With all the choices out there, choosing a brand new or a replacement pool pump can be a daunting task. Trust us, we get dozens (sometimes hundreds!) of emails on a daily basis asking what standard pool pump we recommend, so we decided to put up a blog post outlining our top three standard pool pump recommendations.

For obvious reasons, our in-house favorite here at Mr Pool Man for the standard pool pumps is the Water TechniX Pump LEO. This isn’t just favoritism though; the Pump LEO does have a number of benefits that truly sets it apart from the rest of the pack.

• DIY-Friendly – Unlike other pool pumps that specifically require a licensed plumber and/or electrician (depending on the manufacturer) to install your pool pump to avail of the warranty, the Water TechniX Pump LEO is extremely DIY-Friendly and the warranty still stands even if you install the pump yourself!
• Plug-and-Play Operation – Aside from some minor plumbing work, installing the Water TechniX Pump LEO is basically plug and play!
• Quick Connect Unions – Did we mention it was easy to install? With quick connect unions on both the suction and discharge ports, you don’t need a plumbers license to install the Pump LEO.
• Lifetime Support from Mr Pool Man – We know the Water TechniX Pump LEO in and out! Any question and support inquiry with regard to the Pump LEO will be answered in record time!
• Thermal Overload Protection – The Pump LEO has built-in thermal overload protection! If for any reason your pump’s temperature reaches a certain temperature (ie low water level, pipe clogs, etc) it shuts down automatically, preventing your motor from burning out.
• Built-in Sound Diffuser – The Pump LEO is one of the quietest pool pump out there due to its built in sound diffuser which breaks up sound waves for quieter operation.
• Large Capacity Strainer Basket – Roomy strainer baskets allow for more debris to be pre-filtered before needing to be emptied.
• Powerful 1.0hp motor – Good for both above-ground and in-ground pools up to 90,000 liters in volume.

Another favorite here at Mr Pool Man is the Davey Pump StarFlo DSF 300. What makes this pump super popular is the fact that it retrofits with a large number of the older Australian Pool pumps like the Astral Hurlcon CTX / TX / E Series pool pumps. Some of its features and benefits include the following:

• Fully Serviceable – With a little bit of know-how, you don’t need to bring the pump in for minor maintenance and repair. On a side note, Mr Pool Man offers all of the Pool Pump spare parts you’ll ever need for minor repairs and service of your pool pump!
• Easy Plug – The Davey StarFlo has a 3m power lead with 10amp Australian three pin plug fitted to all models, making it easy to plug into your existing electrical system.
• Easy Installation – With self-aligning barrel unions, the Davey StarFlo pump can be installed with minimal plumbing mess.
• Thermoplastic Noryl Impeller – The Impeller is made from impact-resistant Noryl material to protect it from tiny pieces of debris that manage to make it through your skimmer and pump baskets.
• Viton mechanical seal – The chemical and heat resistant mechanical seal ensures that your motor is protected from moisture!
• Self-resetting thermal overload protection – Just like the Water TechniX Pump Alpha, the Davey StarFlo has thermal overload protection that shuts off the pump in case of overheating! No more burnt out motor problems!

• Powerful 1.0hp motor – Good for both above-ground and in-ground pools up to 90,000 liters in volume.

The new kid on the block! The Speck Pump Super 90/230 is one of the newest pumps we have here at Mr Pool Man. The Speck pump is a premium pump with a number of features and benefits that can’t be found in some of the more “standard” pool pumps so we feel it merits a place here on our Top standard pump list.

• German Design and Engineering – Designed for quiet and smoother operation. So instead of describing your pool pump as roaring, you can now describe it as a manageable hum.
• Self-priming – No need to manually purge the air from your pool’s pipe systems to run your pump. The Speck Pump Super primes automatically, saving you time and effort.
• Fan Cooled – Ideal for the harsh Australian heat, cools down the motor with a built-in fan, preventing overheating.
• High Heat Stability – Perfect for applications that call for hot water up to 60 degrees Celsius or 140 degrees Fahrenheit! Hot tub or Jacuzzi anyone?
• Five year wet-end component warranty – This is one of the main reasons the Speck Pump Super made it on the list. Speck Pumps come with a five (5) year warranty on the following wet end components: Casing, Diffuser, Gland Housing, Impeller and Mechanical Seal. The motor comes with the standard 2-year warranty.

• Powerful 1.0hp motor – Good for both above-ground and in-ground pools up to 90,000 liters in volume.

With all of the factors taken into consideration, our recommendation still falls on the Water TechniX Pump Alpha by a decent margin. It’s still the best available pump for its price range and to put it bluntly, it’s still the best bang for your buck! Add that to the level of support Mr Pool Man has for Water TechniX products creates an unbelievable value.

The only thing that prevents us from fully recommending the Speck Pump Super is its price point. But if price is not an issue then the Speck Pump Super is the way to go!

P.S. The Water TechniX VorteX ECO Variable Speed Pool pump is only slightly more expensive than the Speck Pump Super, so you may want to check it out as well if your budget allows it.