Finally the world is coming to its senses. We are entering a time where being eco-friendly is the =93In=94 thing to do. For years we have been pushing conservation and energy saving tips for our homes. Light bulbs are now phasing out and being replaced by bulbs that use less wattage. People are wrapping their water heaters and adding skylights in their homes for extra light. These things are all great when it comes to helping the environment and saving energy. Unfortunately some of us own pools, which can weigh heavy on the electric bill not to mention the water & gas bill. Here are a few tips and tricks to help lower your monthly bills and conserve energy.
The 2-Speed Pump Some manufactures are switching to a 2-speed pump system, which allows the pool to run at a lower Horsepower (HP) when needed. Your pool should run about 8 to 10 hours a day at a minimum to keep it from turning the dreaded color green. This can take its toll on your electric bill. So companies are starting to offer a 2-speed pump system, which runs at normal speed and a low speed. For example, low speed would be used as your normal running speed and high speed would be used when you vacuum or add any chemicals to your pool. This will help to save energy and lower you electric bill without sacrificing the quality and color of your pool water.
The Solar Fish If you have a gas or electric heater for your pool, then this tip is perfect for you. What would you say if I told you that you only had to use your heater once a year to maintain the heat in your pool. Well its simple. Solar fish are a fairly new product now made by many different companies (some companies will refer to them as liquid solar blankets). These magical energy saving giants are only about $5 to $10 dollars and last a whole month. They release a small amount of liquid into your pool creating a molecule thick cover that you cannot touch, smell or taste at the waterline of your pool. What they do is keep heat from escaping the water by limiting evaporation. This means on those warm summer days where the temperature of your pool could reach
80 degrees and by nightfall drop down to 70 degrees will no longer take place. So at the beginning of the summer you can use your gas heater and heat your pool to about 80 degrees or so, drop in some solar fish, don=92t run your filter at night and keep you pool at 80 degrees all summer long without ever turning your heater back on, if done right. See you local pool dealer for more information. (In reality using any type of solar heating product for your pool is a great idea.)The Skimmer Door Each year (especially in the Northeast) homeowners close their pools for the winter. Most companies who offer this service will often drain the water below the skimmer to blow out the lines. There is a product out there that is simply called a skimmer door or a skimmer blocker that will allow you not to drain your pool in the wintertime therefore reducing the use of water to refill your pool every year. This is a simple tip but over time is very effective.