PRESS RELEASE: Pool owners urged to check pump run times before summer power bills climb
HEADLINE:
Pool owners urged to check pump run times before summer power bills climb
SUBHEADLINE / SUMMARY:
With backyard pools common across Australia, households are being urged to check timers and electricity costs before the summer swimming season begins.
BODY:
Pool owners across Australia, from regional towns to capital cities, are being encouraged to check how long their pool pump actually runs each day, and what those hours are costing them, before the summer swimming season begins.
Energy Rebate Check, a free Australian energy rebate information website, says questions about how long pool pumps should run in summer, the cheapest time to operate them and whether running a pump overnight saves money become particularly relevant as households prepare their pools for warmer weather.
But for most households, understanding the electricity cost starts with three numbers: the pump’s power rating, its daily run time and the household’s electricity rate.
“A pool pump is one of the few appliances in the home that can run for six or eight hours every single day, and many people set the timer once and barely think about it again,” said David Perry, spokesperson for Energy Rebate Check.
“For example, a pump drawing one kilowatt and operating for eight hours would use about eight kilowatt hours of electricity. At 30 cents per kilowatt hour, that’s around $2.40 a day, or $216 across a 90-day period. Actual costs vary considerably depending on the pump, operating speed, run time and electricity tariff.”
Energy Rebate Check says there is no single correct daily run time for every Australian pool, and has published a free national guide at https://energyrebatecheck.com.au/how-long-to-run-pool-pump explaining run times, the best time of day to run a pump and how to estimate its electricity cost.
Pool volume, pump flow rate, filtration equipment, water conditions and how heavily the pool is used can all affect the amount of filtration required. Warmer weather and heavier summer use can also place greater demands on pool filtration and sanitation, while in warmer parts of Australia the swimming season, and the pumping hours that come with it, can extend for longer.
However, there are two things pool owners anywhere in Australia can check before summer that may affect what their pump costs to operate.
The first is the household’s electricity tariff.
Households on time-of-use electricity plans can pay different usage rates depending on when electricity is consumed. Moving suitable pump operation away from higher-priced peak periods may therefore reduce electricity costs.
For households on a flat-rate tariff, simply moving the same pump operation from daytime to overnight will not reduce the usage rate. Pool owners should also consider equipment requirements and potential noise impacts before changing operating times.
The second thing to check is the pump itself.
Older single-speed pool pumps generally operate at one fixed speed whenever they are switched on. Variable-speed pumps can operate at lower speeds for suitable filtration tasks and higher speeds when greater water flow is required.
That can make pump efficiency and correct sizing just as important as the number of hours shown on the timer.
“People can assume the answer to a high pool electricity cost is simply running the pump for fewer hours, but reducing filtration too far can create other problems,” Perry said.
“The better question is whether the pump doing all those hours is appropriate and efficient for the pool.
“Government energy-saving programs can also reduce the cost of some eligible energy-efficiency upgrades. In New South Wales, for example, eligible households replacing certain existing pool pumps with qualifying energy-efficient models may be able to access incentives that reduce the upfront cost.
“It’s something many pool owners may not realise is available, so it’s worth checking what applies before buying a replacement pump.”
Pool owners in New South Wales, including regional NSW, can check current information about pool pump incentives and eligibility at https://energyrebatecheck.com.au/sydney-pool-pump-rebate before buying a replacement pump.
Rebate availability, eligibility requirements and incentive values can change. Households should check current program requirements and confirm eligibility before purchasing or installing equipment.
ABOUT / BOILERPLATE:
Energy Rebate Check is a free Australian website that helps households and businesses find information about government energy rebates and incentives that may apply to energy-efficiency upgrades, including pool pumps, hot water systems, air conditioning, lighting and batteries.
WEBSITE:
https://energyrebatecheck.com.au
MEDIA CONTACT:
[email protected]
