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Pool Pump Lifespan

farmo83

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What's an average lifespan for a pool pump? I bought a really cheap pump and when i moved into my house as I was strapped for cash at the time. It lasted 2.5 years. I'm doing the math on getting a Variable speed pump but have no real insight into how long one of the name brand pumps will last. Google says 10-12 years, is this realistic ?
 

NicPaus

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Yes. The Whisperflo at my Moms lasted 15 and with the trees it gets worked hard.
 

badgas

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I just put in a new 2 HP on Friday, not variable becasue we could not find one in time. The last one lasted over 10 years.

Pool guy said I should get 10 years out of it.
 

X Hoser

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I just replaced my Pentair VS pump after 7 years I believe. Pump still worked but the screen went out. I screwed the whole thing up trying to “YouTube” fix it. Now that I have the new Pentair VS pump in I realize how poorly my old one was performing. Slow to prime and noisily. So, realistically I’d say 7-8 years? That is with the Pentair, I know nothing about the other brands. BTW, this is a large salt water pool, spa and heater if it makes any difference?
 

Mr. C

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2 Pentair 3hp I believe coming up on 22 years. changing one to a variable soon I hope
 

satellitemike

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Got about 14 years out of our original single speed, still working but could tell it was getting tired, large salt pool and ran an average of 8 hours per day.
Swapped it out to a VS and probably saves us about $40 per month
 
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joecfd1

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Our first single speed Pentair pump lasted 17+ years with Havasu's finest water. We installed a new Pentair Intelliflo VSF and it's awesome. Quiet, energy efficient, and nice to be able to vary the speed for different functions.
 

LHC Kirby

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VS going 10 + years...... We saved at least $40 a month in electric charges..... and quiet too
 

Mr. C

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Looking online "pool supply unlimited" seems to be the price to beat. Pentair 3hp VS @1400.

anybody know of So Cal rebates going now?
 

Yldboyz

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Looking online "pool supply unlimited" seems to be the price to beat. Pentair 3hp VS @1400.

anybody know of So Cal rebates going now?

Do you have a link or a part number for the pump in question? I know internet pricing is hard to beat. I'll check to see what we sell them for.
We can rebuild them as well.
 

Mr. C

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Do you have a link or a part number for the pump in question? I know internet pricing is hard to beat. I'll check to see what we sell them for.
We can rebuild them as well.

Pentair IntelliFlo Variable Speed High Performance Pool Pump with Digital Time Clock | 3HP Max | EC-011028
 

Yldboyz

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We're at $1,360.00 +tax / shipping, Pentair has these on back-log which is about 6-8~ weeks or so. All pump manufactures are experiencing supply chain shortages.

Pool Supply has them in stock according to their website. Right now on the shelf product is gold.
 

farmo83

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I found a store that had one and would install it so we went with that. It was expensive but if it last a long time I'm fine with that.
 

530RL

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I'm with 28E.

The actual pump lasts a long time. I've got 17 years on a bunch of them without a single failure.

The pool motors do not last as long.

An AO Smith/Century 1/2 HP to 2hp motor is about 225 bucks. Depending upon what it is spinning, filter versus water feature, I get about 6 to 8 years out of a new pump and about 4 to 6 years out of a rebuilt pump.

I can have them rebuilt for under a hundred bucks (typically $50 to $100 depending upon what broke) and an install kit is about 20 bucks. I have spares on the shelf in the garage and just swap them out when they take a shit and drop them off for a rebuild. Takes about ten minutes to swap a motor out.

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rrrr

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When a pool pump is in a roofed enclosure, it'll last many years longer.than one exposed to sun and weather. My 3 HP Intelliflo is 11 years old. I replaced the DE filter last year, it was 20 years old. The Raypak heater is also 20 years old and still.works fine.

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C-2

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Pumps last a long time... the motors are what fail, and are typically easy to change out.

