Pool Pump Curves

Factors that help determine proper flow rates

The pump curves are an important step in choosing the right pump.  Those are the real indicator of a pump's performance.  Before looking at the pump curves, be sure to look at the proper turnover rate, the pool features, the pool plumbing and the pool equipment.  When you have taken all that into account, you should have a range of performance you are looking for in a pool pump.  

Suppose you decided that you were looking for a pump with a flow rating of 48 GPM.  If you looked at the pump chart for the Sta-Rite Max-E-Glas pump you would see the chart to the right.  This chart shows the performance curves for the different horsepower ratings.

We have added a yellow line denoting 64 ft of head, and a blue line denoting 50 GPM.   Find where the two lines cross and you will see the pump that will give this pool the desired 8 hour turnover.

There is also a curve that denotes the area within which the pump is designed to operate.  In other words, The pumps need to be operating against a certain amount of resistance.  It is best to shoot for a pump that is in the middle of the efficiency arc.  In this case, if you need to achieve a flow rating of 60 GPM, it is best to go with a 1.5 HP pump.

From this chart, you can see that a 1 horsepower pump (the green curve) will give you 50 GPM flow on a system with 64 feet of head.