Tips for upgrading your pool equipment

Winter is the perfect time to upgrade old equipment while the pool is not in use. There are a number of reasons to upgrade your old equipment, from better water quality & power-saving alternatives to reduced maintenance and peace of mind.

So what should you be looking for when upgrading your equipment? We've listed a few of the most common upgrades for your pool below and have provided links to the products we suggest and supply to help you with your research.

POOL PUMPS

Upgrading your old pool pump to a Variable Speed pump will not only save you money on your power bills, but its reduced flow rate also takes the pressure off the pool plumbing increasing the life of your other equipment. You'll also get peace of mind with quality construction and warranty support.

POOL FILTERS

Upgrading to a media filter will require much less maintenance than the other filter types. These filters only require backwashing to clean and take at the very most just five minutes with the turn of a valve. It is usually only done every two to three months in Winter and once a month in Summer so you'll save lots of time on maintenance.

FILTER MEDIA

Glass filter media such as AFM is non-porous, self-sterilising, and can trap 30% more bacteria and organic material than a traditional Sand Filter, giving Bacteria nowhere to grow within the filter. Backwashing will be required less often and when you do it will be more efficient, using less water.

ROBOTIC POOL CLEANERS

No more clicking noise from your suction cleaner interrupting a relaxing time by the pool. A robotic cleaner is easy-to-use, runs independently from your pool system.

It runs silently and intelligently, adapting to your pool. Simply plug it into power, drop it into your pool & turn it on.

One will cover the entire pool and filter the water as it goes to leave your pool clean and clear, much faster than other cleaners.

MINERAL SWIM SYSTEM

Using 100% natural minerals to produce low levels of chlorine combined with an Ozone water purification system that almost instantly neutralises bacteria, algae, and other organic material.

This system provides the safest, clearest, and healthiest, low chlorine swimming water available. The minerals soothe and hydrate the skin, relax muscles and clear the water, while Ozone provides one of the most effective sanitising agents available.

POOL COVERS & ROLLERS

Pool covers are the best way to reduce dirt and debris getting into the pool, minimising your cleaning time.

They will save you hundreds of dollars in excess water bills by preventing evaporation.

They're also great at retaining heat to extend the swimming season.

Variable Speed Pool Pumps

Variable speed pool pumps are saving pool owners hundreds of dollars each year, though how exactly does variable speed pump work? Why are they so good? And how much will one actually save you?

A single-speed 1.5hp pump will start up and then run at a consistent speed, flow rate, and power consumption level for the entire time. More often than not, it's pumping more than what is effectively required, costing you money. For this comparison, we have used the Astral Viron P320 XT Variable Speed Pump to show you the difference between variable-speed pumps and single-speed pool pumps.

Variable Speed Pump technology

A variable speed pump such as the Astral Viron P320 XT allows you to tailor the flow rate to suit your pool and filtration requirements. Once a pool pump has started up and the water moving, it’s about keeping the water circulating as efficiently as possible, this is where the variable speeds come into play.

By reducing the speed of the pump, you're reducing the power consumption, as well as the flow rate, though this can be set to whichever setting is most effective.

The challenge for swimming pool filtration design is that 90% of the time, effective filtration and circulation of the pool water is achieved with a gentle flow rate of between 120 to 200 litres a minute. Occasionally, however, vacuuming, backwashing, and specific applications such as water features, spa jets and in-floor cleaning require higher flow rates and pressures.

The Viron XT has 4 flow settings

• Overdrive - up to 600 liters/min

• High Speed - 2850 RPM (around 400 liters/min, great for backwashing)

• Medium Speed - 2000 RPM (around 200-300 liters/min, ideal for larger pools or where equipment is much lower than the pool level)

• Low Speed - 1125 RPM (around 100-150 liters/min, perfect for smaller pools with equipment nearby)

Power Savings

If you were to halve the speed of your pump, the flow rate will also halve however, the energy consumed drops by more than 85%. Compared to conventional single-speed pumps, the Viron XT pump will save you anywhere between $700 and $1,200 every year in operating costs, which, over the life of the pump will pay for itself many times over!

Benefits of the Viron XT Variable Speed Pump

• Two sizes to suit the most demanding applications

• Save between $700 and $1,200 every year in operating costs

• High-performance overdrive mode and fast priming programs Reduce carbon emissions

• Whisper-quiet operation

• Longer pump and equipment life

Comparison between 1.5hp pump vs Variable Speed Viron P320 XT

• Viron Annual Operating Cost* $818

• Viron Annual Saving $809

• Viron Saving over 7 years $5,663

Environmentally Friendly

Warranty

Built in Australia for Australian conditions the Viron XT Pumps are covered by a limited 3 year warranty against defects in materials and workmanship.

Astral Viron XT Variable Speed Pool Pumps

*Annual operating cost based on operating pumps at factory preset low speed for 8 hours a day, each day of the year. Actual operating costs may vary according to time spent on higher speeds and the actual speed required to effectively circulate water throughout the pool, filtration, and plumbing system.