The pump is the heart of your pool. When it struggles, everything else follows: circulation drops, chemicals stop working and the water clouds over. Watch for these signs.
- A loud grinding or screeching noise
- Air bubbles in the pump basket lid
- Water leaking around the motor or seal
- Low pressure on the filter gauge
- The motor hums but will not start
- The breaker trips when the pump turns on
- Hot plastic smell around the equipment pad
What you can check yourself
Clean the pump and skimmer baskets, make sure the water level is high enough and check that the lid O-ring is seated and lubricated. Many air leaks start there.
When to call a technician
Noises from the motor, tripped breakers and leaks from the shaft seal need professional diagnosis. Catching them early often means a seal or bearing replacement instead of a new pump.
