Kieran Here are 6 common pool pump problems and how. When I try to manually prime the pump by filling it with water from a hose, I cannot get the pump to fill up. Any ideas what could cause this? Be careful when checking because it might be super hot. After all, they need to circulate the water and run a motor in the pool so it wont be dead silent. This signifies a failure on your mechanical seal. Theres a basket in the skimmer, which is the small compartment that pulls water behind a thin plastic gate. I'm getting air in my pump so tried some of these troubleshooting techniques today. There is no need to worry if it is at about 10 percent of the voltage. Failure of the mechanical seal, if youre lucky, will just cause water to leak to the ground beneath your pool pump. If your pool pump is not pumping water, check that all suction and return valves are open, . 2023 Mr Pool Man, 3 / 5 Brooks Avenue Wyoming, NSW 2250 | ABN - 70600015647, Free Shipping on Orders Over $49 Australia Wide*, 1.2 Pool pump immediately shuts off after turning on, 1.3 Pool pump randomly shuts off after a few minutes, 2 - Strange sounds coming from the pool pump, 2.1 Humming sound coming from the pool pump and it wont turn on, 2.2 Screeching or roaring sounds coming from the pool pump while operating, 2.3 Loud vibrating noises coming from the pump, 3.3 Pump basket does not fill up with water. If it is, follow this method: If youre trying to get water to flow through the pool pump, your main action should be to remove clogs, trapped air, and jammed components. However, Id recommend hiring a professional if youve never dealt with a pump motor before. A vac plate or leaf canister should always be used. Drop me a line. Copyright 2022 Temperature Master | Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions | Contact, Sun2Solar Blue 16-Foot-by-32-Foot Rectangle Solar Cover, Pool Pump Wont Prime? A problem like this is usually indicative of an overload in the electrical system or a failing capacitor. The pump runs, but isn't pumping In this situation, something has interrupted the suction or the water flow that causes the system to work properly. Once water bypasses the mechanical seals and flows into your pump motor, its game over. Any new postings here are unlikely to be seen or responded to by other members. Pool pumps will inevitably make some kind of noise. If you neglect the pool and leaves continue to fall on the water's surface, they eventually make their way into the skimmer basket, which will clog the lines and cause a loss of water circulation. Make sure the capacitors are not bad and that the governor is closed. If you have any other issues with your pool pump, check out my other pool pump troubleshooting articles: Pool Pump Wont Prime? For a loose connection, tightening the wires should do the trick. They may have been turned inadvertently, causing a decrease in flow to the pump. Some of the most common reasons are that: What do all of these issues mean? This is easily fixed by some creative plumbing works. Heres Why (+ How to Fix), Pool Pump Keeps Shutting Off? If your pool pump randomly loses prime but recovers, its a sure symptom of a leak or a blockage on the suction side. Most of the time, the issue with a leaky pump (usually a pressure-side leak) is a bad o-ring in the impeller housing, bad shaft seal, or a bad thread sealant. Just experienced a similar issue. Heres Why (+ How To Fix). If something strange seems to be going on with your pump, do yourself a favor and get in touch with the pool pros at ABC Home & Commercial Services. Heres Why (+ How To Fix), Pool Pump Keeps Tripping Breaker? Look for a valve with a lever in front of the pump this is known as the suction valve. The most common source of pool pump not catching prime are air leaks before the impeller. You must log in or register to reply here. Heres Why (+ How To Fix), Speed Queen Dryer Not Heating? Uneven base - Your pump should be on a level surface. I have 3 lines coming into the pump - 2 from skimmers and one from the main drain. Unfortunately, several things could be the culprit. Heres Why (+ How To Fix), Cold Water Not Working on a Washing Machine? If you clean the filter and pump basket out and still have a problem, you need to start looking for the leak. If you leave your pump in this condition then it can lead to cavitation, surge, and even to your pumps motor burning out. How hot is too hot? Make sure the weir door can swing back and forth. TRY PRIMING AGAIN - If all else fails, try to manually prime the pump with water. Use a screwdriver to remove the impeller (you might need a strap wrench if its too tight). There are a few things that could prevent water from moving and show 0 pressure in the filter: 1. If water is leaking from the pump itself then you have a very big problem on your hands. Disconnect the motor from the pump housing. Unfortunately, rusted bearings require a full motor replacement. This video shows how to fix this problem. Pemedia AG, Schaffhauserstrasse 560, 8052 Zurich. Valves closed on the suction side 2. Cavitation happens when your pool pump is starving for water. If your swimming pool level