How to Reduce Your Swimming Pool Power Usage

If you want to save money on your swimming pool power bill, check out our top tips:

1. Downsize your pool pump

Pool filters are necessary, but they come at a cost. Plenty of pool owners assume having a big pool pump is essential to keeping their pool in top form, but that’s not quite the case. A larger pump can just mean more maintenance costs. A smaller, more efficient pump can do the trick just as well. At the very least, if you can’t change your pump, try decreasing the number of filtering cycles.

2. Consider LED lights

Swimming through illuminated water on summer nights is pretty great. But, those cool lights can cost a decent amount if they’re used on the regular! LED light bulbs not only use significantly less energy than regular light bulbs, they also tend to last a lot longer, too. Consider swapping your old ones out. 

3. Clean your pool’s filter regularly 

Make sure you’re giving your filter a decent clean every now and again. A clogged filter will use more energy to get the job done. Try to clean your pool’s filter at least once a month to ensure it’s working to its maximum potential, and to keep it from sending your energy bill through the roof.

4. Think about using solar

Heated swimming pools will often make your energy bill skyrocket. Going solar to heat your water will reduce power bills over time, even if it does involve a sizeable investment up-front. Using solar can help you power your pool with free electricity that’s generated through your panels, or by heating water pumped through pipes on your roof. Of course, there are various drawbacks to solar water heating, which are:

• Solar is, of course, dependent on the sun
• Solar panel/heating systems installation can be costly
• Replacing your current heater with a solar one can be time consuming and costly
• Solar heaters can be slower to heat water

Despite all these drawbacks, solar water heating can affect your bottom line for the good. And if your heating is extremely costly to run, then you’ll likely make up your investment in solar quite quickly.

5. Correct pool parts maintenance

If you’re lucky enough to own a pool, then proper pool maintenance can be a worthwhile investment. Using a pool maintenance crew is beneficial for:

• Maintaining correct pH balance and the chemicals in the water
• Ensuring the pump is in tip-top condition
• Cleaning the filter thoroughly and servicing other parts in the filtration system
• General parts maintenance for everything to do with pools

Pool maintenance specialists use preventative measures to extend the life of pool parts, before they break down and become a costly headache.

6. Use a pool cover

Leaves and other debris end up in pools no matter the season. The harder the filter has to work, the more energy it uses. To keep dirt out of your pool and to save money, it’s worth using a pool cover. If you heat your pool for use during the winter, a cover also helps retain heat, reducing your power costs.

Ultimately, the quickest way to reduce your energy bill is to find a cheaper retailer. If you’re after a better value energy plan, Canstar can help you compare retailers, to make sure you’re on the best rate and aren’t missing out on any benefits. Just hit the button below!

Canstar Blue’s latest review of NZ power companies compares them on customer satisfaction and value for money. The table below is an abridged version of our full results. Click on the big button below for more details!

See Our Ratings Methodology

Compare electricity providers for free with Canstar!