Author Topic: Does running pump continuously increase the electric bill?  (Read 5357 times)

Cary Austin

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Does running pump continuously increase the electric bill?
« on: February 02, 2014, 09:07:34 AM »
Quote from: ;408150
  It's a different issue, when we irrigate, but thats normally once every couple weeks.  And, during irrigation times, we're running the drip lines for 8 hours at a time - I wouldn't think we'd want to have the pumps running continuously for that duration.  Probably cheaper to periodically replace the booster than to pay for the electricity :~}. 

You comments are typical of how confusing pumps can be.  Pumps are made for, and will last longer when subjected to “continuous duty”, as compared to cycling on and off.  And restricting the flow will “reduce the load” of a pump, not increase the load, as most people think.  Once you come to terms with these counter intuitive principals of a centrifugal pump, you will wonder how many other things are not the way they seem.

It will be much better for the pump, and the irrigation system, for the pump to run continuously for 8 hours, as compared to cycling on and off continuously for 8 hours.

And there is no way that you can pay to replace a booster pump for the difference in the electric bill, comparing running continuously at reduced load, to cycling on and off at full load.