Is it better to run a pool pump at night or day?

With the improved efficiency of automatic pool cleaners, when you run your pool pump seems less important. Does it make a difference when the pump runs? Should you run your pool pump at night or day?

The answer might surprise you. Yes, it does make a difference – both in cleaning power and cost.

You can run your pump all day if you like, but be warned, it's expensive to do so. If you've got a solar-powered system, it might be more feasible, but even then you're draining the batteries. Aside from the additional power requirements, running the pump all day is hard on the motor.

It’s clearly not feasible to run your pool pump all day. Having clearly defined goals will help you to determine the optimum time to run your pump.

Saving Electricity

To save electricity, check the pump's manual and work out how long it takes to clean your pool. Run the pump for the correct number of hours per day for a couple of weeks.

Then reduce the time by an hour a day. If it doesn’t make a noticeable difference to the water quality, you can save electricity easily this way.

Next, check if your power provider offers an economy rate. If they do, find out how to take advantage of this rate from them. Also, check what the conditions are. The economy rate usually applies during off-peak periods.

If you run the machinery during off-peak periods, you’ll pay a lower rate for the electricity used.

Maximizing Sanitation

Before you change the time you run the motor for, here’s another thing to consider. Chlorine, when mixed with water, forms hypochlorite. Hypochlorite kills bacteria in the water. Doing so causes it to break down. When exposed to sunlight and heat, hypochlorite also breaks down, releasing chlorine gas.

The breakdown of hypochlorite is most significant on a hot, sunny summer’s day. Coincidentally, that’s also when you’re most likely to be in the pool. If the water circulates through the system, the chlorine levels are replenished. If the water is stagnant, bacteria might have a chance to grow.

The Results Are Like Night and Day

It boils down to what your goals are and how often you use your pool. If you want to focus on reducing your electricity bill, running the pump during off-peak hours makes more sense. If you’re more concerned about how sanitary the water is, running the pump during the day is a better option.

You might also be interested in our article: Can you leave robotic pool cleaner in pool?