Your pool pump is probably too big.

Probably smaller than you think. Most people oversize their pool pump because they assume bigger = better. It doesn’t work that way.

Pool volume matters, but plumbing diameter matters more. A 30,000-gallon pool with 1.5-inch pipes can’t handle a 2 HP pump without cavitation and energy waste. You need to match the pump’s flow curve to your pipe size and head loss. Rule of thumb: 1 HP for most residential pools up to 20,000 gallons with 1.5-inch plumbing. 1.5 HP if you’ve got 2-inch pipes or a lot of elevation change.

The real answer: buy a variable speed pump. You can dial it down to exactly what your pool needs, save 50-80% on electricity, and never guess again. Pump curve charts are nice, but a VS pump makes the curve irrelevant—you just set the flow rate you want.

Don’t buy horsepower you won’t use.