Pool Circulation Times

angeypangey


Joined: 25/06/2008
Posts: 26

Message Posted:
19/08/2009 12:35

What do the experts recommend as the ideal timings for a pool to circulate/overflow?

I've read on the internet you need 1 hour for every 10 degrees of heat...

Many people say 8 hours a day at this time of year...

I've read somewhere that 6xhalf hours is sufficient...

If its 8 hours, how best to split the time ie 8x1 hour / 2 x 4 hours / 4 x 2 hours etc best during the day/ best at night?



What are peoples views?



Thanks

TRNCVaughan


Joined: 27/04/2008
Posts: 4578

Message Posted:
19/08/2009 13:13

Pool water content, in litres, divided by pump duty in litres/per hour.

This will give you the minimum hours run in any 24.

keithcaley



Joined: 13/06/2008
Posts: 2521

Message Posted:
19/08/2009 13:21

I got 'told off' by Zerochlor and another specialist for recommending 4 hours, so I've changed mine to 8 hours now (I usually do what I'm told...)

Circulating the water by means of the pump serves two main purposes - firstly to shift the entire volume of water in the pool through the filter in the recommended period, to 'sieve out' algae etc, and secondly to move any floating leaves etc to the side of the pool (for overflow type pools), or into the 'skimmer' (for skimmer type pools).

As algae growth is proportional to the amount of sunlight, it is advisable to have sufficient circulation during the peak 10:00 to 16:00 period, with the remainder split into 30 minutes periods at 3 hour intervals over the rest of the day.

The thinking behind this is that it takes in excess of 3 hours for leaves to become so waterlogged that they sink, and it should take less than 30 minutes to wash floating leaves to the side. So the leaves end up at the side, not on the bottom!

keithcaley



Joined: 13/06/2008
Posts: 2521

Message Posted:
19/08/2009 13:31

I ran out of space there...

I wouldn't argue with Vaughan - he's bigger than I am, as well as being a lot cleverer!

I did the sums that he mentioned, and came to the conclusion that 8 hours was probably about right for my pool...

Vaughan has mentioned before on here that running the pump for longer than necessary is just a waste of electricity and money, it simply does not serve any purpose!

The actual number of hours required will depend on how well the pool equipment installer has matched the power rating of the pump to the volume of water in the pool, as well as other factors such as the diameter of the pipes, length of pipe runs, bends, valves, and other 'constrictions'

At the end of the day, there is an element of 'suck it and see' for non-professionals (like me ).

angeypangey


Joined: 25/06/2008
Posts: 26

Message Posted:
19/08/2009 14:29

Thank you for your replies chaps.

Not meaning to sound like a complete fool but how do I know my pump duty in litres/hour?

TRNCVaughan


Joined: 27/04/2008
Posts: 4578

Message Posted:
19/08/2009 14:35

Identify your pump and look for makers name and model - e.g. Astral, Victoria. Then on the data plate look for hp or ps or kW.

zerochlor


Joined: 03/04/2009
Posts: 4024

Message Posted:
19/08/2009 15:09

Message 4



keithcaley



nice description ('suck it and see' )



hope your pool is looking good!



oh and good info.

JohhnyLee


Joined: 25/04/2009
Posts: 2495

Message Posted:
19/08/2009 15:26

OK you all going to dispute this I,m sure but it,s fact, Our pool was filled on July the 1st. We are on generator power, so our elec is very very limited, I also log the hours we use genny, to run a constant costing, Also we have been doing a very detailed leak test on our pool, so everything is logged and monitored, it has only been on over flow twice, for a total of 4hours.and it has been on circulate for maximum of 2 hours per day, some days it is not on, ie if im not around to start genny, Our pool is a 10 x5 with 2 corners removed to suit the shape of the house, so probably similar to a standard 8 x 4, 68 tons in pool and 9 ton in tank. Our water is perfect and clean. I will add that the design of our house is such that the pool does not get to much sun, Obviously the reduced water temp. is a big bonus to us,Pool guy said fantastic pool the waters cold in Summer, I was also amazed that when it rained last week for 1 hour approx, it put 5.5 ctms of water into the pool.

JohhnyLee


Joined: 25/04/2009
Posts: 2495

Message Posted:
19/08/2009 15:26

OK you all going to dispute this I,m sure but it,s fact, Our pool was filled on July the 1st. We are on generator power, so our elec is very very limited, I also log the hours we use genny, to run a constant costing, Also we have been doing a very detailed leak test on our pool, so everything is logged and monitored, it has only been on over flow twice, for a total of 4hours.and it has been on circulate for maximum of 2 hours per day, some days it is not on, ie if im not around to start genny, Our pool is a 10 x5 with 2 corners removed to suit the shape of the house, so probably similar to a standard 8 x 4, 68 tons in pool and 9 ton in tank. Our water is perfect and clean. I will add that the design of our house is such that the pool does not get to much sun, Obviously the reduced water temp. is a big bonus to us,Pool guy said fantastic pool the waters cold in Summer, I was also amazed that when it rained last week for 1 hour approx, it put 5.5 ctms of water into the pool.

JohhnyLee


Joined: 25/04/2009
Posts: 2495

Message Posted:
19/08/2009 15:29

Sorry I posted twice, (it,s my age)

TRNCVaughan


Joined: 27/04/2008
Posts: 4578

Message Posted:
19/08/2009 15:41

Pumps are run to provide filtration. This removes organic matter from the pool such as leaves, dust, skin and hair.

The sanitizing of the water is provided by the treatment of the water by chemicals, be they chlorine or any other.

The figures I have quoted are the industry norm with which you should experience no problems. If you can get away with less then that is a bonus with a (small) risk attached to it.

Ozbey


Joined: 04/03/2009
Posts: 304

Message Posted:
19/08/2009 16:55

re msg 9.

If your pool rose by 5.5cm when I thought we had around 1cm of rain, then most of it must have run in (or blown in) from the surrounding ground - possibly aided by all the water running off your roof. I wouldn't be too pleased about that as my gutters usually contain loads of birds mess (especially after a long dry spell). I would certainly do some reorganising of the surrounds and the rainwater flow, to stop this from happening.

Regards,

Ozbey.

TRNCVaughan


Joined: 27/04/2008
Posts: 4578

Message Posted:
20/08/2009 08:49

It is often the case that after the first rains of the autumn we get a lot of green pools.

pinkchilli


Joined: 30/11/2008
Posts: 689

Message Posted:
20/08/2009 09:05

Vaughan



Message 13 sounds like the start of a lovely poem



Perhaps Hippo could finish it?



Or the next line could read: "But how sad is I, when the builder arrives without the right tools"



Sorry Vaughan, I'm just in a stupid mood this morning.

fire starter


Joined: 19/06/2008
Posts: 3401

Message Posted:
20/08/2009 11:05

it also ordipends on the size of the pool and how many people are using it.