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. Your pool pump basket may not be filling with water as it is sucking air from somewhere somehow. You can also get an automatic water leveling device to ensure that your water level is where it should be at all times. Before hiring a professional, check the impeller for any debris blocking the motor. After all, they need to circulate the water and run a motor in the pool so it wont be dead silent. This would cause a decrease in flow. Changing the valves direction almost always fixes this issue. 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. Is there anything else I can try? It is worth noting that overheating can be caused by several other issues as well, including a voltage upsurge, bad windings or an oversized impeller. Secure the lid onto the valve with the previously removed screws. My preferred blanket is the Sun2Solar Solar Cover. Much like the dirty filter example, plumbing clogs must be dealt with quickly. Also, there is no pressure. If its dirty, the fix is pretty straightforward youll need to clean it! Open the filter cartridge and remove 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. Cavitation happens when your pool pump is starving for water. If it gets too high, the water wont circulate, and the pumps motor will overheat. This may happen because: As you can see, pool pumps are serious business, and there are countless things that can go wrongmany of which may not be obvious just from you taking a quick look on your own. You flip the switch and instead of the comforting (and sometimes annoying) roar of the pump, youre greeted with silence. Make sure you're wired for the proper voltage and that your wire sizes are right. Check the area around your pump for obstructions and make sure that theres enough airflow around the pump area. Heres what you can do: Pro-tip: Make sure the valve guts are facing the correct direction. If youre having trouble removing it, read my guide on removing a pool pump impeller and replacing your pool pump impeller if needed. Heres Why (+ How To Fix), Pool Pump Wont Start? Another reason could be if youre not using a dedicated switch or timer for your pump and its wired directly to your breaker. In other words, if the pump aint happy, aint nobody happy! Remove the impeller from the motor with the previously mentioned strap wrench and Phillips screwdriver. Here are 6 common pool pump problems and how. Click here for more information on how to determine if your pool has a leak, This is a very simple problem that can cause a lot of headaches down the line. Sometimes, the pump might be running, but the resultant flow rates are lower than normal. If this happens, the first thing you should check is the motor itself. The current being supplied to the pump may be insufficient. Solution The impeller pulls the water into the pump, filter, heater, and other equipment. Your website is really helpful! Check your skimmer and pump baskets - Full skimmer and pump baskets can impede the flow of water and cause your pool pump to suck in air instead of water! Swimming pools need moving water to stay in safe, clean conditions. Heres Why (+ How To Fix), Pool Pump Keeps Tripping Breaker? Some of the things that might lead to such a scenario include: Some of these you may be able to deal with on your own. is the pool's water level midway up the skimmer? It might seem overwhelming to deal with a pool pump that simply wont turn on. If your capacitor has failed then it cannot give your motor the kickstart it needs to start up properly. You may also need to fill your strainer basket with water and reseal it. It may not display this or other websites correctly. Dont forget to check out our guide on. Make sure the valve is pointed toward the inlet pipe coming from the pool. If it has debris in it, clean it out well and hose it off. If water is leaking from the pump itself then you have a very big problem on your hands. Some valves can close, which means they dont pull water from any source. (pump not running). Take note, touch, not hold. A bad capacitor is one of the reasons why a two-speed pump may only run on either low or high speed. Unfortunately, rusted bearings require a full motor replacement. replace your mechanical seal immediately! Even if you arent going to attempt the repair yourself, you may still want to know why you flipped on the power to your pump and hear humming but no actual signs your pump is working. 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. Replace the o-ring if it is stretched out or cracked. If youre having issues with the motor, check out my guide on how to replace your pool pump motor and check if you need to replace your motor or the whole pump. Thanks! If it is not jammed, you might need new bearings and you'll have to replace them or hire a professional. Once parts start degrading, it will only be a matter of time before the other components will start to fail as well. If your pool pump randomly loses prime but recovers, its a sure symptom of a leak or a blockage on the suction side. If you want to get the water flowing through the pump, make sure theres no debris in the lines. We talked about the ways to check for leaks and how to fix them. If these things dont seem to fix the problem, check the o-rings in the pump housing. If so, you will need to fix and replace these. Heres Why (+ How to Fix It), Ecobee Furnace Not Lighting? 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. Pro-tip: Never let your pump get above 25 PSI. Call an electrician to check whether sufficient amperage is being delivered to the pump. Thank you for all the great pool care and maintenance tips. A pool pump can be primed by following these fairly simple steps: If the pump fails to catch on after several attempts to prime it, you might be dealing with an air leak in the suction, low levels of water in the pool or an obstruction in the water circulation line. Any ideas what could cause this? You may also need to fill your strainer basket with water and reseal it if theres air in the system. Pool Pump Not Turning On Or Off 3. So what are some common signs to look for to check if your pool pump is about to die? Heres Why (+ How To Fix), Speed Queen Dryer Not Heating? You might notice strange noises, overheating and performance issues. A lack of water will eventually overheat the motor and trip the breaker. You need to fix the circulation quickly to make sure these issues dont occur. The second type of leak or an underground leak is a lot tougher to fix. Replace all of the cracked or warped O-rings. (You can find the fixes for those in the above section.). 