As the main source of circulation, your pool pump is responsible for keeping your pool water fresh and healthy. Without it, your pool would quickly turn into stagnant, swampy water. Running your pump for the correct amount of time is essential, but timing also plays a key role in how effective it is. Here, we’ll discuss the best times to run your pool pump and why certain situations may call for different times.

How Long Should You Run Your Pump?

On average, pool pumps should operate for at least 8 hours a day. This ensures all the water in your pool receives proper circulation and filtering. Some situations require a longer run time, like during algae treatment, but 8–10 hours is generally ideal. Conveniently, intermatic pump timers allow you to program your pump to run automatically at any time for any length.

Why You Should Run Your Pump During the Day

From chemical protection to bacteria prevention, running your pool pump during the day offers many benefits. Although it may slightly increase your energy bill, here are a few key reasons why daytime operation is often beneficial.

Algae Prevention

Algae, a common problem for pool owners, thrives in warm, stagnant water and requires sunlight to grow. Running your pool pump during the day disrupts still water, breaks up UV rays, and circulates chlorine, creating an inhospitable environment for algae growth. Combined with algaecides, your pool can become algae-resistant.

Chlorine Protection

While algae flourish in sunlight, chlorine is highly sensitive to the sun’s UV rays. Direct sunlight can break down nearly 90% of your pool’s chlorine in under 2 hours, leaving it unsanitized. Running your pump during the sunniest part of the day, along with using stabilized chlorine, helps incorporate chlorine into the water before it evaporates.

Skimmer Activation

Your pool pump and filter work as a team, so running the pump also activates the skimmer. The skimmer removes debris like leaves and bugs from your pool water. Since most people swim during the day, running the pump ensures the skimmer keeps the pool clean for swimmers.

Why You Should Run Your Pump at Night

While daytime operation has its benefits, there are a few significant advantages to running your pump at night.

Shock Protection

Pool shock is a highly concentrated form of chlorine that’s also sensitive to UV rays. Shock takes longer to disperse throughout the pool, so it’s best to shock your pool and run the pump at night. This gives the shock time to activate and sanitize your pool before the chlorine-depleting UV rays return.

Energy Savings

One of the most popular reasons for running your pool pump at night is energy savings. Many cities in the U.S. have “on-peak” and “off-peak” hours when electricity rates fluctuate based on demand. Late afternoon and evening hours are typically the least expensive for using major utilities like your pool pump. Running it at night, especially if you have an energy-efficient variable speed pump, can reduce your energy costs.

Final Verdict

Ultimately, there’s no single best time to run your pool pump—it depends on your pool’s condition, the chemicals you’ve added, and your monthly expenses. When in doubt, contact Bayou Pools to speak with one of our pool care experts. They can answer any questions and guide you on the best way to care for your pool and equipment.