If you have an in-ground swimming pool, you might be surprised to learn that your pool pump could be your home’s second largest energy user after your heating and cooling system. With pool season approaching, now might be the right time to take the plunge and replace your old pump with a new ENERGY STAR® certified pool pump to realize refreshing cost savings.

“Families may not realize just how much their old, single-speed pool pump is costing them every month,” said Edith Garcia, Residential Energy Efficiently Program Manager for Tucson Electric Power. “On average, it costs up to $560 a year to run a standard pool pump.”

Standard pumps run at one speed – high – even though filtration is the most common function and requires half of that flow. Certified pool pumps use more efficient motors, advanced hydraulic designs and variable-speed technology to deliver the appropriate flow for water filtration, fountains or cleaning.

ENERGY STAR-certified pool pumps use up to 65 percent less energy than standard pool pumps and can save you up to $450 a year in energy costs. They also run quieter and prolong the life of your pool’s filtration system. “With those savings, the typical payback period for a new high efficient pool pump is less than two years,” Garcia added.

To help you realize even more savings, TEP is offering a $195 instant rebate for the purchase and installation of a qualified pool pump to replace your single-speed pump through a TEP-approved pool professional.

To receive the rebate, visit a TEP-approved pool professional for help selecting a qualifying pump that meets your needs and show them a copy of your current TEP bill.

Replacing a broken pump is an obvious opportunity to upgrade your energy efficiency. But there are other warning signs that may indicate your pool pump is at the end of its useful life:

• Your pump is more than seven years old. The average pump lasts 8-12 years.
• It hums, buzzes or makes noises.
• It has trouble starting.
• It gets hot and shuts off.
• The pump starts slowly or seems less powerful.

“Investing in a high-efficiency pool pump just makes good financial sense,” said Garcia. “You’ll save energy to reduce your monthly bills year after year, and receive an instant rebate from TEP to reduce the upfront cost of buying an efficient pool pump. It’s good for your wallet – and the planet.”

According to ENERGY STAR, if every above ground pool pump in the United States was ENERGY STAR certified, families could save $770 million annually in energy costs and prevent greenhouse gas emissions equal to those produced by more than 1 million cars.