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. Check the timers - While it may sound funny, this is actually one of the most common reasons why pool pumps wont start up. A capacitor provides the torque that gets the pump motor up to speed. The reason is simple: TFPC (Trouble Free Pool Care) is a methodology, not a product that you must purchase. Once water bypasses the mechanical seals and flows into your pump motor, its game over. If the bearings or motor are damaged, the motor has to be replaced. One of the telltale signs of a bad capacitor is a motor that hums but doesnt turn onsound familiar? If you accidentally mess something up during this process, you not only risk damaging the pump, but also hurting yourself. Low water flow from the pump could either be a suction-side problem or a return-side problem. And as a shameless plug, this is why pump warranties are as important as the features of a pump when considering a pool pump purchase! Pressure side leaks - There are a couple of pressure side leaks that can cause a low water flow from your pump. The most common pump leak is from the connection point in between the pump body and the motor. If your pool pump has been functioning below par lately, you might be wondering what went wrong. Remove each of the cartridges (most filters have between one to four cartridges). JavaScript is disabled. Make sure that your pump lid o-rings are always well lubricated and free from any debris so they can create a proper seal for your pump basket compartment. Worn bearings in the motor shaft can also cause screeching noises when the pump is running. We may also earn commissions if you purchase products from other retailers after clicking on a link from our site. Fortunately, there are only a handful of problems that can cause this, including a clogged filter, a low water level or a pool line blockage. One way to protect your pool pump is to add a pool pump cover. This important part creates the pressure that moves your pool water through the filters, chlorinators and all the other components of your pools circulation system. At this point you can either replace the defective part or call a professional. 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. Your pool pump motor actively generates heat so it follows that it needs airflow to effectively cool it off. Your pool pump needs to circulate the water, or the pool will get algae, and the motor will overheat. How long do you let the hose run for? It's relatively easy to determine what the problem is and to fix it. Heres Why (+ How To Fix), Cold Water Not Working on a Washing Machine? Cavitation - Your pool pump sucking in excess air may also cause excessive vibrations to your pool pump due to the varying speeds that your impeller spins at. Copyright 2023 ABC Home & Commercial Services All Rights Reserved. If your pool pump isn't working, you may actually be able to troubleshoot it yourself. 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. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product. Jammed valves, gates, and unions can slow the water flowing through the pump. 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. Check if your pump timer is set properly and that youre within the operating times. Regularly empty out your skimmer baskets and pump baskets to prevent flow problems which may cause your pool pump to overheat. Failure of the mechanical seal, if youre lucky, will just cause water to leak to the ground beneath your pool pump. Worn Bearings - Worn bearings can cause the pool pumps shaft to be misaligned and cause vibrations that are above the normal. Vibration in your pool pump is normal to a certain extent because of all the moving parts but only to a certain extent. Now if youve successfully primed your pump but the water in your pump basket compartment still drops and youre back to square one, check your pump lids o-ring for debris or damage. Potential culprits of this issue include: The first thing to do is quite simple: just add water. Weve already covered suction-side problems in the previous section so you can check those. For this little trick, you'll want to evenly spread shaving cream over the points where you think the pump might be leaking, including the pump lid O-ring. Vibrations can loosen your couplings, and if the vibrations reach a certain point, they can even affect the other components of your pool pumping/filtration system as well. If the motor is overheating and shutting down after its started, it could be an overloaded circuit. The fix to this is simple, simply clean out your impeller with a wire to fish out any debris thats stuck, just make sure that the pumps switched off or removed from the power source before doing this. If necessary, replace the valves gasket or O-ring. If youre a longtime pool user, you probably would have gotten used to the sound of your pool pump by now and any deviation from the normal noise will be quite noticeable. We may also earn commissions if you purchase products from other retailers after clicking on a link from our site. 