{
  "slug": "pool-pump-energy-cost",
  "title": "Pool Pump Energy Cost Calculator",
  "heading": "Pool Pump Operating Cost Calculator",
  "category": "financial",
  "url": "https://www.revenuelab.fyi/toolbox/pool-pump-energy-cost",
  "summary": "Annual electricity cost for single-speed vs variable-speed pool pumps.",
  "description": "Pool pumps are one of the largest single electricity draws in homes that have them, often rivaling the AC in summer. This calculator computes annual cost from motor horsepower, daily runtime, and electricity rate, and compares a traditional single-speed pump running at full power against a variable-speed pump that can run longer at a much lower flow rate for equivalent filtration — the mechanism behind the 50-70% savings variable-speed pumps typically deliver, since pump power draw scales with the cube of speed (affinity laws), not linearly.",
  "formula": "kW draw ≈ HP × 0.746 ÷ motor efficiency; annual cost = kW × daily hours × 365 × rate.",
  "dateModified": "2026-09-30",
  "run_url": "https://www.revenuelab.fyi/api/public/calc?tool=pool-pump-energy-cost",
  "inputs": [
    {
      "id": "pumpHp",
      "label": "Pump motor size",
      "kind": "number",
      "hint": null,
      "default": 1.5,
      "unit": "HP",
      "min": 0.25,
      "max": 5
    },
    {
      "id": "motorEfficiency",
      "label": "Motor efficiency",
      "kind": "number",
      "hint": null,
      "default": 75,
      "unit": "%",
      "min": 40,
      "max": 95
    },
    {
      "id": "dailyHours",
      "label": "Daily runtime",
      "kind": "number",
      "hint": null,
      "default": 8,
      "unit": "hrs",
      "min": 1,
      "max": 24
    },
    {
      "id": "elecRate",
      "label": "Electricity rate",
      "kind": "number",
      "hint": null,
      "default": 0.16,
      "unit": "$/kWh",
      "min": 0.02,
      "max": 0.6
    },
    {
      "id": "pumpType",
      "label": "Pump type",
      "kind": "select",
      "hint": null,
      "default": "single",
      "options": [
        {
          "value": "single",
          "label": "Single-speed (full power always)"
        },
        {
          "value": "variable",
          "label": "Variable-speed (runs at ~30% speed most of the time)"
        }
      ]
    }
  ],
  "outputs": [
    {
      "id": "annualCost",
      "label": "Annual pump electricity cost",
      "format": "currency",
      "hint": null,
      "primary": true
    },
    {
      "id": "annualKwh",
      "label": "Annual energy use",
      "format": "number",
      "hint": null,
      "primary": false
    },
    {
      "id": "savingsVsSingle",
      "label": "Savings vs equivalent single-speed pump",
      "format": "currency",
      "hint": null,
      "primary": false
    }
  ],
  "worked_example": {
    "inputs": [
      "Pump motor size: 1.5 HP",
      "Motor efficiency: 75 %",
      "Daily runtime: 8 hrs",
      "Electricity rate: 0.16 $/kWh",
      "Pump type: Single-speed (full power always)"
    ],
    "outputs": [
      "Annual pump electricity cost: $697",
      "Annual energy use: 4,357",
      "Savings vs equivalent single-speed pump: $0"
    ]
  },
  "how_to": {
    "title": "How to use this",
    "steps": [
      "Enter pump motor size (HP).",
      "Enter motor efficiency (%).",
      "Enter daily runtime (hrs).",
      "Enter electricity rate ($/kWh).",
      "Enter pump type.",
      "Read your annual pump electricity cost on the right — it updates as you type.",
      "Hit Share to keep the scenario or send it to someone."
    ]
  },
  "scenarios": [
    {
      "name": "Conservative",
      "description": "Lower-end numbers — what if things land soft?",
      "values": {
        "pumpHp": 0.8999999999999999,
        "motorEfficiency": 45,
        "dailyHours": 4.8,
        "elecRate": 0.096,
        "pumpType": "single"
      }
    },
    {
      "name": "Typical",
      "description": "Defaults — the most common real-world setup.",
      "values": {
        "pumpHp": 1.5,
        "motorEfficiency": 75,
        "dailyHours": 8,
        "elecRate": 0.16,
        "pumpType": "single"
      }
    },
    {
      "name": "Ambitious",
      "description": "Higher-end numbers — what if things really pop?",
      "values": {
        "pumpHp": 2.4000000000000004,
        "motorEfficiency": 95,
        "dailyHours": 12.8,
        "elecRate": 0.256,
        "pumpType": "single"
      }
    }
  ],
  "limitations": [
    "Results are estimates before tax, fees, and inflation unless an input explicitly covers them.",
    "Rates are treated as fixed for the whole period — variable-rate products will drift from this projection.",
    "This is educational maths, not financial advice. Check anything contractual with the lender or your accountant."
  ],
  "faq": [
    {
      "q": "Why do variable-speed pumps save so much?",
      "a": "Pump power draw follows the affinity laws — power scales roughly with the cube of speed. Running at 30% speed uses only about 2.7% of full-speed power (0.3³), so even running 50% longer to achieve equivalent turnover and filtration, total energy use drops 50-70% compared to a single-speed pump running at full power for a shorter time."
    },
    {
      "q": "How many hours a day should a pool pump run?",
      "a": "The rule of thumb is one full turnover of pool volume per day, which for most residential pools with a properly sized pump works out to 6-10 hours in summer and can be cut to 4-6 hours in cooler months when algae growth and bather load are lower."
    },
    {
      "q": "Is a variable-speed pump worth the higher upfront cost?",
      "a": "Yes in almost every case where you run the pump daily — variable-speed pumps cost $600-$1,200 more than single-speed but the energy savings (often $300-$600/year depending on local rates and runtime) typically pay that back in 1.5-3 years, and many states/utilities now require or rebate variable-speed pumps specifically because of this."
    },
    {
      "q": "Does pump size (HP) matter beyond speed control?",
      "a": "An oversized pump wastes energy at any speed setting since it's moving more water than your filter and plumbing need, causing excess head pressure. A pool professional can calculate correct HP from your pipe diameter, filter type, and pool volume — bigger isn't automatically better here."
    }
  ],
  "related": [
    "https://www.revenuelab.fyi/toolbox/well-pump-energy",
    "https://www.revenuelab.fyi/toolbox/phantom-load-audit",
    "https://www.revenuelab.fyi/toolbox/kwh-bill-breakdown"
  ],
  "license": "CC-BY-4.0",
  "citation": "RevenueLab — Pool Pump Energy Cost Calculator (https://www.revenuelab.fyi/toolbox/pool-pump-energy-cost)"
}