How much money can I save with an eco-pump.
You will almost always save money with an eco-pump the question is how much will I save and is it worthwhile.
Eco-pumps come in two types, there is the older three speed model where each individual speed is fixed and cannot be changed, there is also a newer variable speed model which has three buttons low medium high each of which can be adjusted to whatever speed you like.
The new adjustable speed pumps do not cost much more than the older fixed 3 speed version and have a significant advantage in that you can set your pool up to its most economical flow rate.
The amounts of money you can save very much depends on what size pump is already installed in your pool.
At $0.28 per kilowatt a 1 hp pump that is running eight hours per day in late spring /summer, four hours per day in winter and six hours per day in spring and autumn will cost the following.
Spring summer 18 weeks 28c x .75kw 7 x 8 x 18 = $211.68
Spring autumn 21 weeks 28c x .75kw 7 x 6 x 21 = $185.22
Winter 13 weeks 28c x .75kw 7 x 4 x 13 =$76.44
Total =$473.34
Total operating cost for a 1 hp pump is $473.34
Total operating cost for a 1.5 hp pump is $710.01
Some older 1 hp pumps and 1.5 hp pumps will consume up to 20% more energy than this, so it’s clear when a pump manufacturer advertises their three speed pump or eco-pump as saving over thousand dollars per year unless the pump prints money this can’t be done.
However eco-pumps can save you a significant amount of money and pay for themselves very quickly especially if you currently have a 1.5 hp pump.
An eco-pump will have to run for longer hours than a standard pool pump the cost calculation looks like this.
Spring summer 18 weeks 28c x .2kw 7 x 14 x 18 = $98.78
Spring autumn 21 weeks 28c x .2kw 7 x 10 x 21 = $82.32
Winter 13 weeks 28c x .2kw 7 x 7 x 13 = $35.67
Total = $216.77
total operating cost for an eco-pump replacing a 1.0 hp pump is $216.77
total operating cost for an eco-pump replacing a 1.5 hp pump is $295.00
The reason why an eco-pump costs more to run when it is being used to replace a 1.5 hp pump is that the pump will have to be run at a higher setting or for more hours because typically the 1.5 hp pump is fitted to a larger pool that has a higher water circulation requirement.
As you can see the savings are huge, when you can run an eco-pump at its lowest setting you will save between $250 and $415 per year.
Unfortunately you can not always run an eco-pump at its lowest setting. The two main reasons this will occur is when you have a suction automatic pool cleaner connected to your skimmer box and when you have a salt chlorinator.
Most suction automatic pool cleaners require a higher setting on the pump to clean the pool and if you have an automatic salt chlorinator the eco-pump may not fill the cell up with water requiring a higher setting on the pump.
If you have a suction pool cleaner connected to your skimmer it is more likely that the eco-pump will run on its medium setting so the operating cost of the pump will increase to $300 per year when replacing a 1 hp pump or to $400 per year if replacing a 1.5 hp pump.
The operating cost of the eco-pump can be $300 to $400 per year if the speed is turned up to fill the salt cell if fitted.
The savings are still significant but you won’t save a thousand dollars per year on your pool operating costs
When you offer a key or card security system you’ll already understand the problem of piggybacking. Undoubtedly one of the most abused weaknesses of an automated access control system, this particular structure doesn’t filter the number of people that it grants access to. For the most part all these systems allow is the electronic control of a particular door at any given time, so this allows people who don’t have access the option to gain entry to your building or secure area by default. As long as a non-authorized person waits for someone who carries the key to either enter or exit, they can get in.