How much does a new pool pump cost in Virginia?

There is no single Virginia price for a new pool pump, and this page does not invent one. No Virginia agency or other primary source we could find publishes a dated price for the pump or its installation, so any figure here would be a guess. What is reliable is what moves the bill and what to get in writing, so that three quotes can be compared on the same terms.

What you are paying for

A new pump quote is usually the pump, the labor to swap it, and whatever the old setup needs to meet today's requirements.

The pump. Horsepower, the plumbing connections and the speed type set the equipment price. Single-speed pumps are the traditional choice. ENERGY STAR says a certified in-ground pool pump has no additional upfront cost compared to standard models, but prices vary by brand and size, so ask each company to price a like-for-like pump and a variable-speed pump separately, and see whether a variable-speed pump is worth it.

Matching the electrics. Hayward's manual labels a mismatch between supply voltage and the motor nameplate voltage a fire hazard,^[3] so the new pump has to suit your circuit. Hayward says the pump must be permanently connected to a GFCI, and that the motor should be bonded to the pool structure.^[3] If your equipment pad falls short, correcting it is a legitimate extra, not an upsell.

Setting it up properly. ENERGY STAR's fact sheet lists what a contractor should do for a new pump, including calculating the volume of the swimming pool to determine the total amount of flow required to adequately circulate, and calibrating the flow of the new pump to obtain adequate circulation at the lowest possible motor speed.^[2] A quote that is only "supply and install" may skip this.

Permit. Virginia's building code requires a permit application before installations or alterations involving electric wiring.^[4] Fees and the question of whether a like-for-like swap needs one are set by each locality, so ask the company who pulls it and whether it is in the price.

Labor and extras. Disposal of the old pump, new unions or fittings, and any plumbing repairs found along the way add to the labor line. Ask for them by name.

Signs it is time to replace

ENERGY STAR lists the signs that it may be time to call a pool services contractor: a pump that is seven to ten years old, does not seem as powerful, makes continuous noise, gets hot and shuts off, hums or buzzes but will not start, or starts slowly.^[2] A seal or capacitor can be cheaper to fix than a pump to buy; the trade-offs are in how much pool pump repair costs and whether fixing a pump motor is worth it.

The running cost matters as much as the price

ENERGY STAR says your pool pump could be your home's second largest energy user, costing you as much as $310 in energy every year.^[1] It also says reducing pump speed by one-half allows the pump to use just one-eighth as much energy.^[1] For a certified in-ground pump it puts the saving at an estimate: certified in-ground pool pumps use 20% less energy than standard pool pumps and can save approximately $50 a year in energy bill costs.^[1] Your own saving depends on how many hours you run the pump and what your utility charges, which is why a quote should state the pump model so you can look up its efficiency.

Also ask your electric utility about money back. ENERGY STAR says many utilities offer incentives for purchasing an ENERGY STAR certified pool pump.^[2] Check before you buy, because some programs require a pre-approved model.

Get quotes you can compare

DPOR advises at least three written bids or estimates using identical plans and specifications so you can compare prices and contractors, and warns that a bid substantially lower than the others probably signals a problem.^[6] Ask each company to put in writing:

• the pump make, model and horsepower, and whether it is single-speed, two-speed or variable-speed
• the labor, with any wiring, bonding, GFCI, plumbing and permit work as separate lines
• who removes and disposes of the old pump
• the warranty on the pump and on the labor
• whether the flow is set up and tested before they leave

Before you hire anyone, confirm your contractor is insured and has the appropriate qualifications, as ENERGY STAR puts it.^[2] In Virginia, if the work is valued at $1,000 or more, a valid Virginia contractor's licence is required for the licence category in which the contractor is to work.^[6] On the electrical side, no individual may work, or offer to work, as an electrical tradesman without a tradesman licence, unless working under the supervision of a tradesman licensed in that specialty.^[5] Check both on the DPOR licence lookup.

On payment, a good rule of thumb is an initial deposit of no more than 10% of the total price or $1,000, whichever is less.^[6]

When to call a licensed pro

• The pump is dead and you do not know why. A tripped GFCI, a bad capacitor or a jammed impeller can look the same from the pool deck. Do not reset the breaker repeatedly.
• You are thinking of wiring it yourself. Pool circuits need the GFCI and bonding described above, and the work needs a licensed electrical tradesman.
• Water is leaking at the pump, the filter or the unions. Switch off the pump and have it looked at before the equipment pad floods.
• A quote is far below the others or asks for most of the money first. DPOR says a bid substantially lower than the others probably signals a problem.^[6]

Getting help in Virginia

Loclis lists DPOR-licensed businesses with their licence number and class. To keep the filter side healthy, read how to clean a pool cartridge filter, then browse pool and spa services or more pool and spa answers.

When you are ready, describe your pump once and local pool services quote it.