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San Diego electricity is expensive, and the pool pump is one of the biggest loads at a lot of houses. When it runs matters as much as how long.
For many San Diego homes, the pool pump is one of the largest users of electricity on the bill. On a time-of-use plan, the same hours of pumping can cost very different amounts depending on when they happen.
Most residential time-of-use plans in the area charge the most in the late afternoon and evening, roughly 4pm to 9pm. Check your own plan on your utility bill, because the details vary. The goal is simple: keep the pump off during the expensive window.
The water needs to turn over, which means the full volume passes through the filter. In summer that usually means more hours than in winter. A variable-speed pump can run longer at low speed for less power than a single-speed pump running fewer hours at full speed.
Run the main filtration block overnight and in the morning, when rates are lower. If you have a salt system, it only makes chlorine while the pump runs, so make sure the schedule gives it enough hours. Cleaners and water features need their own time slots at a higher speed.
If an older single-speed pump over about 1 HP fails, California efficiency rules require a variable-speed replacement. It usually pays for itself in lower bills. We quote the pump and the install as one number and set the schedule for your plan at startup.