Saving money on a pool

[danbo81]

Hey guys not sure if this is covered couldn't find much just wondering people on here with pools we just bought our first house it's has a big pool in the back yard pretty old but in good nick I'm just getting my head round maintaining it and running the pump ect ect it's on a timer runs bout 6 hrs a day in qld on tariff33 from 10 pm till 4 am do I have to run it everyday just wanting to see what others do to save money thanks in advance Dan

[Bird]

best thing I ever did was get rid of my money pit and put up one of these

[muzza01]

best thing I ever did was get rid of my money pit and put up one of these

Living in Melbourne I can understand why you did that.

Hey guys not sure if this is covered couldn't find much just wondering people on here with pools we just bought our first house it's has a big pool in the back yard pretty old but in good nick I'm just getting my head round maintaining it and running the pump ect ect it's on a timer runs bout 6 hrs a day in qld on tariff33 from 10 pm till 4 am do I have to run it everyday just wanting to see what others do to save money thanks in advance Dan

Is it a saltwater pool? If so, Running 6 hours a day should produce enough chlorine without anyone using it.  Not sure if it is warm enough to use down there yet but you might find you need to increase it to 8 hours a day during heavy use.

[chester ver2.0]

If it is salt water pool over dose on the salt and you can lower the clorination running time

[danbo81]

Yes it's salt water


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[Bird]

Living in Melbourne I can understand why you did that.

If I lived in Shitney again, or gold coast, Adelaide, perth, alice springs I'd still do it.

[Goose]

Clean your filter, watch the pressure. Increase chlorination level, reduce pump hours. If the water is clear and you can see the fine detail of the bottom of the pool, then you are running the filter enough. You can then try scaling back the pump maybe 30 minutes or an 1 hour and see if its still as clear after a week.

I think mine has been on 3 hours @ high chlorination and its crystal clear.

Also try sticking a watt meter on your pool timer/doser (assuming pumps are connected off this) and see how much juice its actually drawing.

[muzza01]

If I lived in ****ney again, or gold coast, Adelaide, perth, alice springs I'd still do it.

There is no doubt they are an expensive toy to own and maintain but I do love our pool. Thankfully our climate is perfect for pools with us using the pool for about 8.5 - 9 months of the year. I know when we lived in Sydney I would only venture in to the pool for about 4 months of the year.

A normal balanced salt water pool should only need 7-8 hours cycle during the summer months and possibly get away with 5-6 hours in the off season.  You would need to constantly check it to work out what the minimum running time per day is.  As soon as you need to buy more chemicals than you were better off just letting the pool run for extra time.

Overdosing with salt may produce a little more chlorine but you would need a fair amount of extra salt and would need to increase the amps on the chlorinator.  The cost of extra salt and power would probably cost more than just running the system for a couple more hours per day plus the extra salt may make the pool unpleasant to swim in.

There are much more economical electric pumps available now. We have one and we also run our pool on Tariff 33 which has reduced our running costs.

I have just had our pool tested, I needed to add salt only.  The last time we added chemicals was in May.  The pool will run for 8 hours a day and I won't need to add any salt or chemicals now until we receive massive rains in Dec or Jan.

Another tip, if I have a lot of extra people or extra kids in the pool I run the pool pump the entire time they are in the pool.  You will need to use an extension chord if you have tariff 33.  Lots of people using the pool drops skin, pee, hair, makeup, sunscreen etc that unbalances the ph level in the pool.  By running the pool during high use, the pool doesn't need to work as hard to catch up when it is due to cycle again.

[Robbo]

Hey guys not sure if this is covered couldn't find much just wondering people on here with pools we just bought our first house it's has a big pool in the back yard pretty old but in good nick I'm just getting my head round maintaining it and running the pump ect ect it's on a timer runs bout 6 hrs a day in qld on tariff33 from 10 pm till 4 am do I have to run it everyday just wanting to see what others do to save money thanks in advance Dan

Depending on the size of your pool six hours should be ok for this time of the year as you will need to turn the water over at least once through your filter system. If your pool is 60,000ltrs which is an average size and your pump is pushing 185ltrs/min then this requires the six hours as mentioned.
In addition to this you also need chlorine production time, assuming you have a salt water pool. If your system is an older one you will probably have a 20amp cell on your chlorinator and also need the six hours of running time.
As you get into Summer when the temperatures go up and the pool is being used more you will need to increase your chlorine production so will need to go to eight hours running to start with. Most of the older chlorinators require 5ppm of salt in pool to produce. DO NOT over exceed this level as you will burn out your cell and this will cost big dollars. Take a water sample to your local pool shop to check the chlorine levels and adjust your running time accordingly.
When and if your current chlorinator requires replacement you can then install a 40amp unit and halve your running time.

