Department of Energy Single Speed Pump Law
The Department of Energy regulation will require all pumps past a certain
horsepower rating to meet an efficiency threshold. It looks as if, effective in
2021, variable-speed pumps will become mandatory for powering a pool's or spa's
filtration system and other applications.
What
does this mean to builders, installers, and consumers? Basically, any
single-speed pump greater than ¾ hp will no longer be allowed to be sold
beginning July 19th, 2021. Manufacturers will not be allowed to sell
these single-speed pumps that do not meet the new DOE regulations. Since most
single-speed pumps over 1 hp currently fail to meet the DEO guidelines, one of
the only options for upgrading your pool pump will be the purchase and
installation of a Variable Speed pump (after July 19th, 2021).
This
is not all bad however since Variable Speed pumps are now at their pinnacle in
design and function and the new DEO rules have actually made the manufacturers
step up their game. Jandy now offers a wide variety of Variable Speed pumps
ranging from .85 hp to 2.7 hp and most of them are dual voltage. This means
they will work with both 230 volts and 115 volts depending on the model. Since
there are a number of older homes on 115V single breakers, just a year ago
there weren’t many options for you regarding upgrading to a Variable Speed pump.
Now there are about 6-7 different VS pumps from all three major manufacturers
that off dual voltage.
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 the 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.
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.
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 single-speed 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 its 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.
YouTube Video Index: http://poolmandave.blogspot.com/2014/03/swimming-pool-tips-reviews-how-to-video.html – A
list of all of my videos.
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