DrDave said:
I like working with real numbers that can be verified. So lets do the math so all concerned can get a feel for the real cost.
In So Cal the baseline is $.04 per KWH for electricity.
The HF pump at 270 watts, running 24 hours costs $.26 a day.
The Laguna pump is 100 watts is about $.10 a day.
In 365 days, the savings are $58.00. So now it comes down to how long do each of them last? HF sells full replacement guarantees for 10% of the cost that are 3 years.
What is Lagunas cost and guarantee? and is it 100 watts in a 3200 GPH pump?
I can't seem to get the high priced pumps to last more than 2 years.
Oh; the national average is $.06 per KWH, so others may wish to use this when calculating costs.
As I was reading this the national average sounded way off. I did a report for the HOA I belong to in my neighborhood to save some of our money for bills and electric power was at the top of the list. I also bought an extra refridgerator about 6 months ago and the yellow Estimated Yearly Energy Use card that is in all appliances uses National Averages had used about 11.5 cents. I just checked this site -
http://www.eia.doe.gov/cneaf/electricity/epm/table5_6_a.html
To make sure. If we want to be accurate we have to use what people are actually spending per KWH. Base rate is one thing, but you have to add all the other factors that depend on your electric company. There are things like delivery fees, surcharges, and lets not forget state taxes. You may even get charged just for maintaining an account.
I used this calculator to make it simple
http://www.themoneyalert.com/ApplianceCalculator.html
My electric company charges 12 cents per KWH. I used the pump I bought, a Sequence 3600 @ 3600GPH, uses 139W and used the calculator for both pumps, the Harbor Freight at 270W, it comes out to a $141 savings per year. Sequence also has a 3 year warranty. So the first year is a wash, by the end of the 3 years you got almost $300 in savings. I love Harbor Freight, as I call it "The Crack House", I went there for a hole saw kit for $7 and came out 1 1/2 hours later with a cart full of stuff. I considered there pump. I would rather pay it now while I have it, then be nickel and dimed through out the months and years ahead. I can afford it now, but maybe down the road I may need that extra $10 -$11 a month. Oh, and has nothing to do with this but the hole saw kit I bought, had a deffective saw in it and I have to return it. So I'm sure I'll find some other crap I "need".
Anyway, the only reason for this post is for accuracy, you need to use your own electric bill to calculate costs to be accurate.