Pump or filter is not working

What you might notice

• The pump does not start, starts and stops, or hums without running.
• Unusual noise, such as grinding, screeching or rattling.
• Weak flow at the return jets, or skimmers that no longer pull debris.
• Air bubbles in the pump strainer basket, or the pump losing prime.
• A filter gauge reading much higher or lower than usual.
• Water around the pump, the filter or the valves.
• Cloudy water even though the system appears to run.

Common causes

Many faults come from restricted flow. A blocked skimmer basket, a full pump strainer or a dirty filter all reduce flow, and the filter gauge often shows it.

Pentair's owner's manual for its Clean & Clear Plus cartridge filters calls the pressure gauge the primary indicator of how the filter is operating. The manual lists low water level, a clogged skimmer basket, a leak in the pump lid or a leak in the suction line as causes of air bubbles in the pump strainer. It links a drop in pressure to debris in the baskets or an obstruction between the pool and the pump.

Hayward's knowledge base gives several reasons a sand filter can stay at high pressure after backwashing: mineral deposits in the sand bed, a closed or partly closed valve on the return pipework, or a pump that is too small or too large for the filter. According to Hayward, a pump that does not supply at least 60 percent of the filter's designed flow rate cannot backwash it fully.

Other causes can include worn seals and O-rings, a jammed impeller, motor or capacitor faults, and problems with timers or controls. These need a qualified technician.

What you can safely check yourself

Keep to observation. Do not open the pump, the filter or any electrical panel. Filters run under pressure, and Pentair's manual warns that pressurised air can blow a lid off if the system is serviced without following the correct procedure.

1. Read the filter gauge. Note the reading with the system running and compare it with the reading after the filter was last cleaned. Your manual may state when cleaning is due. Pentair's manual for this filter range advises cleaning when the reading is 8 to 10 psi above the clean starting pressure.
2. Look at the baskets. Through the clear lid, check whether the pump strainer basket is full or holds air. Note whether the skimmer baskets are full.
3. Check the water level. Pentair's manual names low water level as one cause of air in the pump. Note where the water sits in the skimmer opening.
4. Listen and record. A short phone video of the noise is very useful to a technician.
5. Photograph the plant. Take clear photos of the pump and filter labels, the valves and any drips.

What a specialist will usually do

A pump and filter technician will usually check the electrical supply and controls safely, look for air leaks on the suction side, inspect the impeller and seals, and test the motor. On the filter side they will check the media, the valves and the gauge, and whether the pump and filter are matched in flow.

Dubai Municipality's safety guidelines for private pools ask owners to make sure a competent person maintains the pool and its filtration and disinfection system, and that all equipment is serviced in line with the manufacturer's instructions. A good technician will work to those instructions and tell you whether a repair or a replacement makes more sense.

What to prepare before you call

• Make and model of the pump and filter, from the labels.
• Filter type: sand, glass media or cartridge.
• Your gauge readings and when the filter was last cleaned or the media changed.
• Photos and a short video of the fault.
• Whether the pump runs on a timer or an automation system.
• The pool size, and whether it has skimmers or an overflow channel.