How long should I run my pool pump each day?

Most pools only need 4–6 hours of filtration a day once the water is clear, not 8–12. Run it during off-peak electric hours with a timer. If you have a single-speed pump, it’s a real energy hog — a variable-speed pump pays for itself in a year or two. Skipping filtration is bad, but cutting runtime in half is fine and will lower your electric bill.