Why do you need to operate a pool pump for 8 hours a day?

This is a commonly asked question. Here is my reply:

There are two reasons for this:

1. Salt chlorinators are generally sized to produce significant chlorine to sanitize a pool over an 8 hour period, and
2. The pool skims the surface and cleans leaves and debris for at least 1/3 of each 24 hour period.

Some other factors to consider when determining the actual speed of the pump during filtration:

• Is the pool skimming effectively?
• Is the chlorinator cell full?
• Is there sufficient circulation to move water to all parts of the swimming pool?
• If a suction pool cleaner is in use, will it operate effectively at the filter speed?

In any case, adjusting the pump speed up to achieve these requirements will still result in very significant operational savings.