Slash fall pump hours. Keep crystal clear water
Cooler water. Less sun. Longer nights. Perfect time to cut run-time without risking haze. Do it right and drop your bill fast.
Why you can cut hours now
Chlorine demand falls as temps drop. UV is lower. Debris shifts to short leaf bursts. You need targeted circulation, not all-day churn.
The Plan: Trim in controlled steps
Start from your current clear water schedule. Cut 10–15% total hours each week. Hold for 3 days. If the water stays glass clear and baskets aren’t choking, cut again. Stop cutting the moment clarity slips or skimming lags.
Tip: Log pressure. Clean or backwash when it rises 8–10 psi over clean. Strong flow lets lower hours still do the job.
Smart variable speed windows
Move water when it matters. Skim during leaf peaks. Keep low, efficient flow the rest of the day.
Example day
7–9 AM: Medium-high RPM for skimming.
9 AM–2 PM: Low RPM for steady circulation.
2–5 PM: Medium-high RPM to catch afternoon leaf drop.
Night: Low RPM 0–2 hours or off, based on clarity.
Tip: Point returns to create a slow surface sweep and a gentle downward roll. Dead spots vanish, clarity holds at fewer hours.
SWG and heater check
Keep equipment within safe flow.
SWG: Meet the flow-switch minimum. If you cut hours, raise the SWG percentage so daily chlorine output stays constant.
Heater or heat pump: Use the manufacturer’s minimum RPM or bypass heat until needed. Short, hotter runs beat long, lukewarm cycles.
Chemistry that protects savings
Stable water cuts runtime further.
pH 7.4–7.6.
TA 80–110 for most pools.
CYA optimized so chlorine holds through shorter cycles.
Maintain a daily free-chlorine target. Small, steady dosing beats spikes.
Leaf season tactics
Use skimmer socks during heavy fall weeks. Empty baskets before they choke. Vacuum fines after storms. Keep that flow clean and efficient.
When to stop cutting
Any haze by late afternoon. Slick walls. Rising chlorine demand day to day. Back off 30 minutes. Recheck in 48 hours. Protect clarity first, savings second.
Enjoy your pool stress-free. >>>
Let our experts handle the rest.
Enjoy your pool stress-free. >>> Let our experts handle the rest.
Book a Fall Pump Tune
We set RPMs and windows, verify SWG and heater flow, clean filters, and leave a simple weekly cut plan.
