A swimming pool pump or filter pump takes care of the circulation of the water. The water is pumped through the sand or cartridge filter to remove impurities. The pump itself has a filter basket in which coarse impurities like leaves, hair and insects remain so that they can’t cause damage to the pump.
Types of pumps
There are self-priming and non-self-priming pumps. Non-self-priming pumps are mainly used for small pools and above-ground pools. They are placed below the water level. Self-priming pumps are used for any type of pool. They can be installed both above and below the water level. If you install it above the water level, you must pay attention that there is water in the chamber with the prefilter. A pump can’t run on air in any occasion. As an additional safety measure we recommend placing a check valve. That way the water never flows in the wrong direction.
Different speeds
There are pumps with 1 speed and there are pumps with variable speeds. A pump with variable speeds has multiple programs. Each program pumps at a different speed. The energy consumption of pumps with variable speed is much lower than that of traditional pumps. Moreover, there is a broad choice of possibilities in pumps with variable speed. Going from manually set speeds to programmable automatic speeds.
A pump with variable speeds is more expensive than a traditional pump. But thanks to the many savings, a pump with variable speeds earns itself back quickly. The water is being filtered better so there is less need of chemicals and backwashes. Its energy consumption is about 80 % lower than a pump with just one speed. In addition, a pump with variable speeds does not run continuously at high speed. This prolongs its lifespan and means that the pump often does its work silently.
A frequency control can be used for all types of pumps and provides the same advantages as a pump with variable speeds.
Properties
A filter pump always exists out of a pre-filter, a motor of 230 Volts (monophasic) or a motor of 400 Volts (triphasic), a fan, a motor axis and a mechanical axis seal. The casing is made of plastic, synthetic material of fiberglass or bronze. All these materials are treated so that they are resistant to chemicals and salt water.
1. Motor
2. Mechanical seal
3. Flywheel
4. Pump house
5. Pump cover
6. Pump basket
Connections
All pumps can be connected to tubes of different diameters. The connections of the suction and pressure side vary from pump to pump. Most pumps have an inner and/or outer screw-thread. Connection pieces with a diameter of 50 or 63 mm are used most often.
You can glue your flexible or hard tubes with these dimensions directly into the connection pieces. The connection pieces are equipped with a swivel so that they can be disconnected at any time, without having to saw the tube off. When you use tubes of other diameters, you only need the right PVC pieces to make the transition to the desired diameter.
.jpg)
Placement
A swimming pool pump is best installed in a well ventilated and dry place that isn’t too far from the pool. Never let a swimming pool pump run without water. The water provides cooling. A pump that runs without water will burn and the damage that entails will never fall under warranty.
Winter
In winter the water must be released from the pump and the pump has to be stored in a dry and frost-free place. The pump can only continue to run in winter when using a thermostat.
How to choose?
A filter pump is chosen by the amount of water in the swimming pool and by the head. The higher the water has to be pumped, the more resistance the pump experiences and the more powerful the pump has to be. The sand filter is selected on the size of the pump. If the sand filter is too small, too much pressure will arise which will create the possibility of an explosion. You can find an indication table below.
| Swimming pool Volume | Pump | Sand filter diameter (mm) | Number of bags of sand / glass beads |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0 - 10 m³ | 3.5 m³/h - 0.25 kW (0.35 hp) | 300 | 1 |
| 10 - 20 m³ | 4 m³/h - 0.25 kW (0.35 hp) | 350 | 1 |
| 20 - 30 m³ | 6 - 9 m³/h - 0.33 - 0.55 kW (0.5 - 0.75 hp) | 400 - 450 | 2 |
| 30 - 40 m³ | 9 - 12 m³/h - 0.33 - 0.55 kW (0.5 - 0.75 hp) | 450 - 500 | 2 - 3 |
| 40 - 50 m³ | 12 m³/h - 0.75 (1 hp) | 500 - 550 | 3 |
| 50 - 75 m³ | 15 - 20 m³/h - 1 kW (1.5 hp) | 600 - 750 | 6 - 8 |
| 75 - 100 m³ | 20 - 30 m³/h - 1.5 kW (2 hp) | 750 - 900 | 10 - 15 |