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Conventional single speed pumps only have two settings: off or a high-speed operation. On the high-speed setting, the motor runs at a constant 2850 RPM, even if the filtration requirements of the pool don’t require that constant speed. 

High speed equals high power consumption, so if a pump is always running at high speed, it is always consuming a high amount of power. 

Variable speed pumps and multi-speed pumps are vastly different. Their advanced motors are designed differently so that the speed of the motor can run and vary speeds; from low speeds up to high speeds. 

You only need high speed operation when you are backwashing a media filter, operating spa jets or a waterfall, or running a suction pool cleaner for example. Therefore, for the bulk of the running time, you only need to run at low speed for adequate pool filtration. An energy efficient pool pump gives you this flexibility, and the ability to run at low speeds and lower energy consumption. 

Advanced variable speed pumps typically feature in-built timers so you can directly run the pump at specific times and durations, and their speeds can also be programmed and tailored to the specific filtration requirements of your pool, for optimal efficiency.

Variable speed pumps use a permanent magnet motor instead of a traditional induction motor, which allows the motor speed to be controlled. 

The permanent magnet motor is coupled with an intelligent control system that allows the speed to be varied between low and high-speed set points, and to be programmed. 

For example, the popular AstralPool Viron Variable Speed Pool Pump has a speed range of 600 RPM to 3600 RPM which allows the perfect pump speed and water flow rate to be programmed for a variety of applications in the pool such as priming, filtration, backwashing and cleaning. 

With the Viron XT pump range, the speeds can be directly programmed into the touchpad control panel or managed by a compatible, connected Viron salt water chlorinator.

Running your pool pump can have a significant impact on your household’s energy consumption. While older technology pumps use more power and are more expensive to run, a variable speed pump ends up paying for itself with the savings you make on your power bills. 

You can refer to the energy efficiency label on the pump. The more stars, the more energy efficient the pump is. These stars can represent hundreds of dollars of savings for you.

For example, the popular AstralPool Viron Variable Speed Pool Pump has a 9- star energy rating. The annual running cost of a Viron P320 model is around $194 per annum. A modern single speed pump with 1 horsepower from the Clark Rubber range costs around $884 per annum to run. That’s a saving of $690*, but the savings can be much higher. 

So, whilst the initial outlay of an energy efficient pool pump is higher than that of a single speed pump in replacement, the savings from an energy efficient pool pump can pay the difference off in less than 2 years. 

*Based on a comparison to a single speed pump, the Viron pump can save up to $690 annually - running A 50,000l pool running at 7 hours low speed, 1 hour high speed and 28 cents per kilowatt. 

Use this Viron energy saving calculator to calculate the savings you could make with your pump replacement.