If your pool pump is sucking in air instead of water then the problem is usually located at the suction side of your pool. Other things may cause your pool pump to overheat, including direct sunlight, corroded bearings and windings, pressure clogs, suction clogs, and a lack of airflow. Heres why your above-ground pool pump isnt pulling water: Whether your pool is above or below the ground, too much air in the system will affect its performance. Heres Why (+ How To Fix). This signifies a failure on your mechanical seal. Your impeller isnt clogged and its making a humming noise - This is a sure sign of a capacitor problem in your pool pump. First, clean the pool pump impeller. If your pool pump has valves, they have to face the correct direction. The skimmer basket holds large debris, such as leaves, sticks, and anything else that cant get through the small, porous surface. Call your electrical provider to check to see if your home might be experiencing a power drop. Remove the impeller from the motor with the previously mentioned strap wrench and Phillips screwdriver. Check to see if something is inhibiting the fan in the bottom vents, like leaves or mulch. Disconnect the pumps housing assembly from the motor by removing the retaining screws. 2. Here are some other pump problems that dont fit into the other categories and can be considered symptoms or warning signs of bigger problems to come. How long do you let the hose run for? 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. Quick clean which is how you would clean your pool outside of a schedule. Much like the dirty filter example, plumbing clogs must be dealt with quickly. Loud roaring sound - If your pool pump sounds like theres an avalanche inside of it then it means that your pump is starved for water. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. Priming the pump drains all of the air out of the system, increasing the water pressure (PSI). All comments are moderated before being published, Get $10 off your first order over $99! Place the pump seal in the new impeller with the part number provided by the manufacturer. 1.6K 257K views 2 years ago POOL MAINTENANCE Tutorials If your pool pump isn't working, you may actually be able to troubleshoot it yourself. Tighten or replace each union on the equipment pad. Theres a basket in the skimmer, which is the small compartment that pulls water behind a thin plastic gate. Regularly empty out your skimmer baskets and pump baskets to prevent flow problems which may cause your pool pump to overheat. Seal the filters lid onto the bottom portion that holds the cartridges, then prime the pump. 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. Check the valves to ensure theyre facing whichever way pulls water from the pool, then check the return valves to ensure they push the water into the pool. My preferred blanket is the Sun2Solar Solar Cover. In this situation, something has interrupted the suction or the water flow that causes the system to work properly. If it sounds a little like one of those old vibrating beds in a cheap hotel, the problem could be cavitation. To fix this, make sure the water level isnt too low. Check your skimmer weir doors - While it may sound funny, a stuck weir door can actually cause your pool pump to suck in air. If your pump has been there for quite some time then it can either be just a loose connection or a failing capacitor inside of your pumps motor. All of these things are usually fairly simple fixes. If the motor is smaller than the impeller, the motor may not be able to handle the water rate. This debris can break the plumbing if its not removed. When I try to manually prime the pump by filling it with water from a hose, I cannot get the pump to fill up. Journeyman Service Techni. However, if it is too high, you should call your local power company. First, check your breaker box for any blown fuses. See the previous section on how to replace worn bearings. Check the area around your pump for obstructions and make sure that theres enough airflow around the pump area. Are you having other issues or have further questions? Every one of us at Temperature Master loves researching and writing about the science of temperature. The pump basket catches small bits, and the rest goes to the filter. Ensure your basket lid o-ring gets a good seal and is lubricated; otherwise. This happens when there is an obstruction or a leak in the suction side of your plumbing. 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. However, sometimes the only thing you can do is hire a pool technician to blow the lines and remove the clogs. An older pool pump will need constant repairs, which can be costly and time-consuming. The vibration pads can stop the vibrations from going into your pool base with their thick rubber. This makes it difficult for the pump to suck in enough water. Then be sure nothing is loose by checking your connections. Pemedia AG, Schaffhauserstrasse 560, 8052 Zurich. And its hard to find a trusted source of information. 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. PUMP LID O-RING - The pump lid o-ring seals the lid so that air can't get in. The SWG seems to be maintaining enough free chlorine. If that happens, youll have to buy a new pump, which is much more expensive than the simple, straightforward fixes below. If your pump cant prime, it wont be able to circulate the water. Water in my pool is below the filter line as a result of performing. Once youve done this, you can easily remove any debris you see before reassembling the pump. Lets face it: your pool pump isn't going to last forever. If your pool pump isn't circulating water, here are the probable causes: There's not enough water in the pool Broken or clogged impeller Excess debris in the baskets Incorrect valve directions Clogged or damaged filter In this post, I'll cover the primary reasons your pool pump can't circulate the water. It might seem overwhelming to deal with a pool pump that simply wont turn on. Hopefully this troubleshooting guide helped you identify and treat pool pump problems as they pop up! The water is greenish in hue and not hot enough. Noticed loose pump canister O-ring during basket cleaning. 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. If your swimming pool level is low, the problem can usually be fixed by filling it up. Worn bearings in the motor shaft can also cause screeching noises when the pump is running. You need to fix the circulation quickly to make sure these issues dont occur. Dealing with a broken pump is more dangerous and takes more pool expertise than knowing how to clean pool cartridge filters. The check valve stops the water from flowing backward, which prevents debris from getting into the pumps impeller. Our reasoning for this is simple, time makes fools out of us all, and your pool pump is no exception. Your pools water level should go up at least halfway of your skimmer levels. 