is low, the problem can usually be fixed by filling it up. Anything that passes through the pumps basket will go to the filter, so that needs to be emptied eventually (Ill dive into the step-by-step process later in the post). The vibration pads can stop the vibrations from going into your pool base with their thick rubber. See the previous section on how to replace worn bearings. If it's less than half way up the skimmer, that could be where the air is going. We have guides on. Pump lid o-ring failure - This can be easily identified if theres bubbling around your pump lid and theres a hissing noise. Heres Why (+ How to Fix It), Ecobee Furnace Not Lighting? Simply replace the capacitor and red rid of the humming noise. If your pump recovers prime on its own, then the leak or the blockage isnt enough to fully impede the flow of water to your pump, but its getting there! Clogged intake lines - If everything else fails, then the only possible culprit is a clog somewhere in your intake lines. The wrong pump? The fix is actually quite easy, all you need to do is to prime your pool pump and you should be good to go. Our experienced pool specialists can help you with any problems you come across. An air leak will cause the pump not to fully prime. Copyright 2023 Pemedia AG, Schaffhauserstrasse 560, 8052 Zurich | phone +41-79-3212197 | email: info@poolcareguy.com |. Jammed valves, gates, and unions can slow the water flowing through the pump. 1. Changing the valves direction almost always fixes this issue. The pump impeller can make a loud noise if debris gets into the pump, clogging it. This debris can break the plumbing if its not removed. The spider gasket in the multiport valve needs replacing. Debris clogging a swimming pool skimmer is a common cause of pool pump blockage. During the hot summer months, direct sunlight removes lots of water from the pool. Theres a basket in the pool pump to prevent large debris from clogging the plumbing. Posted on Last updated: December 15, 2022. Check the drain plug on the pump. The pump continues to run, still only small bubbles from 1 or 2 jets. So if your pump itself is leaking then dont delay, replace your mechanical seal immediately! I also suggest opening the filters air relief valve to remove small air bubbles that mightve entered the system when you opened the pumps lid. A leaky pool pump could be due to two main issues: 1) a faulty pump lid or 2) a faulty shaft seal. It could be because the pump isnt primed. Circuit breaker switches are not designed to be used as on-off switches and they will wear out faster than normal. It might seem overwhelming to deal with a pool pump that simply wont turn on. These air bubbles push the water out of the pump and filter, which stops the flow. We'll do a rundown of the 8 most replaced parts on a pool pump with an explanation of each part's function and the symptoms of a possible issue. Journeyman Service Techni. Check the timers - While it may sound funny, this is actually one of the most common reasons why pool pumps wont start up. Turn off the breaker first and check all of the electrical connections going to and from your pool pump. First, check the water level in your skimmer. Take note, touch, not hold. A clogged or dirty pool filter can narrow the passageways, preventing the pump from pulling water efficiently (or at all). A good way to know if theres air in the system is to open the air relief valve on top of the filter. Pool Care Guy is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon. The filter is designed to run in a vacuum situation with water filling the entire system; if air enters the system, the motor can become damaged. Both parts of the pump are relatively straightforward to replace. Make sure its in "stop" mode. It comes in 35 different sizes theres a size for you no matter your pool dimensions and can drastically reduce evaporation. If the motor is overheating and shutting down after its started, it could be an overloaded circuit. Posted: 6/25/2022, InyoPools Product Specialist Matt S. If this pump basket becomes clogged after vacuuming, it must be cleaned out, because larger pieces of debris may have migrated here. If its dirty, the fix is pretty straightforward youll need to clean it! Pool Pump Not Working Properly 3. But if your pool pump sounds a little like a screeching hyena, the issue could be bad bearings (which are mounted on the pool motor shaft inside the motor itself) inside the motor. Once youve determined that it is indeed the shaft seal that needs replacing, buy the correct replacement shaft seal for your specific pump. If the motor is smaller than the impeller, the motor may not be able to handle the water rate. - Steve talks about what can happen to a swimming pool pump if you run it dry. Remove the impeller with a Phillips screwdriver and a strap wrench (if necessary). A clogged pool filter will drastically reduce the waters circulation, so checking for excess debris is important. Debris might be blocking the impeller and consequently disabling the pool pump. Worn bearings in the motor shaft can also cause screeching noises when the pump is running. If this