How Much Does It Cost to Run a Pool Pump in Nova Scotia? (2026)
A single speed pool pump running 8 hours a day is frequently the second largest electricity consumer in a home after air conditioning. Variable speed pumps cut this cost dramatically.
A typical pool pump (1,500 W) costs C$0.31 per hour, or about C$73.73 per month at 8 hours a day in Nova Scotia. Expensive to run
| Wattage | Per hour | Per day | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Low 500 W | C$0.10 | C$0.82 | C$24.58 | C$147.46 |
| Typical 1,500 W | C$0.31 | C$2.46 | C$73.73 | C$442.37 |
| High 2,500 W | C$0.51 | C$4.10 | C$122.88 | C$737.28 |
Formula: watts ÷ 1000 × hours × price per kWh. Typical use is 8 h/day for about 180 days a year (the pool season) ≈ 2,160 kWh per year.
One hour of a pool pump (1.5 kWh) is the same electricity as
- 8.3km in an electric car
- 15hours of TV
- 33hours of a laptop
- 167hours of an LED bulb
In Nova Scotia, with electricity at 20.5¢ per kWh (source: Hydro-Québec 2025 comparison, 2025-04), a typical pool pump costs C$0.31 per hour and about C$442.37 per year at 8 hours a day. That is about 46% more than the national average for Canada (C$50.40 per month), because electricity in Nova Scotia costs 20.5¢ per kWh against 14.0¢ nationally. Each C$1.00 of electricity buys roughly 3.3 hours of use.
How to lower the cost of running a pool pump
- Replace a single speed pump with a variable speed model. Savings of 50 to 80 percent are typical.
- Run the pump only as long as needed for one full water turnover, usually 6 to 8 hours.
- Schedule pump run time for off-peak electricity hours.
- Keep the filter and skimmer baskets clean so the pump works against less resistance.
Is an efficient pool pump worth it?
Single-speed pool pump, 1,500 W: about 2,160 kWh a year. Variable-speed pump run at low speed: about 756 kWh. The difference is worth C$287.54 a year in Nova Scotia.
- Replacing one that still works pays back in 3.5 years.
- When yours needs replacing anyway, the extra cost of the efficient model pays back in 1.7 years.
Usage assumed: 8 hours a day over a six-month pool season. Typical prices: C$1,000 for the efficient model, C$500.00 more than a basic one. Work it out with your own prices
Frequently asked questions
How many hours a day should a pool pump run?
Long enough to turn over the pool volume once, typically 6 to 8 hours in summer and less in winter.
How much does a pool pump cost to run per month?
A 1,500 watt pump for 8 hours uses 12 kWh a day, or about 360 kWh a month. Check the monthly figure above.
Are variable speed pumps worth it?
Usually yes. The payback period is commonly one to three years.
Cost by region
US states
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- District of Columbia
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
Canadian provinces
Related appliances
- Electric Lawn Mower (Corded or Battery)1,200 W typical
- Electric Pressure Washer1,800 W typical
- Electric Sauna Heater6,000 W typical
- Infrared Sauna1,800 W typical
Use the generic electricity cost calculator · Which uses more? Take the quiz