Pool Pump Electricity Cost Calculator - How Many kWh Will I Use?
Wondering how much electricity your pool pump chews through? How much it contributes to your electricity bill each quarter?
This pool pump electricity cost calculator will help you quickly work out exactly how much running your pool pump is costing you.
Pool Pump Electricity Cost Calculator
If unsure, enter 12, as 8-12 hours is typical for most outdoor residential pools.
This can be found on your electricity bill, but if unsure, enter 27 as a rough estimate. It is the nationwide average according to the ACCC website.
Based on the information provided above, here's how much your pool pump will cost to run.
| Cost per day | $0 |
|---|---|
| Cost per week | $0 |
| Cost per month | $0 |
| Cost per year | $0 |
How Much Electricity Does A Pool Pump Use?
The electricity consumption of your pool pump depends on two main factors:
- Pump electrical current draw
- Pump run time
Electrical Current Draw
The electrical current draw for a pump refers to how many amperes of current it draws while in operation. Larger pumps put out more flow than smaller pumps, but also draw more current too.
As an example, the AstralPools CTX 280 has a current draw of 4.5 amps, while the Davey PowerMaster PM450 has a current draw of 10 amps.
To find the specific current draw for your pump, refer to the owner's manual, or the manufacturer's website. If your pump can operate at different speeds, each of these speeds will have a current draw associated with it.
If you haven't selected the pump for your pool yet, you may want to look at this pump size calculator.
Pump Run Time
This refers to the number of hours per day that your pump operates for. It is recommended that your pump circulate the contents of your pool at least once per day (known as one turnover) to ensure adequate mixing of chemicals and elimination of dead zones.
Most residential pool pumps tend to operate for 8-12 hours per day. Your pool pump will probably be set up on a timer, so refer to this timer to find out the exact number of hours.
How Do I Use These To Calculate Electricity Consumption?
Once you know the electrical current draw and run time for your pump, it is fairly simple to calculate the electricity consumption.
We'll do the calculation assuming that the AstralPools CTX 280 is run for 10 hours per day.
Electricity Consumption = Current Draw (in A) x 240V
Electricity Consumption = 4.5A x 240V
Electricity Consumption = 1,080W
Electricity Consumption = 1,080W x 10 h/day
Electricity Consumption = 10,800 Wh/day
Electricity Consumption = 10.8 kWh/day
In this situation, the pump would consume 10.8 kWh/day.
How Much Does It Cost To Run A Pool Pump Each Month?
To calculate how much it costs to run the pool pump each month, we need to know the following:
- Pump electricity consumption (calculated above)
- Electricity price
The electricity price can be found on your most recent electricity bill and is usually expressed in cents per kilowatt hour (c/kWh).
If you are not sure how much you pay for electricity, use 27 cents/kWh (this is the average across the country according to the ACCC).
To calculate the daily cost to run the pool pump, simply multiply the electricity consumption by the electricity price. Continuing with our example above, the calculations would look like this:
Running Cost = 10.8 kWh/day x 30 c/kWh
Running Cost = 324 c/day
Running Cost = $3.24 per day
From there, you can calculate the running costs per week, month, quarter and year.
How Do I Use This Pool Pump Electricity Calculator?
To use this calculator to work out the cost to run your pool pump, you will need to enter the following information:
- Pump electrical current draw
- Pump run time
- Electricity price
The pump electrical current draw can be found in your pump owner's manual or on the manufacturer's website. Alternatively, you can select a pump from the list to get the current draw.
Next, enter the number of hours that your pump runs for each day. This is typically 8-12 hours but be sure to confirm the exact number for your pool.
Note that this calculator does not consider that you may run your pump for less in winter than in summer.
Finally, you need to enter the price you pay per kilowatt hour (kWh) of electricity. This can be found on your electricity bill.
Once you have entered this information, the calculator will automatically work out how much your pump will cost to run each day, week, month and year.
If you are looking for ways to reduce your spend on electricity to run your pump, consider installing solar panels - these can make a big difference!
If you notice any issues with this calculator, or have any feedback, please let me know over at the contact page!
Louis
A chemical engineer by trade, Louis is committed to debunking myths in the pool industry by explaining the underlying chemistry and making it accessible to all.