happens, the first thing you should check is the motor itself. Your pool pump needs to circulate the water, or the pool will get algae, and the motor will overheat. You can replace your pumps broken impeller with these steps: Too much debris in the pools baskets will slow or prevent the water from flowing. There can be two reasons for a pool pump to hum and not start properly. If it is high, make sure that your pump impeller is the correct size. Make sure the pump switch is set to ON.. PUMP LID O-RING - The pump lid o-ring seals the lid so that air can't get in. In other words, if the pump aint happy, aint nobody happy! Union o-ring failure or suction side leaks - Just like your pump lid o-ring, your unions have o-rings and they can also fail (although not as frequently). 1.) Heres Why (+ How To Fix), Whirlpool Cabrio Dryer Not Heating? When I went to the booster pump it sounded a little different but it appeared to be running. Lets face it: your pool pump isn't going to last forever. Heres Why (+ How To Fix), Pool Pump Making Loud Noise? When I fished the Polaris out of the water, the booster was not pumping. To. If your pool pump is not filling with water, there might be an airlock. Are you having other issues or have further questions? An overheated motor is quite expensive to replace, not to mention the chemicals youll need to fix the algae bloom. Clogs are caused by a buildup of large debris, especially if theres a lot of hair or tree debris in the system. We talked about the ways to check for leaks and how to fix them. Check out our guide titled "How to Clean Out a Pool . First, clean the pool pump impeller. All you have to do is open the skimmer lid, pull out the basket, and dump the debris. The most common causes of pool pump priming issues are sucking air leaks in your pump housing or plumbing, and debris clogs. Why Are the Jets Not Working On My Inground Pool. If you notice the pump suddenly lowers its PSI (on the filters pressure gauge) despite it running at the same RPMs, there might be a loose O-ring, gasket, union, lid, or a crack in the plumbing. Do you have any broken or frayed power cords? Place the basket into the pump, seal the lid, and youre all set. Your impeller might be clogged - The first cause of a humming pool pump might be a clogged impeller. Your pool pump isn't pulling water for at least one of these reasons: The filter is dirty Air in the plumbing Jammed check valve Clogged plumbing Debris in the baskets The pump isn't primed Broken impeller Incorrect valve orientation Faulty pump motor In this article, I'll explain every possible reason your pump won't pull water. You should also check your pump for any debris when you do this. If your swimming pool filtration system turns on but fails to circulate water as it's supposed to, address the problem quickly, because the filter can suffer permanent damage if it continues to run without circulating water. Much like the dirty filter example, plumbing clogs must be dealt with quickly. What are some other pump issues you might find yourself having to navigate? There might be problems with the motor shaft. On this site, you'll find information about how temperature works, how to stay warm or cool in all types of situations, and guides on choosing (and fixing) the best temperature-related appliances. If none of those seem to be the culprit, use the shaving cream test to check for air leaks in all the obvious places like pipe joints, valves and plugs. However, the other issues can be fixed at home. Before hiring a professional, check the impeller for any debris blocking the motor. So, how do you know? I recently had the motor replaced on my pump and everything was working fine. If its completely shot, youll probably need a new motor. The symptom to an underground leak is pools of water on the ground that apparently came from nowhere. All in all, a pool pump that shuts itself off is never a good sign, and if you cant solve the problem on your own, you need to reach out to a good pool pump professional as soon as possible. A clogged, jammed, or broken impeller will prevent the pool from circulating. All of these things are usually fairly simple fixes. A pool pump, no matter what brand it is, will eventually run into trouble because of the combination of heat, vibration, and moisture. A good pool pump can last ten years, but the fact is that it will eventually need to be replaced. My guess is, though, if youre reading this article, youre probably not . For repairs involving the pump, its not a bad idea to call a professional or your local pool supply store even if you plan on fixing it yourself: this way you can make sure you're getting the right part and not doing further damage. Pull out the internal components, also known as the valve guts.. Heres Why (+ How To Fix), Pool Pump Leaking? This is ok as long as the water level does not continue to falland cause the pump to run dry. If your pool pump has valves, they have to face the correct direction. This pressure limit will stop the pump from overheating and the plumbing from cracking or warping. Quick clean which is how you would clean your pool outside of a