Lack of air circulation - If your pump is in a restricted area then it may lack the required air circulation to cool off the motor properly. I suggest labeling the valves so you know which way they need to be. If tightening up the connections didnt do the job then you can check our. If the pump is running but not pumping any water, its possible the pump might need to be primed. How hot is too hot? A helpful test is to create some bubbles from detergent and smear them over the joints and couplings, if you see the bubbles being sucked in then thats a solid sign of a suction side leak. If there is air in the system, it's probably coming in one of two ways: through the skimmer because of low pool water levels or clogs blocking the flow of water, or through an o-ring that is leaking. Make sure the pump switch is set to ON.. How to Use Cyanuric Acid in Your Saltwater Pool, What To Do If You Add Too Much Muriatic Acid To Your Pool, How to Test the Cyanuric Acid Levels In Your Pool, How to Clean Pool Tile with Muriatic Acid, Check the lid itself If the lid has cracked or is loose, it will either need to be repaired or replaced, Check the o-ring Bend the o-ring all around to check for any cracks and make sure it is properly lubricated, Slide out the motor half from the pump by unbolting it, Expose the impeller by removing the diffuser, Keep the shaft from moving by holding a wrench on the motor shaft rear, Take out the donut half and the spring half from the seal plate, Replace the new shaft seal and ensure it is facing the same direction as the one youve just removed. Its best to clean your pool baskets several times per week. At this point you can either replace the defective part or call a professional. A common call Sterling Pool Service receives is that the water is not coming out of the jets or the pool water is not circulating. Step 9. So once you reach that 10-year mark, I highly recommend replacing it with a new pool pump. You might notice the suction gets gradually weaker until it stops altogether. Call an electrician to check whether sufficient amperage is being delivered to the pump. Just experienced a similar issue. State Licensed Mechanical. Pool pumps generate heat but they should never run too hot! Remove the filter lid assembly (depending on the model, you might need a socket wrench). This is the reason we created Swim University. Visit our website for more in-depth information on swimming pool maintenance: https://www.swimuniversity.com/ Unlog your pool lines, check your pump lid o-rings for damage, check for leaks, and ensure that your water levels are where theyre supposed to be! So, how do you know? JavaScript is disabled. Backwashing your filter is necessary when the pressure gauge on the filter rises 8 to 10 pounds per square inch (psi) past its normal operating pressure. Pool pump is humming - see the next section on strange sounds coming from the pool pump for more information on a humming pool pump. TRY PRIMING AGAIN - If all else fails, try to manually prime the pump with water. To do this, turn off the pump and remove the screws on the pump housing. This valve is known as the return valve. This is ok as long as the water level does not continue to falland cause the pump to run dry. However, you may need to start looking for a leak if the problem persists: If you hear a buzzing or humming noise coming from your pump motor, it means that although power is reaching the motor, its not properly starting up. Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates. Concern is freeze protect mode for the filter can not be turned off read more. Your pool filters PSI shouldnt exceed 25 in most cases. You may also need to fill your strainer basket with water and reseal it. Copyright 2022 Temperature Master | Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions | Contact, Sun2Solar Blue 16-Foot-by-32-Foot Rectangle Solar Cover, Pool Pump Wont Prime? Heres Why (+ How To Fix), Pool Pump Timer Not Working? Ensure the return valve faces the line going to the pool, not the spa. , and ensure that your water levels are where theyre supposed to be! If you have a low psi reading on your pressure gauge, more likely than not, you have a clogged skimmer basket, which can easily be fixed. The fix is quite simple as well, simply check your pump lid o-ring for any debris and clean it out. 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! Pressure side leaks - There are a couple of pressure side leaks that can cause a low water flow from your pump. The gasket kits are found on the valve's parts schematic, listed on this page: instructions for how to enable JavaScript in your web browser. If this happens, the first thing you should check is the motor itself. If you think your pool pump has an airlock (trapped air in the system that wont go away), read on. So what are some common signs to look for to check if your pool pump is about to die? The reason is simple: TFPC (Trouble Free Pool Care) is a methodology, not a product that you must purchase. Heres Why (+ How to Fix It), Ecobee Furnace Not Lighting? Dealing with a broken pump is more dangerous and takes more pool expertise than knowing how to clean pool cartridge filters. A second simple fix is to clean the pump basket and the filter. All of these things are usually fairly simple