Swimming in Savings: Reducing Your Pool's Energy Costs This Year

Summertime in New England signifies pool parties and fun. It can also mean big spending on pool maintenance, including water temperature management and general cleanliness.  

Below are some tips for quick home adjustments you can make, as well as information on energy efficient equipment that can make a substantial difference in your energy costs this summer. While these tips might seem simple, they often get forgotten in the excitement of summer. To help with your savings this year, be sure to do the following:

1. Turn it Down

The first and most obvious tip is to turn down the standard temperature setting on your pool heater. While it may be nice to jump into a warm pool during the cooler summer evenings, generally anything above 78 degrees is unnecessarily high. Unless someone in your family has a medical condition that requires warmer water, turning the overall temperature down a bit can save hundreds of dollars over the course of your summer.

2. Take Cover!

An enormous amount of heat is lost from your pool at night if you aren’t using a cover. While the sun and your pool heater work during the day to warm the water, colder air temperatures and wind drain this heat during the night. There are a wide variety of pool covers, ranging from simple and manual to state-of-the-art motorized covers. No matter which type of pool cover you choose, make sure that it spans over the entire pool, creating a tight seal to keep the air out.

3. Take a Break

Going on vacation this summer? If you plan on being away for a week or more, consider shutting off the pool heater or pump completely. This will ensure that no energy is wasted on heating a pool that nobody is using. Just be sure to cover it up to keep debris and leaves from blowing in.

4. Cycle Less

Most filters come with a number of settings and options for the frequency at which the water gets cycled through. It’s essential to regularly clean your pool, not only for its visual presentation, but also for the general health of your pool’s system. Take a look at your pool system’s handbook and think about reducing the number of cycles on your filtering system.  If you need help, don’t hesitate to reach out to the manufacturer.

A Better Pool Pump

ENERGY STAR^® pool pumps are designed to save you money by functioning in a more advanced way than traditional single-speed pumps.

Conventional pool pumps operate continually at one speed, and therefore can be inefficient for tasks where differing speeds are preferred. For example, the speed for filtering typically varies from the speed used for cleaning.

Energy efficient pool pumps offer a range of varying speeds, resulting in better efficiency and bigger savings. Some highlights of the many benefits ENERGY STAR certified pool pumps offer include:

• Less energy. These pumps use up to 70% less energy than standard pumps.
• Less noise. Energy efficient pumps generally run more quietly than traditional pumps.
• More savings. Multi-speed pool pumps can save up to $445 each year in energy costs. They can also be less strenuous on your system, resulting in less repair costs and a longer lifespan for your filtering system.

In general, ENERGY STAR certified pool pumps are built to match the activity, size, and type of your pool. By leveraging this technology, you can save on pool maintenance costs each year, without having to stress or worry. By purchasing one of these pumps early in the year, you’ll stay ahead of the game and prolong your pool system’s well-being.  

To learn more about saving big on energy during this summer season, visit our blog and read up on ways to save.