Which is the Winner of the Best VS Pool Pump?

So which is the best Variable Speed (VS) swimming pool pump? I do have my preferences for sure but nailing down the best VS pool pump and saying there is a legitimate winner is like trying to pick the best SUV or best full-size truck. Each has its pros and cons and I think the best way to pick the best VS pump is to think of it as, “the best VS pump for your situation.”

If your pool equipment pad runs off of 115V (120V) then the best VS pump for you will be one that matches your old 1 hp pump. Let me unpack this for you a bit more. VS pumps feature Dual Voltage which means that the pump will automatically recognize if your equipment is running off of 115V or 230V and modulate the voltage. If you install say a 2.7 THP Hayward TriStar VS pump on a 115V equipment pad, it will modulate the voltage to 115V but it will also downgrade the total horsepower to around 1.85 THP. So why pay extra for a 2.7 or 3 THP VS pump when a 1.5 or 1.65 THP pump will suffice?

To make things even more complicated let's say you have a Jandy Aqualink automated system and you want to replace your single-speed pump with a VS pump. I highly suggest that you go with a Jandy VS pump and not even consider Hayward or Pentair. Not because a Jandy VS pump is better, but because it is logical to match the VS pump to the same brand automation. Just like if you were remodeling your kitchen and you purchased a stainless steel LG oven, LG microwave, and an LG refrigerator it would make sense to get an LG Dishwasher. If you have a Hayward or Pentair automation the same concept applies, go with a Hayward VS pump or a Pentair VS pump respectively.

Let me step back to the THP of the VS pump and say you do not have an automated system. Matching your existing pump HP with a VS pump's THP is a pretty good rule of thumb. If you are replacing a 1 hp single-speed pump you can easily go with a 1 THP. 1.5 THP or 1.65 THP Vs pump. If you have a 1.5 hp single-speed pump you can go with a 1.5 THP, 1.65 THP, or a 1.85 THP VS pump. If you have a 2 hp single-speed pump you can go with a 2.7 THP or 3 THP VS pump. In the first two examples, a Pentair Superflo VST could be the best choice for you. The Pentair Superflo VS is one of my favorites as it is easy to program and very reliable. If you're looking at a 2.7 THP pump you may want to consider Leslie’s Jacuzzi JVS 2.7 THP or a Pentair Intelliflo 3 THP pump.

I think choosing the best VS pump is situational. And to be perfectly honest all of the major manufacturers make really good VS pumps and it is more or less like choosing an SUV from Lexus, BMW, or Mercedes. There isn’t a lot that separates each from one another.


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