A major consideration when installing or upgrading an inground pool is determining how far away from the pool you can set the pool pump. The distance from your pool pump to your inground pool can have a huge impact on your pool’s performance and the efficiency of other equipment, like your robot pool cleaner. We know that understanding the relationship between the location of the pool pump and the other pool equipment can help you get the best setup for low maintenance of your pool. This blog will allow us to elucidate how far away from the pool a pool pump can and should be placed, as well as the impact this has on the operation of other cleaning devices, such as pool vacuums, skimmers, or robotic pool cleaners.

What Does a Pool Pump Do?

Pool pumps do just what it suggests: they pump water around the pool’s filtration system, keeping the water clean and flowing correctly. It pulls water from the pool into the filtration system, where it is filtered and then returned to the pool. A good pump is key to keeping your water chemistry in check, and your pool cleaning equipment (i.e. the robot pool cleaner) running smoothly.

Distance Between The Inground Pool And The Pool Pump

So that distance between the pool and the pump is largely dependent on several important factors, such as the type and size of the pump, the diameter of the plumbing pipes and the total dynamic head (TDH) of the system. The TDH (total dynamic head) is the total resistance that the pump needs to overcome, which takes into account the length and configuration of the pipes, the height to which the water is to be lifted, and other system-specific variables.

Pump Size and Power

One of the factors that determines how far you can place your pump away from your pool is the size of your pool pump. A bigger, more powerful pump will have more pushing power to move water through longer pipes so it can be farther from the pool. Diminutive pumps, by contrast, are better for short distances.

For residential swimming pools, it is the usual practice to locate the pool pump within 10–20 ft (0.2–6.1 m) of the swimming pool. But if your pool is over average size or you are planning to install a system with long runs of piping, you might require a heavier-duty pump.

Pipe Length and Diameter

Long pipes make it difficult for pool pumps to circulate water. A longer run of pipe generates more friction, which robs the line of flow and makes the pump work harder. You should also take into account the diameter of the pipes; wider pipes have less friction, which enables the pump to work more efficiently and have longer runs.

Usually, in a typical installation scenario, 1.5-inch pipes are employed for most residential pools, while longer distances might mandate a 2-inch pipe or even larger pipes due to the increased resistance.

Difference in Height or Elevation

When the pool pump is situated higher than the pool, it must pump water uphill which compounds the resistance against it. Which means, if your pump is above the pool’s water level, it can’t be as far away from the pool as if it was at the same level. The higher the difference in height, the more power you will need for your pump to overcome the resistance.

Impact on Pool Equipment (Robot Pool Cleaners, Skimmers and Vacuums)

As the distance from the pool to the pump increases, so does the impact on the performance of the pool cleaning robot, Skimmer, and pool vacuum robot. The distance between the pump and the pool can limit how much water pressure the cleaner receives and thus reduce effectiveness.

Robotic pool cleaner: Robotic pool cleaners like the Beatbot AquaSense Pro need to work with a constant water flow for the best cleaning results. If the pump is too far from the pool, you may end up with lower water pressure, which will decrease the effectiveness of the cleaning.

Skimmers: Skimmers are typically plumbed into the pool’s filtration system through the pump. This reduces the suction required to lift debris off the floor of the pool when the pump is at a distance.

Whether Pool Vacuum Robot or Decorous Pool Vacuum Cleaner both rely on the suction power generated by the pump, in order to clear the pool. If the pump is too distant from the pool, you’ll see the vacuum’s ability to clean decrease because of lower suction power.

Ideal Distance for Most Pools

On average, the distance pool pump should be from an inground pool is 20-30 ft. This range makes certain that the pump has enough pressure to supply the water that the pool’s filtration system requires to run efficiently and provides sufficient pressure for your automatic pool cleaning equipment to perform properly.

If you have to install the pump further afield, you should upgrade to a larger, more powerful pump and use a wider pipe to reduce friction. It might even be essential to install a booster pump to make sure that there is sufficient pressure that all pool equipment, including your robot pool cleaner, Works.

Use This Checklist to Get Your Pump and Pool Set Up Right

Use this checklist to set your pump upright and promote a healthy pool.

Select a pump that is the right size for your pool and the distance it is from the pump.

Over longer runs, put in wider pipes (2 inches or larger) that reduce friction and keep water rushing.

Fill the system with water and check for air locks, keeping the pump at the same level as the pool to prevent additional resistance.

For long-distance installations, consider using a booster pump to ensure you have sufficient pressure.

(Coming up next: Make sure your pool cleaning robots, the Beatbot AquaSense, are working properly: >> Test water flow)

Conclusion

Distance: When you install or upgrade your pool pump, you need to consider its distance from the pool. For longer distances you might need a stronger pump and larger pipes and in some cases, a booster pump to maintain the efficiency of your pool cleaning devices such as robot pool cleaners and vacuum cleaners for pools. Proper pump sizes and pipe diameters will enable you to get full filtration and cleaning out of the pool systems with minimal ongoing maintenance needs.

But when you’ve got the right equipment, you can keep your pool looking as good as new — and easy to maintain year-round without too much effort from robot pool cleaners, skimmers, and even pool vacuum robots.