The durability of pools is a question asked by many people while looking for the right pool to buy. A common follow up question revolved around pool pumps, the “engine” of a swimming pool: How long does a pool pump last?
While most people will answer it with a phrase like “it depends on the use” we’d like to give a little more specific answers. The age usually varies from 9 to 12 years.
Though you could make it last longer by taking care of a few important factors. While understanding the life expectancy of pools, it is important to list down the factors that affect the overall life of a pool. There are many factors ranging from the size of the pump to the number of hours it is used on a daily basis. These factors are listed below
How Long Does A Pool Pump Last? Size Matters
If the size of the pump is too small, it will understandably be a bit slow in filling up the pool and in the process, there is a high chance that it overworks itself. Most of the time, the small pumps will have to run longer than normal ones in order to compensate and fill the pools. This causes extra time and resources. This extra usage then causes a reduction in the overall lifespan of the pump.
Pool Pump Usage
The number of times the pump is used heavily affects its durability and lifespan. The frequency with which it is run, plus the duration of each run are both factors that affect the life of the pump. It is quite simple to understand, the more the pump is used, the less it’s lifespan.
The choice of a strong, durable pump could give you the chance to enhance its lifespan even while using it regularly. The most commonly used types of pool pumps are the single speed pool pump and the variable speed pool pump. The cost of the single-speed is considerably lower.
But they carry with them the disadvantage of being able to run at just a single speed, as the name suggests. This results in a constant amount of energy being used even if lower pumping power was required. The second type is variable speed pool pumps which offer a wide range of different speeds.
This makes it suitable for use in different situations where the requirement is different. One particular speed might be good for a situation but bad for others, so you can choose accordingly. The ability of these pumps to switch gears as required makes them much more energy-efficient than the single-speed pumps.
How regular maintenance can do wonders
Regular maintenance of any mechanical machine gives it a longer life. It is normal for little parts such as nuts and bolts, seals, and rings to go through wear and tear and require replacement. As the items wear and tear, it is best to oil them regularly and replace them where needed.
The quicker you respond to a malfunctioning part, the better. It not only saves you money in the long term, it also ensures there is no break in operations. Therefore, it is highly recommended to get the pump checked every few months to make sure it is in perfect shape and is working to the best of its capacity.
It is especially important to check for the small things like missing nuts or screws, tiny little cracks in the body, worn out rings or broken seals. It is common for people to forget about the pump when it’s not in use, that is one of the biggest reason that reduces the lifespan of the pump. But the people who use the pumps regularly and take care of its maintenance are usually the ones who get to use it for the longest durations.
Misconceptions about maintenance cost
There is also a misconception about the cost of maintenance. By all measurements, the cost of regular maintenance is still much lesser than the cost of replacing the pump altogether. Regular maintenance could save you lots of money as well by prolonging the life of the pump.
Having said that, even with regular maintenance, a time will come when it will be better to replace the pump than to keep using it. It’s hard to determine exactly when a replacement is needed, so we’ll help you with that decision
When is it the right time to change a pump?
Some of the most evident indicators that your pump needs replacing are listed below:
- A crack in the housing
- A worn-out casing
- If any body part is outdated
- The pump is more than 10 years old
It is up to you to keep an eye out for these signs. Once you see any of them, you can’t wait. The best thing to do is to change the motors as soon as possible. Any delay could cause bigger problems that would cost a lot of money to fix.
How can you be sure it’s time to replace the motor?
There are 2 distinct indicators that tell you it is time to replace the motor. The first one is when the motor starts making too much noise. There are various sources of this sound. It could originate from the bearings of the motor, or they could be caused by a capacitor that doesn’t work properly.
Cost of Pool Pumps
At this point, it is also important that you know understand the costing of the pool pumps in case you have to replace yours any time soon. The cost depends upon factors such as size and type. The 3 common pumps are the Single Speed Pump, Dual Speed pump, and the Variable speed pump. Their typical range of pricing is as follows:
- Single-speed – $150-500
- Dual speed – $400-800
- Variable speed – $700-1700
How Long Does A Pool Pump Last? Our Final Thoughts
Deciding whether or not to replace a pump is a tough decision, and a tricky one too. We hope we made it just a bit easier with everything that’s explained above. The key is to know what type of pump you are using, and do routine checkups and maintenance.
If you keep doing that, you’ll automatically know when to replace it and get a better, fresh pump to fill up your pool.