Few countries around the world have a populace that enjoys a swimming pool in their back garden in the same way that Australia does. Ask yourself how many Aussies could you name who don't enjoy a barbecue in the company of friends in their back garden with a pool to dip into from time to time? Of course, there are some maintenance issues which you need to take care of to keep your pool in mint condition, but the effort is definitely worth it.

Among the most important components of any private pool is the pump. Your pool pump will keep it clean and help you to avoid any unwanted contamination building up in the water. Despite the numerous models that are available, there are three basic types to choose from. What are they?

• Mono-Speed Pumps 

The chief reason that people opt for a pump which operates at one speed only is that it is cheaper than the other options. Although you get less operational flexibility, there are fewer things to go wrong with the sort of pool pump. That makes it the obvious choice if you want to fit and forget. There is a drawback with a mono-speed pump, however. Because they pump the swimming pool's water at one speed only, they can often operate at a higher rate than is really needed – depending on the cleanliness of your pool, that is. As such, you can spend more on electricity than you need to. In short, they tend to cost you more over time, despite the lower initial outlay.

• Twin-Speed Pumps

As the name suggests, you get two modes of operation with a twin-speed pool pump. Rather than being able to turn up its revolutions per minute compared to a mono-speed model, a twin-speed one allows you to step down and save on your power usage. Normal filtration when the pool is reasonably clean should run at a lower setting, and you only need to turn the speed up after the pool has been used extensively, or you want a jet action to occur.

• Variable-Speed Pumps

It is possible to alter both the speed and the flow rate with a variable-speed pump. As such, they are the perfect choice for pool owners who only use their pool occasionally, perhaps at the weekend. With lower running costs than either of the other types, the main drawback is they're generally more expensive to buy in the first place.