Do You Run Pool Pump & Filter While Swimming? Answered

If you are wondering if you can run your pool’s filter while swimming, you are not alone. Luckily, there is one simple answer to this question.

In this article, we will discuss if you can run your pool filter while swimming as well as the potential pros and cons of running your filter during this time.

Can You Run Pool Filter While Swimming?

The short answer to this question is yes, you both can and _should _run your pool pump and filter while you are swimming. The reason for this is that the filter will actively work to remove any debris that is being added to the water by swimmers, which prevents a buildup of unsanitary pollution.

Another reason that you should keep your pool filter running while swimmers are present is to avoid areas of stagnant water. Stagnant water is more prone to developing bacterial or algal growths than water that is well-circulated as the free chlorine here will be rapidly depleted.

Even with swimmers present in the water, it is possible for certain areas of your pool’s water to remain undisturbed, allowing for unsanitary conditions to spread.

Stagnant water can also create alternating warm and cold spots in your pool, which can be somewhat uncomfortable for swimmers.

Exceptions

In some cases, it may be appropriate to shut off your pool’s pump and filter during swimming, but this should only be done for short periods of time.

Situations where it may be helpful to shut your pool’s pump off while swimming include when there are especially young swimmers present, such as infants or toddlers that are just being exposed to the pool for the first time.

Although children of any age should receive constant adult supervision while swimming, very young children may become overwhelmed by or afraid of filter intake or outtake jets.

Similarly, some skimmer baskets that operate while the filter is running have a design that involves hinges.

While this design is effective for keeping debris trapped in the skimmer box, this hinged area can become a pinch-point for young swimmers who are unfamiliar with the pool’s environment.

Conclusion

In most cases you do want to run your pool’s pump while swimming. In some situations, such as when very young swimmers are present, you may opt to temporarily turn your pump system off in order to create a more tranquil pool environment.

However, it is generally advisable to turn your pool equipment off at night.

Do you have any questions about whether or not you should run your pool’s pump and filter system while there are swimmers present in the water? Leave us a comment down below, we’d love to help!