Yup, my Pentair motor only lasted 6 years (installed 2012, burned out 2018. In 2017 the start solenoid went out/I replaced it)

Bought another remanufactured motor. While I was in there I also bought a new plate and shaft seal kit. All good now.

If you can replace an impeller on the Merc - you're good.
 

X Hoser

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Looking online "pool supply unlimited" seems to be the price to beat. Pentair 3hp VS @1400.

anybody know of So Cal rebates going now?
There was a $100 rebate form Pentair on mine a couple of weeks ago.
 

Melloyellovector

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Note: single speed pumps are no longer being made above 1hp
All pumps above 1hp are being forced to be VS.
So it will no longer be an option if it’s worth it or not.
This is not a California only thing this is everywhere

As far as lifespan on magnetic drive motors. They can and do last as long or longer then old style pumps.
They are far more cost efficient to run.
The pump itself is identical internally and externally as a whisper flow. The only difference is the motor
Replacement parts are available if screens get broke etc..
 

grumpy88

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When a pool pump is in a roofed enclosure, it'll last many years longer.than one exposed to sun and weather. My 3 HP Intelliflo is 11 years old. I replaced the DE filter last year, it was 20 years old. The Raypak heater is also 20 years old and still.works fine.

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How does the heat in the closed room effect the equipment ? What about having the heater in there ?
 

530RL

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Note: single speed pumps are no longer being made above 1hp
All pumps above 1hp are being forced to be VS.
So it will no longer be an option if it’s worth it or not.
This is not a California only thing this is everywhere

As far as lifespan on magnetic drive motors. They can and do last as long or longer then old style pumps.
They are far more cost efficient to run.
The pump itself is identical internally and externally as a whisper flow. The only difference is the motor
Replacement parts are available if screens get broke etc..
Yep, it’s like Freon for vintage cars. You have to have some on the shelf.

I just hope my pumps and the people who can rebuild them outlive me. 🤷

Otherwise it will be financially painful.
 

Melloyellovector

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Yep, it’s like Freon for vintage cars. You have to have some on the shelf.

I just hope my pumps and the people who can rebuild them outlive me. 🤷

Otherwise it will be financially painful.

It’s just money. Your heirs wont even notice the money spent on pumps :p
 

rrrr

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How does the heat in the closed room effect the equipment ? What about having the heater in there ?

Never had an issue with any of the equipment. The heater is a 220 Mbtuh, not very big, so running it inside the enclosure in the off seasons has not been a problem.
 

530RL

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For the record, mellowyellowvector helped me fix a problem in my pool pumps that others could not figure out.

I’d go with what he says. He is the Bobby Flay of pools.
 

Melloyellovector

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How does the heat in the closed room effect the equipment ? What about having the heater in there ?

Nearly every commercial pool equipment is enclosed.
No issues at all. With heater it must vent to outdoors and needs fresh air supply of X amount based on heater BTU
If room isn’t actually “fully enclosed” as in property wall, back of house/garage, and 2 sound walls with a freestanding cover up top. Then no issues other then getting exhaust out of the “room”
 

shock22

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Note: single speed pumps are no longer being made above 1hp
All pumps above 1hp are being forced to be VS.
So it will no longer be an option if it’s worth it or not.
This is not a California only thing this is everywhere

As far as lifespan on magnetic drive motors. They can and do last as long or longer then old style pumps.
They are far more cost efficient to run.
The pump itself is identical internally and externally as a whisper flow. The only difference is the motor
Replacement parts are available if screens get broke etc..
Found replacement screen and controller on eBay 10 minutes to change out easy.
 

pronstar

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Never had an issue with any of the equipment. The heater is a 220 Mbtuh, not very big, so running it inside the enclosure in the off seasons has not been a problem.

Keeping it out of direct sunlight is likely helping to prolong the life [emoji106]

My pumps are currently out in the open and it can’t be good…I can see the sun damage on the exterior cases.

Plus I bet they’re waaaay hotter in direct sunlight, compared to yours in that sweet little building you house yours in.


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