3 Common Pool Pump Problems and How to Fix Them

Your swimming pool pump is responsible for recirculating the water, which is necessary to disinfect and chemically balance the pool. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, residential pools must turn a pool’s entire volume over every six hours to properly filter the water.

In an average-sized residential pool, this requirement equates to a circulation rate of 36 gallons per minute. That’s a heavy load for your pool pump, which is probably why it’s prone to malfunctions.

Because your pump is highly likely to encounter some type of issue in its lifetime, you have to know how to diagnose and resolve different problems to prolong its use. Clark County Pool and Lawn, a pool pump repair expert in Las Vegas, shares three common pool pump problems and how to fix them.

1. Pool pump is not pulling water

If your pool pump is running but has a low water flow, it’s likely that something is blocking its suction, such as a dirty filter. Check your filter gauge first to confirm if it’s causing the low water flow. If it’s around 10 points above the normal reading of eight to 15 PSI, that means your filter needs cleaning.

Afterward, you need to prime the pump or purge the plumbing system of air to get it going again. First, turn the pump off and disconnect it from electrical outlets. Make sure it’s not cracked or damaged in any way. Next, remove the prime plug, which is usually on the pump’s head, then open the release valves.

Using a garden hose, fill the pump basket until water comes out of the prime plug. That’s how you know that the air has been pushed out of the plumbing system. Reconnect the pump afterward and let it run normally for a few minutes.

If the water still isn’t flowing consistently, you need to repeat the steps. There’s no need to worry, though; pumps sometimes need several priming sessions to fully purge the air from their system.

2. Pool pump loses its prime overnight

If you’ve successfully primed your pump but noticed that it refilled with air overnight, that’s a sign that there’s a bigger problem with it. You want to check for leaks on its intake line first since the suction is one of the most common causes of pump problems. If the intake line has any cracks or loose fittings, you need to have it replaced to get rid of the leak.

Another possible reason that your pump is losing its prime is an obstruction in the intake line. Clearing a clogged suction line can be a complicated process so it’s best left to professionals.

So, if you’re pool pump doesn’t stay primed even after replacing the intake line and cleaning your filter, it’s time to hire a pool pump repair service.

3. Pool pump is making loud noises

A noisy pool pump motor can be caused either by minor or major issues. Most of the time, it just needs better water flow. Repeat the process for fixing a pump with a low water flow to address the noise problem.

If this doesn’t fix the issue or if the noise is a high-pitched sound, that could mean that the pump’s bearings are busted. Motor bearings naturally wear down over time because of constant rotation. Worn bearings don’t spin as smoothly as they should, which causes screeching noises.

We recommend hiring a professional to replace the bearings for you since this involves disassembling the pump motor.

Make sure to look for a repair service with ample experience working on various pump models and brands. Different kinds of pool pumps have components that encounter different problems, so you want a repair professional who can fix the specific issues that your unit has.

Residential Pool Pump Repair Services in Las Vegas

Clark County Pool & Lawn provides a range of residential pool cleaning and maintenance services in Las Vegas, including pump repair. Our team will inspect and troubleshoot our pool components and keep them functioning as they should. We won’t suggest you purchase new components unless you absolutely need to.

Fill out our online form to request a free estimate on our pump repair services.