Installing a New Pool Pump

Choosing the Right Pump

Pool pumps take electricity to run. Sometimes that can add up to high energy costs during the pool season. If you are installing a new pool or replacing your old pump, you should consider the savings from a new energy-efficient pool pump. There are various new pumps on the market that can save 80 to 90 percent of the energy costs from the old pump. You must choose the right-sized pump for your pool also. If you have a large in-ground pool, it will take a much stronger pump than that of a small above-ground pool. Your pump needs to be able to turn over all of your water every 12 hours to keep your pool clean.
A pump has specifications that will tell you how many gallons per minute it will be able to run through. A pool of 15,000 gallons of water needs about a 20-gallon per minute output on the pump to run it 24 hours a day. This doesn't always come down to horsepower. Most pool pumps are oversized for the needs of the pool. Most pool owners don't run the pump 24 hours a day because of the cost. However, with a new efficient multi/variable speed pump, you can run the pump 24 hours a day and cut your energy costs. Running the pump 24 hours a day with a new energy efficient pump will also reduce your maintenance time, keep your pool cleaner and it's good for the environment.

Installing the Pump

Before working on your pump, make sure to turn off all the electrical power to it. Then remove the old pump by unscrewing the water lines and disconnecting the conduit adapter from the back of the motor. Cut the PVC pipes going into the front and the top of the old pump, and you should be able to take it away. To start, clean all connections that will be used to connect to the new pump and allow them to dry. First, the return water can be connected by applying pipe sealant to the threads of the plastic nipple and screwing into the pump-intake port. Apply contact to cement to the ends of the remaining joints and slip them together. Turn them slightly to spread the cement evenly. Then attach the return compression fitting. From the pump to the filter, attach new PVC pipe. To attach these pieces together, use sleeves and elbows. Use purple primer inside the edges of the sleeves and elbows and on the ends of the pipes. It will need to set up for a minute or two. Then you can put the glue in the same places and push them together. Make sure you use a good-quality PVC adhesive. Turn the joints slightly before the adhesive sets up to spread it out evenly and then hold them together until the adhesive starts to set. Put the new PVC pipe together one at a time so you aren't trying to hold pieces all over the place. Once your pipes are all installed, place the conduit adapter from the old pump onto the back of the new pump. Now the pump should be ready to go.

Check for Leaks and Prime the Pump

Do not turn the pump on until you have filled it with water. Running a pump without water will burn it out. Most new pumps are self-priming, so once you've put water in it, you can turn on the power and turn on the pump. Check for leaks, and make sure the pump is priming. If not, try placing it on backwash for a minute and see if that fills it up. If you have any leaks around a compression fitting, you've probably tightened it too much. Turn off the pump and take the fitting apart. Dry it off and put it back on by only hand tightening. You can also check the top of the pump basket and make sure the cover door gasket is not twisted. If there are no leaks, the pump is ready to go. Newer energy efficient pool pumps are controlled by a computer that will need to be set. You will provide information such as how many gallons of water your pool holds and the turnover rate. After the computer is set, the pump almost runs itself and they are extremely quiet.

Resources

• Pumps for Every Size Pool