mind that raising your pool's temperature by one degree can cost you an additional 10 to 30% in heating costs. If you must keep your pool heated above 80 degrees, do so only during peak swimming hours and then reduce the heat as soon as possible. Better yet, experiment to determine what temperature is just comfortable for swimming and maintain that temperature for leisure swimming.
Another wise decision is to invest in a high-efficiency pool heater. High-efficiency heaters can achieve 90 percent efficiency, resulting in significant energy savings.
Find out which heater size is optimal for your pool, just like you did with your pump, and consider replacing a large heater with one that is correctly sized.
Get a Variable Speed Pump
Reduce the time and speed at which the pump runs by using a smaller, more energy-efficient pump:
The trouble is, the larger the pump, the higher your pumping and maintenance costs will be, so pick the smallest pump possible for the size of your pool. To determine the proper pump size for your pool, contact us online to discuss pool equipment upgrades and product specifications. In many circumstances, a .75 horsepower pump would suffice for most home pools, but make sure you get the proper pump for your needs and don't overspend on your variable speed pump.
Reducing the amount of time you run your pump reduces the amount of energy required. Reduce filtration time to six hours per day for clean water, but start with less than six hours and gradually raise pump time thirty minutes at a time until you find the magic figure that provides you clear water, then stop.
If you have the time and motivation, multiple short pumping cycles can be more efficient than running the pump all at once because a concentrated burst of pumping leaves the pool open for the remainder of the day to accumulate debris.
Keep muck out of all intake grates since blocked drains make your pump work harder.
The best alternative, however, is to invest in a variable-speed pump, which can be configured to run at the lowest speed necessary for cleaning, heating, and other tasks. Variable-speed pumps, which are often available with eight different settings, will adjust their energy usage to your pool's needs at different periods during the maintenance cycle.
Invest in LED Lighting
In comparison to incandescent bulbs, LED lights use less energy and have a longer lifespan. In comparison to incandescent bulbs, which require 300 watts of power to run, LEDs use less than 50 watts. Those kinds of figures are tough to ignore if you want to lower your pool's energy use. In fact, LED lights have been shown to save up to 90% on energy costs. When you consider that LED lights may provide up to 50,000 hours of illumination versus 4,000 hours for incandescent lighting, switching to LEDs is a no-brainer.
Purchase a Better Pool Cleaner
When it comes to pool cleaners, there are a few distinct possibilities. The one you're using was presumably designed with your pool in mind, as well as the amount of debris and usage. Suction-side cleaners attach to the suction line of a pool's plumbing system, picking up dirt and passing it to the skimmer and filtering system. A pressure-side pool cleaner attaches to a booster pump or pool pump and uses the pressure to propel the cleaner around the pool and collect waste in a filter bag that can be removed.
A robotic cleaner operates using a self-contained filtration system, low-voltage electricity, and only a simple GFI-protected electrical connection. The typical robotic cleaner uses.18 kilowatts of electricity per hour of operation, according to Pacific Gas & Electric. Your yearly energy cost would be around $59 if you used it three hours a day, every day of the year, at a cost of 30 cents per kilowatt hour. When compared to other types of cleaners, this can save you more than $500 every year.
Robotic cleaners are more expensive than regular cleaners, but they save the most energy for your pool. If you insist on using a pressure cleaner, you can save money and energy by using a variable-speed pump instead.
Invest in Pool Automation
For optimal energy efficiency and lower power bills, design your automated controller to switch your filtration system, cleaner, lighting, pumps, and water features off and on during off-peak pool hours. Automation allows you to keep track of your energy usage and make adjustments to improve efficiency.
You can, for example, you can set your variable-speed pump to run during off-peak hours when electricity is the lowest. You can also use multiple speeds for different tasks. Your energy bill will be reduced if you operate the pump at a high speed for a cleaning cycle and then reduce the flow to a minimum for circulation. Wattage readouts will also help you to fine-tune your settings even more.
You'll also save money on maintenance. Notifications when chlorine levels are low or when your filter needs to be cleaned will help you stay on top of maintenance and avoid malfunctions. Your pool pro may also remotely view chemical readings and diagnose equipment to ensure that everything is working properly.
Stay Ahead of Maintenance Problems
Daily pool upkeep may seem inconvenient, but it does add up to less money spent in the long run. So, backwash drain systems on a regular basis, lower the pool temperature when no one is swimming, and clean your filter on a regular basis. All of these things will maintain your pool running well and help you save money on energy. You should also think about the scheduling of some of these maintenance tasks. Running the pool's filtration system during off-peak hours, when electricity usage is lower, for example, can assist save money. Check with your utility to find out when these off-peak hours are, which are usually between 8 p.m. and 10 a.m.
When it comes to our home's energy consumption, it's all too easy to become complacent. We may believe that because we've always done things a certain way, no alternative options exist. It's always a good idea to keep our eyes and minds open when it comes to energy conservation, and a few small modifications can add up to huge savings if done properly.
