How long you should use your pump in a cycle will ultimately rely on two things. These include filtration and chemical demand. In certain time such as during summer, your pool will be at its peak and you are much more likely to experience increased impurities in your pool. This will require that you run the pump for longer. As a rule of thumb, you should run your pool pump for an hour and half for every 10° F of the outdoor temperature. Pool professionals recommend that you run your pool pump for a minimum of four to five hours during winter. You should run the pool for at least 12 hours if it is the hot summer months.