Yes, pool pumps use a significant amount of electricity, making them one of the biggest energy consumers in a home. A pool pump can use up to three times as much electricity as a refrigerator. Typically, a residential pool pump consumes about 1 kilowatt-hour (kWh) for every hour it runs. Because pumps often need to run for about eight hours a day to properly filter the water, this can add up to an annual consumption of 3,000 to 5,000 kWh, which can cost between $480 and $800 per year based on average electricity rates.

The amount of electricity your pump uses depends on its size, energy efficiency, and daily run time. To lower your energy consumption, you can choose an energy-efficient or variable-speed pump, ensure it is correctly sized for your pool, and run it only for the minimum time required to keep the water clean.

While spools are much smaller than pools, some clever features still allow you to get your laps in. Some spools include directional jets to create a “current” you can use to swim laps in a smaller space. They also allow you to use your spool as a spa when you’re done swimming.

Yes, you will need to shock your pool with high levels of chlorine or bromine when you first fill it to kill off bacteria and pathogens. You’ll need to wait for the chlorine concentration to come back down to a safe level before swimming. After that, you can test and maintain the chlorine and other levels as normal. The only exception to this is if you get pool water delivered by a professional. In that case, the water might come pretreated, so you might not need to shock it.

You should add one 3-inch chlorine tablet for every 5,000 gallons of water in your pool. If you have a smaller pool, it’s better to use 1-inch chlorine tablets so you don’t accidentally add too much chlorine. Alternatively, you can add two to three ounces of powdered chlorine or half a gallon of liquid chlorine for every 5,000 gallons of water.