Pool Pumps & Heaters

There are more than 8.5 million residential pools installed across the United States. A key component of these pools is the pool pump, which re-circulates water through a filter to maintain water clarity and cleanliness. All swimming pools have at least one recirculation pump, but many have multiple pumps. 

Many pool owners don’t realize how much energy their pool pump may be wasting. Pool pump speeds vary based on the pool’s operation. Filtration, for example, only requires half the flow rate of running a pool cleaner. Conventional pool pumps, with only one speed, are set to run at the higher speeds required of the pool cleaner and waste energy during filtration operation by running faster than necessary. Your pool pump could be your home’s second largest energy user, costing you as much as $540 a year per pump. 

East Hampton Town Code requires pools to meet certain energy conservation standards for both construction and equipment.  Pumps and controls are required to have a time switch mechanism installed as part of the pool water circulation control system that automatically operates the system for the time necessary to maintain proper sanitary conditions and then automatically turns the system off. Pumps must also be programmed to run during off-peak electric demand periods, unless circulating water through a heat exchanger or solar-heater.  In addition, all pool heaters installed after September 1, 2016, must meet the minimum energy efficiency requirements set by the United States Department of Energy.

There are options for pool owners to replace pumps with more energy efficient equipment.

  • Two-speed pool pump models use a low speed for filtration and a higher speed for cleaning
  • Variable speed pool pump models can be programmed to the proper speed for multiple tasks

ENERGY STAR certified two-speed and variable-speed pool pumps use up to 80% less energy than conventional pumps. Less energy use means savings on home energy bills, often up to $433 in savings a year, per pump. The amount of CO2 emissions avoided by switching to an ENERGY STAR variable speed pool pump is equivalent to not driving an average passenger car for 109 days.  ENERGY STAR certified pumps also run quieter and can prolong the life of your pool’s filtering system.

It may be time to replace your current pool pump if it :

  • Is 7 to 10 years old
  • Does not seem to be as powerful
  • Continually makes noise,
  • Gets hot and shuts down 
  • Hums or buzzes but will not start, or
  • Starts up slowly

Replacing your pool heater with a more efficient heat pump pool heater can save energy and money too.

Replacing your conventional pool pump and pool heater with ENERGY STAR certified models will help your home be greener by using less energy, and can save you hundreds on annual electric bills.

REBATES & INCENTIVES

PSEG-LI is offering:

  • Up to $1,000 REBATE on eligible heat pump pool heaters
  • THE PSEG REBATE FOR POOL PUMPS HAS BEEN DISCONTINUED AS OF 10/31/2021. PLEASE CHECK BACK FOR FUTURE UPDATES.

For more information:

https://www.psegliny.com/saveenergyandmoney/energystarrebates

https://www.energystar.gov/products/other/pool_pumps

Last updated Nov. 1, 2022