Pool pump troubleshooting

Pool pump troubleshooting is very important for the pool owner to know. Your pool pump is an important part of your pool since it keeps your water clean. The pool pump pulls dirty water and sends it to the filter, and returns clean water to your pool. Theoretically, it should be sending all the water in the pool thru the filter once every day. If that pump goes down you need to get it back up and working in short order. The following is a list of common problems that a pool owner could experience.

Air bubbles in your pump basket

Find where the air is entering the system.  You will be looking at the areas from the skimmer to the pump impeller. This is the part of the system where there is negative pressure and where air will get sucked into the water stream. Check the following:

• • The pool water level is too low at the skimmer. Add water to the pool
  • The skimmer basket is full of debris restricting flow and causing the pump to cavitate. Empty the skimmer basket and if needed run a plumber’s snake from the skimmer to the pump.
  • The pump basket lid is not tight to the basket. Tighten
  • The O-ring on the pump basket lid is not seated or is damaged. Inspect the O ring for condition and for debris between it and the mating surface on the basket pot.
  • Cracked pipe or fittings between the pump and the skimmer. Check any connections between the pump basket and the skimmer for cracks or possible leaks(see video below).
  • Pool valve O-rings have flattened out and can no longer provide a seal. Replace O-rings if necessary.
  • The pump basket pot has warped and can not seal properly. Check the surface with a straight edge and feeler gauges.

Pool pump turns on and off intermittently

Find out why the pump is overheating.

When a pool pump cycles on and off, it generally means the motor is overheating. This can be caused by:

• A jammed impeller. The impeller is the device on the front of the pump that pulls water in through the center and then sends it out through its veins. Disconnect the pump from power(circuit breaker, fuses, etc.). Drain any water left in the pump basket housing and using a small mirror and flashlight check that the opening to the impeller is clear. If there is debris in the opening remove with your fingers and push/turn the impeller to check that it moves freely.

• Bad pool pump bearings. This is typically caused by age. While the pump is running the bearings if bad will usually produce a very loud sound. At late stage failure, the bad bearing will begin to resist turning resulting in the motor requiring more amperage to turn the motor.  Replace if needed.

The pool pump is leaking

Find which part is letting the water out.

The reasons a pump could develop a leak, include

• • • The seal plate O-ring is bad.
    • Bolts for the pump housing and motor are loose. Tighten in a star pattern.
    • Pump seal is worn out.(area between the pump and the motor  is wet when the pump runs) Look at the photos below for a comparison of an old worn out seal to a new seal.
    • The drain plugs are leaking, which means there is a faulty O-ring seal wherever there is a drain plug.

If any of the O-ring seals or the pump seal is leaking it may be time to get an “O-ring/seal kit” and replace all the O-rings and the seal at the same time.

Pool pump will not turn on

Determine whether the problem is internal or external to the motor. If you feel uncomfortable working with electricity call in a pool professional.
When a pump won’t turn on, there is often a fault in power to the motor. Check all relevant circuit breakers or switches to make sure the pump is getting power. If that doesn’t work check to see if there are any timers or automated controls connected to the pool pump. Check that the power is getting thru these timers.
If you still get no response, your pump may have experienced a mechanical failure.

Maintaining Your Pool Pump

• • Check your pump’s lid O-ring on a regular basis.
  • Inspect the area between the pump and motor. It should be dry when the pump is running.
  • Never use Vaseline on O-rings; Use only O-ring lubricants.

Related Articles: Swimming Pool Articles

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RayC.

Editor at Mybusyretiredlife.com

Trained in the mechanical arts. I have worked on anything dealing with a home from changing a light bulb to moving a load bearing wall. As for the recipes, they came about after I could not find what I was looking for and recipes that over a lifetime I have come to love and want to share with the world.

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