fixes. If your pool pump has been functioning below par lately, you might be wondering what went wrong. You turn on your pump, it slowly hums then roars into life and after a few seconds, nothing, eerie silence. If your problem doesnt seem to be electrical, yet none of the parts are moving, you probably need to check the motor to see if it is jammed with debris. Worn Bearings - Worn bearings can cause the pool pumps shaft to be misaligned and cause vibrations that are above the normal. If trees and bushes surround your pool or your pets swim in the water, youll likely have to empty these two baskets daily. Remove each of the cartridges (most filters have between one to four cartridges). If you clean the filter and pump basket out and still have a problem, you need to start looking for the leak. I mean, a good one should last quite a few years, but even the best will eventually go bad. A pool pump may also fail to start up if the impeller is clogged or blocked. We overthought it and searched high and low for the possible causes when we found out that it was just a stuck weir door! By creating an account you agree to the Hunker. Some of the common reasons for low water flow may be: Make sure to check on all these components at least once a month. Try these tips: If your pump isnt pulling water, the impeller might be broken. Here are 6 common pool pump problems and how to fix them yourself for your inground or above ground pool pump. Get 10% off our pool maintenance video course by using the promo code VIDEO: https://www.swimuniversity.com/pool-care-handbook/?utm_source=youtube\u0026utm_medium=video\u0026utm_campaign=youtube_description Timestamps:00:00 - Introduction to Common Pool Pump Problems00:14 - Problem #1: Pool Pump Doesn't Turn On Or Turns Off While Running01:04 - Problem #2: Pool Pump Isn't Pumping Or Flow Rate Is Low01:54 - Problem #3: Pool Pump Is Leaking02:06 - Pool Care Video Course02:52 - Problem #4: Pool Pump Is Sucking Air03:30 - Problem #5: Pool Pump Is Making A Lot Of Noise03:52 - Problem #6: Pool Pump Basket Isn't Filling With Water Our Favorite Pool Maintenance Gear: https://www.swimuniversity.com/pool-maintenance/ Subscribe to our channel if you want more information on swimming pool and hot tub maintenance: https://www.youtube.com/swimuniversitySwim University has made swimming pool and hot tub care easy for more than 10 million homeowners. Normally, a pool pump should last anywhere from seven to ten years and a properly maintained pool pump should last more than that! Remove the impeller from the motor with the previously mentioned strap wrench and Phillips screwdriver. Clean this basket out weekly or more often to make sure fallen leaves and other debris do not interfere with pool filter circulation. The most common causes of pool pump priming issues are sucking air leaks in your pump housing or plumbing, and debris clogs. Any ideas on what I could try next, short of having a professional help? How do you know if your capacitor is faulty? Replace the basket and youll be good to go. Two days ago I shut the motor off and switch it to the automatic setting. Pool Pump Not Pulling Water Out Of The Pool 2. Something went wrong. 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. Wait until theres water flowing out of the relief valve, then close it. He has built pools and natural landscapes for hundreds of homes and businesses across the country. Get $10 off your first order over $99 and hear about sales, exclusive offers & helpful DIY tricks from our pool experts. This makes it difficult for the pump to suck in enough water. And if your pool pump isnt pulling water, your pool water is stagnant. The water level in your pool is extremely important in terms of proper filter operation. 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. Please consider. Also, there is no pressure. Replace the valve guts with a like-for-like part from the same manufacturer. If the pump lid o-ring is damaged then a replacement is in order. There are three things to check when water is not circulating in your pool. When working correctly, pool pumps should be completely full of water. You can also get an easy add-on feature like a water leveler, which can help maintain your water levels. Dirty, uncleaned baskets can slow the pump drastically. 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. A leaky pool pump could be due to two main issues: 1) a faulty pump lid or 2) a faulty shaft seal. Does it always seem like your pool pump wont fill with water? A pool pump can be primed by following these fairly simple steps: Shut off all power to the pump. To fix it, scroll down below to our section dealing with an overheating pool pump. However, you may need to start looking for a leak if the problem persists: Check your skimmer water level. Clogged intake lines - If everything else fails, then the only possible culprit is a clog somewhere in your intake lines. The pump impeller can make a loud noise if debris gets into the pump, clogging it. Low water flow from the pump could either be a suction-side problem or a return-side problem. Debris clogging a swimming pool skimmer is a common cause of pool pump blockage. When you vacuum your pool to pick up dirt and debris that has settled to the pool bottom, you typically remove the skimmer