Maintenance is essential to keep your swimming pool in tip top shape. But proper pool maintenance doesn’t stop with scooping leaves and adding a few chemicals.

Your pool pump is one of the most overlooked parts of your swimming pool, and one that is essential to keep a close eye on.

What are some signs that your pool pump needs attention?

Let’s take a look.

Grinding or screeching noises.

These noises are never good in a component with moving parts, and this may be an indication that your bearings are aging or rusting. It may also be a sign of a leak in your shaft seal. Grinding, followed by silence means that your motor shaft has seized and you will need to replace it.

Water dripping from motor vents

This symptom, along with loud bearings or a rusty motor casing, point to a leaking shaft seal. Your shaft seal protects the electric motor and when it fails, it starts to allow water into the motor casing. The bearings will start to corrode, as will other copper windings and electrical parts. As we well know, water and electricity don’t go well together, and this needs to be seen to urgently to prevent a complete motor replacement.

Low water pressure

While your motor is a key component, your impeller does the heavy lifting. The impeller moves the water much like a propeller on a boat, and forces the water through the system. If your impeller is broken you will hear the motor running, but the water flow will be poor. You may even hear some rattling if the broken impeller pieces are still in the housing.

Clogged impeller

Your strainer basket is the first line of defence in your pool system, and if it is allowing debris through to the inside of the pump then it needs urgent attention. Leaves, sticks and other debris can break of clog the moving parts and strain your motor, resulting in early failure.

Pool maintenance is an essential part of owning a pool, but let’s face it – we don’t all have the time or the technical skills to see to it. Which is why Pool Spa have such a busy maintenance division, and we’d love to help you. Give us a call on 011 793 1381.