You’ve come to the mountain top, seeking wisdom and truth, or the answer to a question that has plagued humanity for all time… “What is the best pool pump?”

But the question cannot be answered without some other key insights, namely your Pool Type, Filter Design Flow Rate and estimated Resistance, in Feet of Head.

What’s Your Pool Type?

Above ground or in ground? Aboveground pool pumps are meant to operate below the water level, on the ground next to the pool. Inground pumps are “self-priming” and can lift water several feet.

Simple or Complex Pool?

A small pool with 1 or 2 skimmers and a main drain can use a smaller pump, but pools with attached spas, waterfalls, solar heaters or built in cleaners may need a larger pump.

Small or Large Pool?

A pump should be able to turnover the entire water volume during an 8-hour period. For example, if your pool is 20,000 gallons, you want a pump that can pump 41.6 gallons per minute, on average. (20000 gals \ 480 mins = 41.66 gpm)

Pool Filter Design Flow Rate?

Every pool filter is designed to work best with a certain flow rate of water. If the filter design flow rate is exceeded, it results in poor filtration and filter damage. Lower flow rates do not generally pose a problem, however.

Larger pool filters with more surface area will have higher design flow rates, but every pool filter is different, from 30 gpm to 150 gpm, depending on size and type of pool filter.

Find your Design Flow Rate on the pool filter label, owner’s manual, spec sheet or brochure. You can also find this Performance Data listed on our pool filters pages.

Now that you know your Pool Type and your particular pool filter’s Design Flow Rate, you are halfway to finding the perfect pump for your pool!