The most common pool pump faults
Pool pumps fail in a small number of predictable ways, and the symptom usually points straight at the cause. Knowing which one you have helps you describe it when you WhatsApp us, and helps us arrive with the right parts.
- Screeching, grinding or a loud whine: worn motor bearings, usually from age or water getting into the motor
- Humming but not turning: a failed start capacitor, or an impeller jammed with debris
- Water dripping under the pump: a worn mechanical seal between the pump and the motor
- Air bubbles in the pump basket or returns, weak flow: an air leak at the lid O-ring, the basket or a suction fitting
- Tripping the earth leakage: moisture in the motor or a wiring fault — switch off and call us
- Running hot and cutting out: blocked impeller, a starved pump running dry, or a motor near the end of its life
What to check before you call
A few checks are safe for any pool owner and sometimes solve the problem outright. Always switch the pump off at the isolator before opening anything.
Empty the weir basket and the pump basket; a basket packed with leaves after a storm is the most common reason a pump loses flow. Check that the pool water level is at least halfway up the weir opening, because a low level lets the pump suck air. Look at the lid O-ring for cracks or grit and make sure the lid is seated evenly. Check the multiport valve is on Filter and not stuck between positions.
Do not repeatedly restart a pump that hums without turning, and do not run a pump dry. Both can burn out a motor that was otherwise repairable. If the earth leakage trips, leave it off and call us — water and electricity are not a do-it-yourself fault.
Load-shedding and your pump
Power cuts are hard on pool pumps. When power returns, the surge and the restart put strain on the capacitor and motor, and timers can reset to the wrong time or lose their programme entirely. A pump that runs at 03:00 instead of 09:00 may be running through the outage and not at all when there is power.
After a run of load-shedding, check that the pump is actually running when the timer says it should. A surge protector on the pool circuit is worth asking your electrician about. If you are replacing a pump anyway, an energy-saving variable-speed model draws far less at low speed, which makes backup power or solar more practical for filtration.
Repair or replace?
We repair where it makes sense. Bearings, seals, capacitors, impellers, lids and O-rings are all standard parts, and replacing them gives a good pump years more life. Where we recommend replacing instead, we explain why in plain terms and put the numbers side by side.
The usual reasons to replace are a motor that has burnt out, a pump body that is cracked, a unit so old that parts are no longer made, or a pump that is the wrong size for the pool — too big wastes electricity and can channel the filter sand, too small never turns the water over properly. Quoting a new pump or an installation costs you nothing.
Our online shop stocks pool pumps and energy-saving pumps from Speck, Quality, EartheCo and Aquagem, and we fit what we sell at a fixed installation price. Delivery is charged by road distance from our Centurion office.
Sizing a replacement pump
A pump is sized to turn the full volume of your pool through the filter in a reasonable number of hours, matched to the filter it pushes water through. Residential pools commonly use pumps somewhere around 0.75 kW to 1.1 kW, but the right answer depends on the pool's litres, the pipe runs, the height difference to the pump, and the filter size. A pump that is too powerful for its filter pushes water through the sand too fast and filters worse, not better.
When we quote a replacement we look at the whole system, not just the label on the old motor, because the old pump may have been the wrong size to begin with.
A pump service, not just a repair
A pump that is working but getting noisy, or one that has not been looked at in years, benefits from a service before it fails. We check the bearings by sound and feel, look at the seal for weeping, clean the impeller, replace a tired lid O-ring and check the electrical connections and the capacitor. It is the same visit and the same price as a repair, and it is far cheaper than a pump that seizes in the middle of December.
How it works
Describe the fault
WhatsApp 081 577 5051 with the symptom, a photo of the pump label and a short video if it is making a noise.
Diagnose
On site we find the cause — bearing, seal, capacitor, impeller or airlock — and tell you what it needs.
Quote parts
You get the parts price before anything is fitted, with the repair-or-replace comparison if it is close.
Repair and test
We fit the parts, prime the pump and check flow, pressure and that the timer runs it when it should.
Frequently asked questions
Why is my pool pump humming but not running?
Usually a failed start capacitor, or the impeller is jammed with debris. Switch it off rather than restarting it repeatedly — that can burn out the motor.
Why is my pool pump so loud?
A screech or grind is almost always worn motor bearings. They can be replaced, but the sooner the better: a bearing that seizes can take the motor with it.
Why is there water leaking under my pool pump?
The mechanical seal between the pump and the motor is worn. Water running into the motor end damages the bearings, so it is worth fixing promptly.
How much does a pool pump repair cost?
A pump repair or service is R850 for diagnosis and labour, with parts quoted separately before they are fitted.
How long should a pool pump last?
It depends on the pump, the hours it runs and how dry and ventilated its housing is. Bearings and seals wear long before the motor, and replacing them extends the life considerably.
How many hours a day should my pool pump run?
Long enough to turn the whole pool through the filter at least once a day — typically six to eight hours in summer, less in winter. Plan it around load-shedding so the hours are not lost.
Is it worth upgrading to an energy-saving pump?
Often, if the pump runs many hours a day or you want to filter on backup power. We will show you the comparison for your pool rather than quote a generic saving.