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NuWatt designs, installs, and manages solar, battery, heat pump, and EV charger systems across 9 states. One company, one warranty, one point of contact.
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Your pool pump is your #2 electricity hog after AC, using 2,000-3,500 kWh/year. Add 5-8 extra solar panels to offset it completely. Pair with a variable-speed pump for 70% savings.
4,000-8,000 kWh/yr
45-55% of bill
2,000-3,500 kWh/yr
15-25% of bill
1,500-2,500 kWh/yr
10-15% of bill
500-800 kWh/yr
4-6% of bill
400-800 kWh/yr
3-6% of bill
TX pool homes typically consume 15,000–20,000+ kWh/year compared to 10,000–13,000 kWh for non-pool homes. The pool pump alone adds 15–25% to your annual electricity bill.
Runs at full power regardless of need. Most older TX pools have these. Replacement candidate #1.
Runs at low speed for filtration, high speed for cleaning. Better but not optimal.
Adjusts speed continuously. Uses up to 70% less energy than single-speed. DOE Title VII compliant. Best pairing with solar.
Upgrade your single-speed pump to variable-speed ($1,200–$2,000 installed), then add 4–5 solar panels instead of 7–8. The pump upgrade pays for itself in 2–3 years, and the smaller solar addition costs $1,400–$2,500 less. Total savings over 25 years: $8,000–$12,000.
| Pool Size | Pump Hours/Day | Extra kWh/Year | Extra Panels | Extra kW |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Small (10,000-15,000 gal) | 6-8 | 1,500-2,000 | 4-5 | 1.8-2.2 |
| Medium (15,000-25,000 gal) | 8-10 | 2,000-3,000 | 5-7 | 2.2-3.1 |
| Large (25,000-40,000 gal) | 10-12 | 3,000-3,500 | 7-8 | 3.1-3.5 |
| Large + Heater (any size) | 8-12 + heater | 4,000-6,000 | 9-14 | 4.0-6.2 |
Panel count assumes 440W panels with variable-speed pump. Single-speed pump users need approximately 40–60% more panels.
Running your pool pump during peak solar hours (10 AM – 3 PM) means your solar panels power the pump directly, instead of exporting electricity at a lower buyback rate and then buying it back at full price.
6:00 AM - 10:00 AM
Low-speed filtration
Partial solar (morning ramp-up)
10:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Full-speed cleaning/filtration
Peak solar production (best self-consumption)
3:00 PM - 6:00 PM
Low-speed filtration
Good solar (afternoon production)
6:00 PM - 6:00 AM
Off (or minimal)
No solar (grid power if running)
$3,000-$5,000 installed
COP 5-7 (500-700% efficient)
2,000-4,000 kWh/season
Best for: Extending swim season by 2-4 months. Works well paired with solar panels.
Uses electricity (offset by solar). Most efficient option for TX climate.
$2,500-$4,000 installed
Free energy (sun heats water directly)
0 kWh (solar thermal)
Best for: Year-round heating in South TX. Extending season in DFW/Houston.
Unglazed solar collectors on roof. No electricity needed. Separate from solar PV panels.
$1,500-$3,000 installed
80-85% (gas-to-heat)
$100-$300/month in gas when running
Best for: Rapid heating when needed. On-demand use.
Expensive to operate. Cannot be offset by solar. Not recommended for TX solar homeowners.
$300–$550
Annual pool pump savings
5–7 years
Payback on additional panels
$7,500–$13,750
25-year pool pump savings
A solar system sized to cover your home and pool pump can run $25,000–$35,000 upfront — but with Propel, you pay $0 down. A third-party owner installs FEOC-compliant Silfab 440W panels and claims the 40% Section 48E ITC, then passes the savings through as a fixed monthly payment. An 8 kW system at $2.90/W ($23,200) becomes ~$13,920 effective cost at ~$117/month. 8.99% APR, 25-year term, 660 FICO minimum. Must begin construction before July 4, 2026.
See Propel Financing DetailsNuWatt sizes your solar system to cover your entire home including your pool pump, heater, and automation. Tell us about your pool and we will design the right system.