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. For example, it might be too powerful, in which case you should downgrade to a pump that matches your pool size and requirements. Hire a plumber or pool service technician to fix leaky couplings and pipes. The second way to fix water level issues is to repair all of the leaks in the plumbing. Check to see if something is inhibiting the fan in the bottom vents, like leaves or mulch. But to keep it running as long as you can, stay on top of minor issues before they become major. The check valve stops the water from flowing backward, which prevents debris from getting into the pumps impeller. Now this is different from the leaks that weve discussed earlier. If your pool pump is not pulling water from the skimmer, theres probably debris in the pump basket or skimmer basket. Lets face it: your pool pump isn't going to last forever. A pool pump may also fail to start up if the impeller is clogged or blocked. Motor Symptoms Grinding or Screeching - A sign of bad bearings caused by age or rusting. Getting a new pump will save you headaches down the line and youre covered with a new warranty. So if your pump itself is leaking then dont delay, replace your mechanical seal immediately! CLOGGED IMPELLER - Fine debris can bypass the baskets and clog the impeller. Many of the problems you might run into with your pool pump can be easily fixed yourself if you know what to look for. In this guide, we discuss different tips on how to diagnose and correct the issue of a pump that is not filling up all the way.Note: This guide is meant forpool owners who are used to seeing a full pump and a half-empty pump is out of the norm. Download my free, printable pool maintenance checklist to help you accomplish regular pool care tasks for any type of swimming pool. Depending on how much debris gets into the pool, some baskets may need to be emptied more often. How can you tell if its the motor shaft thats causing your problem? Check the water levels regularly to prevent future occurrences. First, check your breaker box for any blown fuses. The capacitor gives the engine that jolt of power to get it starting and running. If the valves arent facing the correct direction, theyll pull water from the wrong source. If any debris is found, remove it and clean the impeller until it can spin freely. Unscrew the middle of the pump body and pull out the motor assembly. Tighten or replace each union on the equipment pad. I lost all water to just below intake and output lines on above ground pool due to a break in the pump basket. 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. The water level in your pool is extremely important in terms of proper filter operation. One problem is easily fixed and one will require tinkering with your pool pump, so lets hope that its the first problem and not the second one. A lot of times, it takes a few repairs that just arent working to figure out that theres no hope for it, but if you're looking for some signs, here are a few: If your gauge is reading low, it could be due to a clogged skimmer basket or pump strainer. The fix is actually quite easy, all you need to do is to. So remember, low water flow from the pump + puddles of water from seemingly nowhere = call the help of a professional. You should also check your pump for any debris when you do this. Another common cause is a clogged or dirty filter or pump basket. I turn the blower on for a half a second and then off. Make sure to empty them every few days to ensure the unimpeded flow of water to your pump. The closed valve stops the pumps suction, causing it to hum or grind without moving the water. Three Reasons Why Your Pool is not Circulating. In this article, I will cover some common pool pump problems and recommend some fixes to keep your pools filtration system running strong. Does it always seem like your pool pump wont fill with water? As soon as level reaches line in pool, the water comes out the top of pump backwash line. If your pump is properly shaded and you have proper air circulation/ventilation around your pump and youve ruled out any blockage, then the final thing to check would be your pump bearings. Unclog your pools filter with this process: Check out Swim Universitys video tutorial to learn how to clean a DE or sand filter: If you have any other issues with your pool pump, check out our other pool pump troubleshooting articles: Pool Pump Keeps Shutting Off? Cut off the main drain by turning the diverter valve. PUMP BASKET - With the pump off, check thepump basket and clean it out if necessary. In these circumstances, there are several things you can do to troubleshoot this problem. While you are there replace the o-rings as well. 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. Check the wiring - For some reason, rodents love chewing on wires. Hear about sales, exclusive offers & helpful DIY tricks from our pool experts. First, check the breaker box for blown fuses. Once your pool filter reaches 25 PSI, follow these instructions: If you have a sand or DE filter, you can review this helpful YouTube video: Air in the system will slow the priming process. WATER LEVEL - The water level of the pool should be at least halfway up the skimmer door opening. Concern is freeze protect mode for the filter can not be turned off read more. 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. Step 9. Please check your entries and try again. State Licensed Mechanical. If you dont, please do yourself a favor and bring in a professional to troubleshoot the problem and make needed repairs. When a pump is placed in water, the pump house first fills with air, which replaces the water. Pool Pump Not Pulling Water Out Of The Pool 2. This could mean an obstruction, dirty pool filter or too much air getting into the plumbing system. The plumbing includes unions, pipes, and everything in between. The pump impeller can make a loud noise if debris gets into the pump, clogging it. Clogs are quite common in swimming pools. They kits online. If this problem continues, check out my article on air bubbles in your pool for a more thorough guide. So, when they start sucking air, thats a problem. To clean the pump basket, turn off the pump, remove the lid, and dump the debris. Others are better suited to a pool services company. 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. There is no need to worry if it is at about 10 percent of the voltage. We know taking care of a swimming pool or spa can be difficult. Your pools water level should go up at least halfway of your skimmer levels. Posted: 8/23/2022, Shelley
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