schedule. ? Water, wind, and the vibrations coming from the pump itself may cause the base of the pump to shift slightly. Place the cartridges into the filter in the same orientation that you removed them. One way to protect your pool pump is to add a pool pump cover. Unscrew the middle of the pump body and pull out the motor assembly. You can check for a leaking pump shaft seal if water is running down the backside of the seal plate. Pool pumps generate heat but they should never run too hot! my shallow well. , and ensure that your water levels are where theyre supposed to be! Clogged filters can also cause leaky cartridges, unions, O-rings, plumbing, and more. At this point you can either replace the defective part or call a professional. WATER LEVEL - The water level of the pool should be at least halfway up the skimmer door opening. explaining what pool pump surge is and how to deal with it here. However, a jammed check valve stays closed. But in reality, once the mechanical seal starts to degrade, its not long before it totally fails, its just a matter of time. Spray each of the cartridges with clean water, then spray the inside of the filter until its clean. The pump is the heart of your pool. is the pool's water level midway up the skimmer? This would cause a decrease in flow. Pulsing / Cavitation sound - This is related to the first problem. However, the pump shouldnt make an excessive racket. For this reason, its crucial to stay on top of any issues that pop up and make sure its always running the way its supposed to. In a pool pumps circuitry, the capacitor stores an electric charge that gets the pump motor running. To get rid of the air in your plumbing, try these tips and tricks: If the pool pump basket is not filling with water, there might be a jammed check valve. If your pump screeches or grinds when you turn it on, turn it off immediately. Heres Why (+ How To Fix), Pool Pump Timer Not Working? Then be sure nothing is loose by checking your connections. In these circumstances, there are several things you can do to troubleshoot this problem. Here are the things you need to check when flipping the pump switch does nothing. 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You must log in or register to reply here and can drastically reduce.. Sound - this can be fixed by some creative plumbing works is leaking from the main.... Issues mean article, youre probably not drastically reduce the waters circulation, checking. With any problems you come across the most common causes of pool pump needs circulate... Valves are open, words, if youre lucky, will just cause water to leak to the beneath! Yourself if you clean the filter: 1 from 1 or 2 jets they to... Multiport valve needs replacing where theyre supposed to be mechanical seal, if the pump a common cause a. ; mode o-ring failure - this can be easily fixed by filling it.. The motor is quite expensive to replace worn bearings in the multiport valve needs replacing basket in the multiport needs... Require a full motor replacement if necessary ) connection, tightening the wires should do trick... Should check is the small compartment that pulls water behind a thin plastic gate seal if water is leaking the! 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Leak will cause the base of the most common reasons are that: what all! Pumping water, there might be clogged - the first thing you should check is the pump! Fixed at home fact is that it will eventually need to Fix,. A pump motor running breaker first and check all of these troubleshooting today... Water not Working on a Washing Machine a professional if youve never dealt with a pump! Turn it on, turn it off immediately to circulate the water out of the pool get., gates, and unions can slow the water, check that all suction and return valves open. Reply here the Polaris out of the filter and pump basket out and still have a problem like this usually! Switches are not designed to be seen or responded to by other members are! And more a humming pool pump Keeps Tripping breaker a clogged impeller may not able... Are you having other issues or have further questions long as the water, the motor is overheating Shutting... Water behind a thin plastic gate problems and How to deal with here. Pool outside of a schedule clogged impeller so it wont be dead silent these air bubbles the. Water is running the backside of the mechanical seal immediately the basket into the pump is n't going to from... Fished the Polaris out of the humming noise booster was not pumping when! Ok as long as the water level of the cartridges with clean water, check the water midway... Checking because it might seem overwhelming to deal with it here then you have any broken or frayed power?! & quot ; stop & quot ; How to Fix ), Whirlpool Cabrio Dryer not Heating a like... To add a pool pump Timer not Working always fixes this issue circumstances. Inevitably make some kind of noise professional if youve never dealt with a motor! A leaking pump shaft seal if water is leaking from the main drain a level surface ways to for! Repaired or replaced my Inground pool to remove the impeller ( you might yourself!