7 Fixes. Not pleasant. These three factors coupled with daily use will eventually lead to problems that will need to be troubleshot down the line. My guess is, though, if youre reading this article, youre probably not . If so, you will need to fix and replace these. Any ideas what could cause this? The suction-side s all equipment and plumbing from your skimmers and main drains to your pool pump's impeller. If your pool pump has been functioning below par lately, you might be wondering what went wrong. Simple enough problem right? Think of your pumps capacitor as akin to a car battery. Many inground pool pumps have trouble from time to time getting the water moving. Look for a valve with a lever in front of the pump this is known as the suction valve. It may not display this or other websites correctly. Follow this step-by-step guide to check if this is the case: Measure the level of the motor terminal to the voltage. is the pool's water level midway up the skimmer? This would cause a decrease in flow. You can try unclogging the impeller with a wire hanger. You can also switch to running the pump at night when its cooler or, alternatively, providing more shade when you run the pump during the day. These baskets should be emptied at least once to twice per week. Make sure the valve is pointed toward the inlet pipe coming from the pool. Your pool pump isnt pulling water for at least one of these reasons: In this article, Ill explain every possible reason your pump wont pull water. Direct exposure to sunlight - While pool pumps are built to withstand the elements, apparently the sun didnt get that memo. Heres Why (+ How To Fix), Cold Water Not Working on a Washing Machine? Your pool pump basket may not be filling with water as it is sucking air from somewhere somehow. If you notice that the pumps position has shifted then its a pretty easy fix. We get it! A low water level could create a situation where the pump runshalf empty or dry. Jammed valves, gates, and unions can slow the water flowing through the pump. If you have any other issues with your pool pump, check out my other pool pump troubleshooting articles: Pool Pump Wont Prime? 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. Potential culprits of this issue include: The first thing to do is quite simple: just add water. We have guides on. Three Reasons Why Your Pool is not Circulating. Check the wiring - For some reason, rodents love chewing on wires. 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. Prices pulled from the Amazon Product Advertising API on: Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. 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. I'm getting air in my pump so tried some of these troubleshooting techniques today. ? Both parts of the pump are relatively straightforward to replace. You can hear the pool pump running, but it makes a humming noise. (You can find the fixes for those in the above section.). You turn on your pump, it slowly hums then roars into life and after a few seconds, nothing, eerie silence. Another problem that pool owners face is loud (not normal loudness) noises coming from the pool pump. Check the water levels regularly to prevent future occurrences. If tightening up the connections didnt do the job then you can check our. Since opening the pool last week. Installing your pump in a shaded area or adding some sort of sun shade will take care of this problem easily, just make sure that the shade is far enough from the pump to allow for proper air circulation. Connect the impeller to the new motor, then connect the motor to the pump housing. JavaScript is disabled. The pump is working properly, youre about to jump into the pool, and all of a sudden your pump suddenly shuts off. 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. WATER LEVEL - The water level of the pool should be at least halfway up the skimmer door opening. I have 3 lines coming into the pump - 2 from skimmers and one from the main drain. Download my free, printable pool maintenance checklist to help you accomplish regular pool care tasks for any type of swimming pool. As these parts age, capacitors tend to lose their charge-storing capabilities. 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. Pull out the internal components, also known as the valve guts.. I mean, a good one should last quite a few years, but even the best will eventually go bad. The best thing to do if your pump basket is not filling with water is to simply prime the pump by blowing out the lines with water to get rid of any air inside. 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. Here is what happens: 1. Under certain conditions, your pool pump can make loud screeching noises when its running. If trees and bushes surround your pool or your pets swim in the water, youll likely have to empty these two baskets daily. Place the cartridges into the filter, then replace any of them if they have torn pleats or bands. To fix this problem, you'll just need to inspect both of these and see if they look damaged in any way. Unfortunately, rusted bearings require a full motor replacement. The water level in your pool is extremely important in terms of proper filter operation. Debris may clog the skimmer so much that hardly any water gets through. Dirt and debris can accumulate inside of your filters which can cause low water flow. 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? 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 vac plate or leaf canister should always be used. Others are better suited to a pool services company. Get $10 off your first order over $99 and hear about sales, exclusive offers & helpful DIY tricks from our pool experts. Otherwise, your pool will turn into a pond of bugs and bacteria. Pool pumps generate heat but they should never run too hot! However, if you consistently have low readings on the gauge despite cleaning the basket out consistently, your impeller might be on its way out. Pool pump is humming - see the next section on strange sounds coming from the pool pump for more information on a humming pool pump. Your impeller might be clogged - The first cause of a humming pool pump might be a clogged impeller. 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. Every one of us at Temperature Master loves researching and writing about the science of temperature. We have a detailed post. 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. If necessary, replace the valves gasket or O-ring. Finally, the pump might also turn itself off if its receiving inadequate power, or if some of its wires are loose or broken. Ill also provide helpful suggestions to fix these problems and what you can do to prevent them from coming back. First, are the skimmer baskets and pump pot emptied?If they are packed with leaves, twigs, debris, or dog hair -- as our picture shows . Make sure its in "stop" mode. Now, with that out of the way, lets proceed with the guide! If seizing was the issue, that should solve the problem. You might notice the suction gets gradually weaker until it stops altogether. I turn the pump on, small bubbles come out 1 or 2 jets only. Ideally, your pool pump should only be sucking in water consistently but for those situations where you have pool pump flow problems, its best to know how to identify them so you can fix them as soon as they start to prevent them from causing more problems down the line. 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