Swimming Pools

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Choosing

Which type of Swimming pool Filter for you?

Swimming Pool Pump and Motor

The Swimming Pool Surface Skimmer

The Swimming Pool Piping and Plumbing

The Swimming Pool Activating the Water

Heating the Swimming Pool

Type of Swimming Pool Heaters

The Swimming Pool Energy-Saving Suggestions

Swimming Pool Automatic Controls Accessories

Pump and Motor

The combination of pump and motor draws water from the pool, forces it through the filter from the pool, forces it through the filter and heater, and returns it to the pool.

he pump is usually made of bronze or plastic and consists of the impeller (a bladed wheel), mounted on a shaft driven by the motor. Because of its rotational pumping action, it is known as a centrifugal pump.

Most swimming pool pumps are self-priming – that is, they expel all the air from the system when they start running and thus maintain a suction. Running a pump that has lost its prime will cause the pump to overheat and be damaged.

Self-priming pumps have a lint and hair filter on the intake side of the pump to catch large particles of foreign matter before they enter and clog the pump impeller.

What to look for when choosing a Pump and Motor

When choosing a pump and motor, you'll want to consider the energy saving models. One way to compare the electrical efficiency of pumps is to compare the ratio of liters pumped to kilowatt hours used. Just divide the liters of water pumped in 1 hour by the pump rating in kilowatts. If the pump is rated in horsepower, convert the horsepower rating to kilowatts by multiplying it by 0.746. The higher the resulting number, the more efficient the pump.

Beware of claims emphasizing the horsepower of the pump; this is an incidental consideration if you expect to obtain the maximum operational economy. To determine the best pump size for a particular system, a professional support designer will do the following:

Determine the total number of liters in the swimming pool.
Select there proper turnover rate for the pool.
Calculate the needed pipe sizes for minimal friction losses.
Calculate the total head (pressure) and flow requirements of the pool system.
From the pump performance curves, select the pump that meets the calculated requirements. The performance curve of a pump indicates the number of liters per minute it can pump against a range of pressure heads
Choose a filter model which will accept the number of liters per minute that the selected pump is rated for at the total head of the system. Follow the manufacturer's guidelines for the filter media selected.
Choose electrical wiring and circuit breaker sizes recommended in the pump installation manual.
Consider the use of time clocks that precisely control the periods that pump and heater are on.

Point to consider when choosing a pump are its pumping capacity relative to your pool size, the pump's operating costs, and maintenance needs. To avoid corrosion, as many parts as possible should be made of materials that are corrosion resistant. The motor should be water resistant, and electrically isolated and insulated.

Caution when installing the Swimming Pool Pump

Installing the pump requires some care. It should be at or slightly above water level and as close to the pool as possible. If it's located more than 12 meters from the swimming pool, the piping diameter must be increased to overcome the additional head loss.