basket to fit the vacuum attachment into the skimmer. Thank you for all the great pool care and maintenance tips. Water in my pool is below the filter line as a result of performing a leak check. If this pump basket becomes clogged after vacuuming, it must be cleaned out, because larger pieces of debris may have migrated here. Use O-ring lubricant on all of the gaskets. The multiport valve either needs to be adjusted to regular filtering mode or has a crack/leak in it. The list of reasons why your pool might not be working properly is probably as long as the list of tasks you know you should be doing to keep your pool well-maintainedif only you had the time. My preferred blanket is the Sun2Solar Solar Cover. If your pool cover pump is an automatic, it has sensors that measure the amount of water on your pool cover, and power on accordingly. This signifies a failure on your mechanical seal. More info can be found here: I had the same thing. Pump is not Pumping Water. It could be that it is losing prime every time it is turned off, which would indicate a leak somewhere. When a pump doesnt turn on or starts shutting off quickly after its started, it's usually an electrical problem, which could mean loose connections, a bad capacitor or overloaded voltage. In other words, it has lost its prime. If your pump is constantly losing suction even after you have troubleshot all the possible issues, it has probably reached the end of its useful life. Disconnect the power to the pump, access the motor shaft and turn it by hand to loosen up anything that might be holding it in place. When a pump is placed in water, the pump house first fills with air, which replaces the water. And each year, we continue to help more people with water chemistry, cleaning, and troubleshooting. This is often an issue people experience when they attempt to open the pool for the first time that season because its fairly common for the motor shaft to seize up and suffer from corrosion during the off-season. If you leave your pump in this condition then it can lead to cavitation, surge, and even to your pumps motor burning out. Finally, the pump might also turn itself off if its receiving inadequate power, or if some of its wires are loose or broken. You'll also need to check your skimmer basket. Cut off the main drain by turning the diverter valve. Check your pump baskets and skimmer baskets for debris and your pump lines and this should take care of this problem. If your pool pump is not pumping water, check that all suction and return valves are open, . Failure of the mechanical seal, if youre lucky, will just cause water to leak to the ground beneath your pool pump. Here is what happens: 1. If it gets too high, the water wont circulate, and the pumps motor will overheat. If you accidentally mess something up during this process, you not only risk damaging the pump, but also hurting yourself. Copyright 2023 Pemedia AG, Schaffhauserstrasse 560, 8052 Zurich | phone +41-79-3212197 | email: info@poolcareguy.com |. It could be because the pump isnt primed. Look for blown fuses or tripped breakers on your homes electrical service panel. With the inlet and discharge valves closed, remove the pump chamber cover and fill the chamber with water from a garden hose. Corrosion of internals - If theres something that represents a well oiled machine its your pool pump internals. The most common pump leak is from the connection point in between the pump body and the motor. If your pool pump is not filling with water, there might be an airlock. These baskets should be emptied at least once to twice per week. 3. The capacitor gives the engine that jolt of power to get it starting and running. Screeching sound - If your pump is starting to sound like a banshee released from the depths of hell then you have a definite bearing and shaft seal problem. Once all of these things have been taken care of, you'll probably then need to prime the pump to get it going again. If your pump was just recently installed then this is definitely a voltage problem and unless youre confident in your electrical skills then its better for a licensed electrician to check and replace the wiring. 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. Open the pump lid and fill the pumps basket until the water overflows. Heres what causes an airlock in a swimming pool pump: If your Intex pool pump is running dry, turn it off right away. While the parts are simple and small enough, the motor will have to be taken apart to replace them. ? If your pool pump humming not pumping, it may be due to a bad capacitor. Call in an expert to examine the motors circuitry to determine if its defective. What could be the reason for your pool pump humming but not working? But dont hesitate to call a professional if you need help or even just some advice. If there is a leak under the shaving cream, you'll start to see one area of foam start to pit as it gets sucked in. You must log in or register to reply here. The fix is actually quite easy, all you need to do is to prime your pool pump and you should be good to go. The solution is to have the correct wire sizes wired for the suitable voltage. If your pool pump has passed this point in life, it may be time to replace it. 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