Benefits of a Variable Speed Pump

In this video, I cover some of the great benefits of replacing your standard speed pump with a Variable Speed Pump. A Variable Speed pump like the Jandy VS FloPro that appears in this video series does just what the name implies, it runs at different speeds are known as RPM.

RPM stands for “Revolutions per minute (abbreviated rpm, RPM, rev/min, r/min) is a measure of the frequency of rotation, specifically the number of in one minute.” - Wikipedia

By running at variable speeds which I will refer to as RPM, the pump consumes less power as it is running at a lower RPM. Just to contrast, the 2 HP WisperFlo pump I replaced would run at 2400 Watts each hour for 4 hours a day – consuming 9,600 watts or 9.6 kWh of electricity.

“The kilowatt-hour (symbol kWh) is a derived unit of energy equal to 3.6 megajoules. If the energy is being transmitted or used at a constant rate (power) over a period of time, the total energy in kilowatt-hours is the power in kilowatts multiplied by the time in hours.” -Wikipedia.

By running my Jandy VS FloPro at 1750 RPM for 7 hours a day, it generates 230 watts every hour or 1.7 kWh per day. That is a savings of 7 kWh per day or 210 kWh per month. If you are on a tiered billing system like I am here in California, this can translate into overall savings by keeping you in a lower tier with lower per kWh rates.

To see how much you can save each year try entering your current pump size and run time in Jandy's online calculator. I can almost guarantee that the savings in the first year will pay for the VS pump itself: http://www.jandy.com/en/calculators/pool-pump-savings

There is the upfront cost of replacing your existing pump but that will be offset by years of savings. So the number one benefit of a variable speed pump is the energy savings each year. This benefit alone is enough to make the switch in most cases.

Here is a look at my energy use in August before I installed the VS FloPro at my house. Contrast with my usage in September from the 6th on when I installed the pump. Note also that I had my pump off for two days from the 6th to the 8th as I was installing and filming the pump for my YouTube Channel. Running the VS pump is like having the pump off all month as you can see from the usage chart.

Keep in mind also that the daily temperature in August and September was the low 90's to over 100 degrees several days each month. The temperature rarely dipped below 90 degrees for these two months. So I was running my A/C almost daily, which consumes a lot of energy.

You can see from the August bill that I entered Tier 3 on the 16th of the month meaning from the 16th until the 29th I was paying much higher per kWh rate. Contrast that with my September bill where I didn't reach Tier 3 until the 25th - near the end of the billing cycle. And that was because the first 5 days of the billing cycle I was running mt standard 2 HP pump - avg 50 kWh during those 5 days.

The evidence from my two monthly bills is clear - the VS pump is saving me money. My average daily use dropped from 44 kWh to 30 kWh after installing the VS pump. I expect to see even more substantial savings each month and all of next year. The pump will pay for itself in the 1st year.

Since the VS pump is running at a lower RPM the motors on the VS pumps are very long-lasting. Imagine running a Marathon at full speed without slowing down from mile one to mile 26. That is how a standard speed pump runs all day long. Over time the bearings start to wear out, the motor gets loud and the internal parts like the impeller wear down. And they don't make pool motors like they used to, you are lucky to get 4 years out of a motor built-in today's market.

The VS pump, in contrast, uses a DC motor or Direct Current motor as opposed to your standard pump running off of AC or Alternating Current. The DC motor can better handle running at variable speeds, and since the motor is rarely running at it's full 3450 RPM, the lower speeds translate into less strain. So instead of running a marathon every day with 4-minute miles, which would create much strain and wear on your feet, legs and body, a VS pump walks the 26.2 miles each day.

I have several VS pumps on my pool route that or 8 or 9 years old, the first generation of these pumps, and they are all working just fine. I have yet to replace a VS pump motor. So the long term investment in a VS pump should include at least 2 motor replacements of a standard speed pump at the cost of $400 each.

A great side benefit of a VS pump is its longevity along with the money you save on energy, you save money also on replacement costs. Something that is often overlooked.

Pool pumps are noisy. And if you have one running up against your house, you hear it every day. When you are outside enjoying your backyard, the drone of the pool pump is constant. Since VS pumps run at a lower RPM, the pump runs much quieter. In fact at 1750 RPM you have to check to make sure it is really running. Even at 2400 RPM it is still much quieter than a standard speed pump. After installing my VS pump I frequently step in the equipment area to see if it is running. My pool equipment sits right up against my home office and now I never hear it running.

With a VS pump you can enjoy a much quieter backyard experience. It is a great side-benefit, and along with the great energy savings, makes replacing your loud standard speed pump even more inviting.

So there you have it. Three great benefits of a Variable Speed pump. There should be no real reason to hesitate in replacing your standard pump. You will only regret not doing it sooner.

To see a chart with my monthly energy savings after installing the VS FloPro at my house see this blog article:

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