What Size Pump Do I Need for My Pool?
Choosing the right size pump for your pool depends on three factors: the volume of water in the pool, the diameter of your pool plumbing and the size of your filter. It’s a waste of time and money to install a pump with a flow rate greater than the capacity of the plumbing and the filter to handle it. On the other hand, if you try to save money by undersizing the pump, it will not turnover the water properly, leading to poor filtration. Determining Pool Volume If you don’t already know the volume of your pool in U.S. gallons, use an online pool water volume calculator (see Additional Resources). The pump should “turn over” or circulate the entire volume of the pool in at least 10 hours. In a moderately or heavily used pool, 6 to 8 hours is even better. For example, if you have a 20,000 gallon pool, the flow rate needs to be about 33 gallons per minute (20,000 gallons/10 hours/60 minutes = 33.3 gpm). For an 8-hour turnover, you need a pump with a flow rate of about 42 gpm. Determining P