Hope this helps

[Beachman]

Pool running costs compared to the hours of keeping the kids busy and early nights because the kids have worn themselves out is worth every cent.

[oldmate]

Yep agree with bird. Best thing to do with a pool if your worried about running costs, is fill it with dirt.

I have a pom mate, who moved here bought a house with a pool, thought it was the best thing since cold beer,  now he hates it. The on going maintenance, the costs, and that is just sits there and looks pretty and no one uses it anymore.

[danbo81]

Thanks for the advice guys I guess I'll just see how I go this summer and go from there


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[Mik01]

Yep agree with bird. Best thing to do with a pool if your worried about running costs, is fill it with dirt.

I have a pom mate, who moved here bought a house with a pool, thought it was the best thing since cold beer,  now he hates it. The on going maintenance, the costs, and that is just sits there and looks pretty and no one uses it anymore.

Seems to be the way it goes... Pom moves here seeking sun, fun and great lifestyle.
After a while, pom complains about said lifestyle. Refuses to leave though!

I run mine currently 5hrs per night. As I live on acreage, I run it through the night as noise doesn't bother neighbours. Invest in a pool cover also - will keep crap out of the pool and keep your levels more stable, and reduce water loss (and hence using lots of water topping it up!)

[Mik01]

Oh and depending on what type of chlorinator you have, I would probably recommend turning it up over halfway or more. Spend the dollars and get the local pool shop out to show you how to look after it - trust me, if you've never had a pool it's money well spent

[GeoffA]

Swimming pools and boats are great things for other people to own.....IMO....

[Swannie]

My wife wanted a pool. I told her that I'll pay the $6.00 entry for the 3 kids & her at the local pool whenever the wanted to go swimming

swannie

[nisnav]

Seems to be the way it goes... Pom moves here seeking sun, fun and great lifestyle.
After a while, pom complains about said lifestyle. Refuses to leave though!

As a pom who moved over here for the lifestyle, we have a pool and love it,,,,,  and were in VIC

I always remember a workmate telling me i was daft buying a house with a pool in Melbourne as you can only use it for 3mths of the year,,   WOO HOO I said thats 3 mths more than I could in the UK,,,,,,

Been here over 10yrs now and onto our 2nd house and 2nd pool, yes they do cost but its like everything shop around once you know a few things online pool shops can save you heaps,

Enjoy the pool

Graham

[Bird]

Swimming pools and boats are great things for other people to own.....IMO....

agree with you there on the boat

and with this much coastline, theres free pools that take no care..

[Bill]

Easy way to save money.
Do NOT I repeat DO NOT fall into the pool with a wheelbarrow full of mulch..
Bill

[Rumpig]

Yep agree with bird. Best thing to do with a pool if your worried about running costs, is fill it with dirt.

I have a pom mate, who moved here bought a house with a pool, thought it was the best thing since cold beer,  now he hates it. The on going maintenance, the costs, and that is just sits there and looks pretty and no one uses it anymore.

my oldies did the same with their salt water I ground pool, couldn't justify the electricity cost and maintenance costs anymore, so  filled it in

[KeithB]

If you have a look at the pressure that your pool pump in running at you can get the curves from the manufacturer to tell you how much power the pump is drawing. I changed pumps when the old one went on the blink, looked at a few pump curves  and saved a lot of electricity plus cut right down on pump noise too.
I think from memory the pump was a Davey Silensor, which is water cooled and has no fan. I have no connection with the company.
I hate the damned pool and would rather turn it into a big fish pond, but have been outvoted.

[lyn4680]

best thing I ever did was get rid of my money pit and put up one of these

x2...  well we just turfed it, sacrilege for a Qlder, I know. 

Been gone for a few years now and don't regret it for a moment.  Not too sure how the little feller will feel about that when he's a bit older tho

But to be honest, we don't have the biggest block and once she sprung a leak he was an easy decision - we get way more use and enjoyment out of the lawn than the pool.

[speewa158]

Whats the difference between a Pool & a Boat . 1 is a hole in the ground you pour money in to the other is a hole in the water you pour money in  to . $ suckers & in both your sucked in  .  Wasted 

[GGV8Cruza]

best thing I ever did was get rid of my money pit and put up one of these

My new place is the best of both worlds, a pool and two of the above

GG

[Azz]

We have turned our 72000 litre pool into a big pond. Stuck 15 2cm gold fish in there with some plants n such. Fish are now 10 - 15cm long. Come May next year, it'll be a year and the trout go in, harvest in November at plate size.

Yet to test water, but it should be perfectly safe to swim in on the three hot days we get each year down here.

Best bit, no maintence and I can practice my casting.