A salt water pool can use the same pool pump brands and models as other chlorinated swimming pools. There is no special pump required and the system works the same way as do other pools. A salt water pool does require a chlorinator system which is what distinguishes it from other pools.
A salt water pool also uses the same filtration system and heaters as other pools. Nothing special is required there either.
Choosing a pump for your pool is something your pool builder should help you with but below, we’ll go over some key aspects of pool pumps including what they do, features that they should have, major manufacturers and other considerations.
What does a pool pump do?
A pool sucks water from the side skimmer and main drain at the bottom of the pool and draws it in towards the filter for cleaning, and then forces filtered water back into the pool through the water returns or jets on the side of the pool wall.
And if you have a heater, the water of course will pass through there as well to be warmed before returning to the pool itself.
When the pool pump is running, the salt chlorinator can produce chlorine. If the pump is shut off, no chlorine can be produced. The heater won’t work either without the pump operating.
So the pool pump does what you’d expect it to do: It pumps water! But the pump also has to actually be running for the chlorinator to produce chlorine so if you have a broken pump, you’ll need to make alternative arrangements to produce chlorine until it’s fixed.
Read my article Why Do You Add Chlorine To A Salt Water Pool to learn more about that subject.
What special features are desirable on a pool pump?
The helpful features you might consider for your pool pump include:
A timer. This will also be a feature that your chlorinator system typically offers. Either way, setting your pump on a timer schedule will save you money and time. You can program the pump to turn on and off as you need rather than running it 24/7 (not required) or having to walk outside and manually turn it on and off.
Different speeds. A variable speed pump operates at different speeds. So rather than having your pump turned on or off, you can also vary the speed i.e. you could keep it running at a slow speed to keep water circulating and chlorine being produced by at a reduced speed. While a one-speed pump also works just fine, a dual speed (2 speeds) or variable speed (multiple speeds) pump gives you some flexibility.
Low noise. Pool pumps make noise but some are noisier than others. Considering your pool pump will be located outside, a quiet one will keep you and your pool users happy but can also ensure your neighbors don’t complain that the pump you choose is a loud one.
Energy efficiency. Pool pumps consume a decent amount of electricity – 3,000 to over 5,000 kWh per year is reasonable – and since you’re going to be running it 8-10 hours per day, an energy efficient model can save you money over the long run. The average US electricity rate is around 14 cents per kWh which would translate into a cost of $420 – $700 (or more) per year using the above-mentioned usage figures, just for the pool pump alone. Look for the ENERGY STAR rating that denotes its energy efficiency level.
Digital display. Some more expensive pump models now come with a digital display – particularly dual or multiple speed pumps – to let you know what speed is currently set and possibly other information such as the status of the pump timer if included.
Plug in or hard-wired. Most pumps tend to be hard-wired and would be installed by an electrician or otherwise qualified person. A plug in model requires its own set of important considerations since the plug could pop out and receptacle could be exposed to water.|
Quick clean. Quick clean is a feature on some pumps that when pressed, will quickly crank the pump speed up to full for a period of time, normally 1 hour. It can help to clean the pool by increasing the flow rate and suction speed of water, drawing debris into the filter to clean the water faster.
While there are no salt water pool-specific pumps, you might consider a pump whose outer casing is made from hard plastic rather than metal since plastic should hold up to salt water better.
Still, if your pool pump is away from the pool and isn’t getting splashed on, it might not be a big deal.
What are the major pool pump brands?
Major pool pump manufacturers include:
- Hayward – They offer pumps for inground and above ground pools and also make chlorinator systems like AquaRite and other pool and spa equipment like filter, heaters, solar and water features among others. I’ve had a Hayward SuperPump and it has worked very well.
- Pentair – Pentair offers many of the same products that Hayward offers for inground and above ground pools as well as spas. Their IntelliFlo and SuperFlo brands are particularly popular pool pumps. I initially had a Sta-Rite pump which is a Pentair brand. When it died, we replaced it with the Hayward model.
- TRUPOW – TRUPOW is a newer company from China that not only builds pool pumps but also garden and pond equipment as well as diesel pumps and other garden-related equipment.
- INTEX – INTEX specializes in above ground pool pumps including cartridge filter pumps and related equipment. They also produce other non-pool specific equipment like air mattresses, air furniture and floats and toys.
- XtremePower – This company produces pool pumps and other pool equipment but is also a manufacturer of completely unrelated products such as power tools, patio heaters and hunting equipment among other things.
- Harris – Harris Pool Products produces pool pumps as well as winter and solar covers along with pool filters. This company tends to focus on online sales.
Hayward and Pentair tend to be the names you see the most not only due to the pump brands they offer but the other pool equipment and systems they produce.
What makes a salt water pool a salt water pool?
So if a salt water pool doesn’t require a special pump, filter or heater, what exactly makes it a salt water pool in the first place? What distinguishes it from other pools?
A salt water pool needs a salt chlorination system which is what enables the conversion of dissolved salt into chlorine. A typical chlorinator is comprised of a control unit, salt cell and a water flow sensor. These three items together are what enables a pool to become a salt water pool, if you will.
You can either build a pool from scratch and include a salt chlorination system or you can convert an existing pool into a salt water pool with the installation of a salt chlorinator.
Here are some of my articles that elaborate on exactly what a salt water pool is:
What Does A Salt Water Chlorinator Do?
What Happens If You Put Chlorine In A Salt Water Pool? (Important)
How Does A Saltwater Pool Work?