subject: Pool Pump Motors: Locating The Problem Source [print this page] If you own a pool then it's only a matter of time until a water pressure problem pops up. Either too little water is flowing through the system or none at all, or of course your first thought that will come to mind is that it's the pump. After all its job is to supply the swimming pool with a constant source of flowing water and if that isn't happening it's only natural that it would be suspect. However all too often you'll be wrong.
So what are you will want to do is work your way through the entire system, checking for problems by process of elimination. Then if you end up at the pump you can be far more sure of yourself before you start in removing or working on it. So the first logical place to start out at is the power source. Maybe it's not even getting electricity. So go and check the power box and power line to make sure that the switch is on, and all is in order.
Then the second area check if you have water flowing but it's to low pressure to run your pool cleaner, is the hose attached to the pool cleaner. Remove it completely from the water and go over it from end to end to make sure that there aren't any cracks in it. Also take a look at both ends to make sure that there isn't some sort of debris clog, and while you're at it you might want to check the pool cleaner out too and make sure that it isn't clogged with debris either.
Then your next stop will be the water intake port to make sure that some kid hasn't stuffed something into it. In fact you may want to lower the water level and use a flashlight to get a good look into it if you don't have a swimming mask. Or if the water is flowing in the pool cleaner is running but debris build-ups is the problem, there's something else check. That would be the water outlet's flow ratio to ensure the proper current is forming, so debris can be accessed by the pool cleaner.
Then of course you need to examine your pool filter, even if it's been recently cleaned and maintained. The reason here is that one of the neighborhood kids may have thrown something in your pool during the night that you don't know about and it's been vacuumed up and is now clogging the filter. Or if it's the fall season, perhaps the trees are shedding leaves in the area and may be causing your pool filter to become clogged up sooner than it normally would.
Check the screen on the pump itself to make sure that hasn't become clogged because that often that can be the problem. Then after you've gone through this entire checklist and nothing else can be determined to be the source of problem you can be far more secure in your assumption that it is after all your pool pump that is in need of repair or replacement.
