Pentair Variable Speed Pump, 230-Volt

*** 3-Year Review: Ok, it's been 3 years now so I'll give an updated review. -I installed the pump myself. -15K gal. pool in Florida. -Seals needed replacement at 18 months as others have indicated. I purchased the parts on Amazon, watched a few YouTubes on replacing the seals then did it in an afternoon. Success. Other than that the pump's been great. A real money saver. It works different than a normal pump. My pool objectives: cleanest water, lowest maintenance at lowest cost. After 3 years I've been able to dial this in. This is how I run this pump: -Drain the pool in October for $30/month electrical savings during Oct - Mar which pays for next year's chemicals. -I purchase a new filter every spring and install it after I've filled the pool and cleaned the well water silt from the pool. -I use high levels of copper-based algaecide and 1/3 chlorine for low-chemical due to some family members' sensitive skin. Cutrine Plus algaecide for yearly startup then In The Swim algaecide for swim season. In the Swim tabs and granules for chlorine. -I run #2 setting, 200 watts 24/7. The lower pressure, longer filtration makes for a very-fine filtration of water. Every few days I pull the filter and hose it down and replace. Then I'll run it at high-power, 2000 watts+ for an hour or two until the pool bottom is swept clean of debris. Then it goes back to 100% on the skimmer. If you use higher chlorine you may want to do 10% on the vacuum or main drain to prevent chemical 'hot spots'. -At the first sign of algae I add algaecide and chlorine. -I watch for algae like a hawk since it will kill a filter. Once a filter gets algae in it its filtering efficiency goes way down and cannot be reversed. New filter is solution. Bottom line: I pay about $30 a month in electricity, clean the filter about once a week in swim season, never have to brush the walls, add algaecide about once a month and use a floater for chlorine. The only time I ever have to shock is at season start up when it's filled from well water. The water is brown and opaque so it gets shocked and high-algaecide on day 1. The result is minimum cost and maintenance for OUTSTANDING water quality. When the Ex came and took a water sample to have it checked the ppl at Pinch a Penny couldn't believe the water came from a pool because it was so clean. So far so good. 10 months in. Saved hundreds installing it myself. West Central Florida. I run it for several days at 1500 rpms/200 watts. When algae begins to show I clean the filter; turn on the pool vacuum until the algae is gone; clean the pool filter; add chlorine; switch back to skimmer and 1500 rpm. Then repeat as necessary. Electricity savings are approx. $70 per month vs. the previous pump so yes, this will pay for itself in 18 months. Tip: A few months ago I heard a squealing or whining beginning at high speed which sounded really bad. I read up on it and there is a rubber pump gasket which is accessible through a rectangular access hatch on the bottom. I sprayed the gasket with silicone spray using a long spray tube and the squealing is gone. Apparently this gasket dries out from the heat and what not and just needs an occasional re-lube.