Pentair SuperFlo VS Review: The Sensible Variable Speed
A Pentair SuperFlo VS 1.5 HP review covering the TEFC motor, three programmable speeds, 115 to 230 volt compatibility and where it sits against the IntelliFlo range.
Three programmable speeds, a 24 hour clock and universal voltage, with nothing else to go wrong.
The verdict: The SuperFlo VS is the variable speed pump for people who want the energy saving without the app, the flow sensor or the flagship price. Buy it if you are replacing a single speed pump on a normal pool and want the simplest route to lower bills. Skip it if you want the pump to hold a flow rate as the filter loads, or if you are building a fully automated pad, where the IntelliFlo range integrates better.
Pentair EC-342001 SuperFlo VS Variable Speed Pool Pump, 1.5 HP
~$1,280
A 1.5 HP variable speed pool pump with a totally enclosed fan cooled motor, three programmable speeds, a real time 24 hour clock and 115 to 230 volt compatibility without special wiring.
Check price on AmazonSpecifications
| Type | Variable speed inground pool pump |
|---|---|
| Horsepower | 1.5 HP |
| Motor | Totally enclosed fan cooled |
| Voltage | 115V to 230V, 50 or 60 Hz, no special wiring |
| Control | Digital keypad with three programmable speeds, real time 24 hour clock and override |
| Origin | Genuine Pentair original equipment product |
Specifications above come from Pentair's published specifications. Treat pricing as approximate, since Amazon pricing moves.
What it does well
- Universal voltage compatibility removes the most common reason a pump replacement turns into an electrical project.
- Three programmable speeds with a clock covers what a normal pool actually needs: a low filtration speed, a higher cleaning speed and a boost.
- A totally enclosed fan cooled motor keeps water, dust and insects out of the windings, which is a real contributor to service life on an outdoor pad.
- It is several hundred dollars less than the flow controlled pumps while delivering the same fundamental energy saving.
Where it falls short
- No flow control, so as the filter loads the pump delivers less water at the same speed and you have to notice and compensate.
- Three preset speeds rather than fully continuous control, which is enough for most pools but less flexible.
- No app. For some buyers that is the point and for others it is a missing feature.
- One and a half horsepower is not enough for a large pool with a spa and water features.
What owners report
Published owner reports are consistent that the pump is quiet, that bills fall and that installation is straightforward for anyone comfortable with pool plumbing. The universal voltage feature comes up repeatedly as the thing that made a swap easy.
The complaints are mostly about the keypad interface being dated and about the absence of app control, both of which are accurate and both of which are reflected in the price. Reports of long service life are common, which is the important measure for a pump.
Who it suits
- Normal residential pools replacing a single speed pump.
- Owners who want the energy saving and none of the connected features.
- Installations where the existing wiring is 115 volt and rewiring is unwelcome.
Who should skip it
- Large pools with spas or water features, which need more pump.
- Owners building an automated equipment pad who want everything on one controller.
- Anyone who wants flow control to compensate for a loading filter.
Alternatives worth considering
Pentair IntelliFlo3 VSF Pump 1.5 HP
~$1,409
A hundred and thirty dollars more for flow control that maintains turnover as the filter loads, plus app control. The better long term pump if you like the pool to look after itself.
Check price on AmazonHayward Super Pump InGround Pool Pump, 1 HP
~$849
Four hundred dollars less and a proven design, but single speed, so it costs considerably more to run over a season. Cheaper to buy, more expensive to own.
Check price on AmazonAquastrong Variable Speed Pool Pump, 1.5 HP, 8189 GPH
~$509
Around seven hundred and seventy dollars less for variable speed operation and four programmable daily periods. A newer brand with a two year warranty rather than a national service network.
Check price on AmazonKeep reading
- Variable speed vs single speed pump
- Pump size calculator
- Pump turnover chart
- Pentair IntelliFlo3 VSF review
- Hayward Super Pump review
- Pool cost calculator
This review draws on published specifications, manufacturer figures and the consensus of verified owner reviews. We have not tested this product ourselves, and we say so rather than implying otherwise. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the SuperFlo VS enough pump for a normal pool?
For a typical residential pool with standard plumbing, yes. Pump sizing follows turnover requirements and pipe size, not pool prestige. Our pump size calculator will confirm it against your own volume, and oversizing is a far more common error than undersizing.
SuperFlo VS or IntelliFlo3 VSF?
The IntelliFlo3 adds flow control and app connectivity for a hundred and thirty dollars more. If you would rather the pump maintained turnover automatically, that is a genuine benefit. If you want the fewest things that can go wrong, the SuperFlo is the simpler machine.
Will it work on my existing 115 volt wiring?
Pentair specifies 115 to 230 volt compatibility without special wiring, which removes the most common obstacle when replacing an older pump. The connection still needs to be made by an electrician and the pump bonded to the pool's equipotential grid.
How many hours a day should the pump run?
Long enough to turn the water over roughly once, which at a low speed means running many hours rather than a few. That is the whole point of variable speed: slow and long beats fast and short by a wide margin on energy. Our turnover chart shows the arithmetic.
Are single speed pumps still available?
Efficiency regulations have removed most of them from the market for pools of ordinary size, and where they remain they cost far more to run. Even setting regulation aside, a variable speed pump usually pays back its price difference within a few seasons.
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