Summer’s here and the mood is right for a dip in the pool. But do you know how much electricity such an installation consumes? We’ll tell you how to calculate and optimise it!
More and more people are deciding to install a swimming pool at home. They come in all sizes, with a whole range of options, but most of them consume electricity. A range of electrical equipment is used to filter and heat the water, light the pool, etc. If not properly managed, a swimming pool’s energy consumption budget can be considerable, which is why it’s important to know how much your pool consumes so that you can implement certain optimisations to keep costs under control.
A simple calculation to estimate electricity consumption
Each pool will consume different amounts of water depending on a number of parameters:
- the size of the pool;
- the electrical power of the filtration and heating system;
- your pool’s equipment (lighting, robot, etc.).
While it is therefore difficult to give an average consumption figure for each type of pool, it is possible to calculate your pool’s electricity consumption fairly easily.
To do so, simply multiply the electrical power in kilowatts of each appliance connected to the pool by its operating time in hours. This will give you your pool’s consumption in kWh.
If you also want to know the cost of this consumption, multiply the result by the price per kWh charged by your electricity supplier. In general, the annual cost of electricity consumption for a swimming pool is estimated at between 300 and 1,000 euros, depending on the size of the pool.
Filtration and water heating, the main costs
As we’ve said, calculating the electricity consumption of a swimming pool can vary greatly depending on a number of factors. However, the two main items will always be filtration and water heating.
On average, a swimming pool’s electricity consumption is split as follows:
- 60% for the filtration system
- 35% for heating
- 5% for equipment and accessories
Power consumption is largely linked to the operation of the filtration system. This prevents the proliferation of micro-organisms and is therefore essential for ensuring good water quality. However, filtration time is not the same throughout the year. It is particularly useful during the day, when the sun and heat increase the growth of algae. It therefore runs longer in summer than in winter, and is more useful during the day than at night.
Heating the water is another important item, especially in our regions. To avoid diving into icy water, systems are often installed to keep the water at a pleasant temperature. But they can be very energy-hungry, especially if the pool is large, since their power is proportional to the size of the pool.
The other electrical installations associated with the swimming pool consume a more negligible amount of electricity:
- lighting ;
- electric cover ;
- cleaning robot ;
- etc.
Good to know
You can calculate your pool’s electricity consumption by multiplying the power in kW of each appliance connected to it by the number of hours it is used. Discover our other tips in this article!
How can you reduce your pool’s energy consumption?
If you want to enjoy the fun of the pool without adding too much to your electricity bill, there are a few things you can do to optimise your energy consumption.
Choice of equipment and power supply
First of all, you need to be careful when choosing your filtration and water heating equipment. Check the wattage of the appliances carefully and opt for those that consume the least power. It’s also a good idea to choose energy-efficient systems to power these devices. For heating, heat pumps are particularly effective and economical in the long term, even if they are a little expensive to buy. For filtration, installing photovoltaic panels is undoubtedly the best solution. These will also enable you to save on your home’s overall electricity consumption, while using green energy.
Adjusting the filtration system
As we explained earlier, your pool’s filtration system doesn’t have to run continuously. It is possible to adjust the filtration pump’s operating time as follows: the filtration time in hours should be equal to half the water temperature. For example, if the water temperature is 24 degrees, it is recommended that you run the pump 12 hours a day. It’s best to run the pump during the day rather than at night, as photosynthesis (the chemical process that produces algae) is most active during the day.
Passive wintering
Once summer has passed and temperatures drop, your pool water no longer needs to be filtered. In fact, once the water temperature is consistently below 12°C, algae and micro-organisms no longer thrive, so water treatment is no longer necessary. So this is the time to switch to passive wintering, a process that involves turning off the pool’s filtration completely, lowering the water level, draining the pipes and protecting the pool with a protective cover.
Conserving heat
Finally, a simple way of keeping your pool at a constant temperature is to cover it with a bubble cover or roller shutter. This will keep the heat in, and also prevent dirt from settling on it.
As you can see, installing and maintaining a swimming pool represents an investment, but with the help of a few optimisations, you can limit your energy costs!
