Keeping Your Pool Pump Running Reliably

Keeping your swimming pool clean will require you to ensure that the water in it is being circulated and filtered. A powerful pool pump will be needed to do this, and while this can be a critical component, homeowners may be making errors that can increase the risk of a catastrophic failure occurring.

Keep The Pool Water Clean

Algae, leaves, and other substances can be highly damaging if they are able to get inside the pool pump. Whether they cause clogs to form or damage mechanical components, they can result in the pump failing to work. Using a pool net to remove any leaves or other debris from the water and treating it with chemicals to stop algae from growing can help keep the water as clean as possible, minimizing the risk of the pump being damaged by these materials. When removing algae from the pool, you will want to be sure to remove anything that is growing along the walls of the pool as well as algae that may be free-floating. This will prevent the algae from the walls eventually coming loose and making it to the pump.

Properly Winterize The Pump When Cool Weather Arrives

The winter months can represent a dangerous time for your pool pump. The cold weather can cause any water in the pump to freeze. If this were to occur, the pressure from the frozen water could actually cause the pump's exterior to rupture. As part of the winterization process, you will need to completely empty the pump of any water that is in it. The steps for doing this will be determined by the design of your particular pump, and you should follow the manufacturer's recommended steps as closely as possible. Otherwise, you may leave enough water in the pump to potentially lead to this type of damage occurring.

Keep The Pump's Exterior Vents Clear

Your pool pump will have a powerful motor that creates the force needed to move the water out of it. Not surprisingly, this motor can generate large amounts of heat. These systems will have exterior vents that can allow the heat from the motor to dissipate. Unfortunately, it is possible for these vents to become obstructed by leaves and dirt. Eventually, this can lead to pump failure as a result of the motor malfunctioning due to overheating. Every few weeks, these vents should be cleaned so that any dust or other material that has gathered on them will be able to be removed. This can ensure that the motor is receiving as much airflow as possible to keep it from overheating.

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