It's always an issue with swimming pool pumps and filter systems: to try and cut down on energy usage while still getting the most out of your set-up. The Department of Energy (DOE) proposed to establish energy conservation standards for dedicated-purpose pool pump motors, a category of electric motors used the operation of your pool. It also announced a public meeting to receive comment on these proposed standards and associated analyses. The Energy Policy and Conservation Act prescribed energy conservation standards for various consumer products and certain commercial and industrial equipment, including electric motors, which was the main focus for the pool and spa industry.

What this means, in a nutshell, is consumers will now have to rely on pumps with multiple (variable) speeds to augment their operation at various parts of the day. New pools will now be equipped with these variable speed pumps and switching out older ones will inevitably be replaced with ones that allow optional speeds.

For the public pools and youth facilities in the area, this means little. They've already been installed and upgrades are looked on as a way of life. But for the consumer, these higher priced pumps may be the difference between continued use and shutting down for large parts of the year or even stopping altogether.

All is not lost, however. There are several benefits in purchasing these newer, more reliable pumps, and pool owners will climb on board once enough users test them. Most notably, these pumps offer greater efficiency. The motors are driven by magnets and are completely enclosed, which keeps out debris, ranging from dirt and moisture from the weather, to landscaping and maintenance fallout. It also keeps out various animals trying to make a home, inadvertently sabotaging the device. The pump is very sturdy as well and the contained motor unit is the main reason why they're durable and built to last.

But let's not forget about how quiet these pumps are. The ability to turn down the motor at any given time and save on noise pollution should do its part to make the pool in your backyard seem more like a retreat and less like a bad toilet or washing machine.

Finally, these variable speed pumps save money. The function of the motor is much more efficient these days; it's housing design reduces internal wear, utilizing a minimum of parts, and the electronics avoid stress when changing current levels because of carefully chosen wiring created to take advantage of the shifts in power.

Try Waterway's Power Defender Variable Speed Pumps. There's a reason why these pumps are the industry standard. They're quiet, last longer and generally come with a rebate. They can change speeds to better fit your pool needs and they save you money every month… everyone loves that part!

Waterway Plastics is an American Manufacturer of Swimming Pool Pumps. Our products can be found online or at your local swimming pool retail dealer. Check us out on www.WaterwayPlastics.com