Is your pool pump not working? Is it making a humming sound or a loud squealing noise? Well, before you call in a professional, there are 5 things you can do to troubleshoot it on your own. And one method actually involves hitting it with a shoe.
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Is Your Pump Making a Humming Sound?
First, if your pump is making a humming sound, it means there’s something wrong with the motor. Here’s 3 things to try:
1. Reset Your Breaker
Find the electrical breaker that controls your pump, turn it off, and then turn it back on. It could just be that the breaker tripped.
2. Check for a Jammed Impeller
The impeller is the only moving part in your pump. It propels the water from the pool into your filter at a high speed. If it’s jammed, the motor can seize up. So turn off your pump at the breaker, remove the pump basket, and manually spin your impeller.
You can find the impeller by reaching into the pump housing and feeling around for it towards the back of the pump. A screwdriver or a bent wire hanger can help here. Once you turn the pump back on, spinning it manually or removing anything caught inside can restart it.
3. Give your pump a good whack.
Using a rubber mallet or a rubber-soled shoe, hit the pump motor as it tries to turn on. Make sure whatever you’re using has a rubber cushion and that you’re hitting the motor right when it turns on.
Obviously, don’t accidentally damage your pump this way. But you’d be surprised how often a solid few hits can solve the issue. What is the downside to this method working? It probably means you’ll need to replace the motor sooner rather than later.
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Is Your Pump Making a High-Pitched Squealing Noise?
That’s probably coming from your motor’s bearings and it means they’re corroded. Your pump probably overheated at some point, causing a leak and chlorinated water to get into the motor’s electrical components.
Unfortunately, this means you’ll need to replace this part of the pump or your entire pump.
Is Your Pump Making a Gurgling Sound?
Check your water flow. If your pump is running but making a gurgling sound, it could mean it’s not getting enough water. Make sure your pool’s water level is at least halfway up the skimmer, and try priming the pump by adding water with a garden hose.
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Matt Giovanisci is the founder of Swim University® and has been in the pool and spa industry since 1993. Since then, his mission is to make pool and hot tub care easy for everyone. And each year, he continues to help more people with water chemistry, cleaning, and troubleshooting.
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