Pump repair

When you need it

• The pump will not prime, or keeps losing prime.
• Air bubbles in the strainer basket, or bubbles coming from the returns.
• Weak flow, cloudy water despite normal run times, or other equipment reporting low flow.
• Water dripping from under the pump.
• Grinding, screeching or humming, or the motor tripping its breaker.

How a specialist does it

Pentair's SuperFlo manual shows the logic professionals follow, working from the simple causes to the less obvious ones:

• Will not prime, air leak. Check the suction piping and the glands on suction valves, make sure the strainer lid is secure with its gasket in place, and check the water level so the skimmer is not drawing air.
• Will not prime, not enough water. Make sure the suction lines and strainer pot are full of water, suction valves are open and working, and water is reaching the skimmer.
• Clogged strainer or impeller. Clean the strainer basket. With power switched off, open the pump and clear debris from the impeller.
• Reduced flow. Air pockets or leaks in the suction line, or a clogged impeller or strainer.

Pentair also warns that running a pump dry damages the mechanical seal, after which the pump starts leaking. A pump that has run without water is a common reason for a seal replacement.

After these checks a technician moves on to electrical testing of the motor, capacitor and wiring, and listens to the bearings. The outcome is a decision: repair with parts such as a seal kit, impeller, bearings, lid gasket or capacitor, replace the motor, or replace the whole pump.

Pentair states that its pump should be installed and serviced only by a qualified pool service professional. Pumps combine water, mains electricity and pressurised housings, which is reason enough to use someone trained.

What to ask before you hire

• What did you find: the pump itself, the suction side plumbing, or the motor?
• Are the replacement parts genuine or compatible, and are they available locally?
• Is repair worth it given the pump's age, or does replacement make more sense?
• If replacing, will the new pump suit my filter and any heater or chiller flow requirements?
• Will you check the electrical supply, earthing and protection while you are there?
• What warranty applies to the repair and to any new parts?

UAE notes

Chillers and heat pumps depend on the pump. Jandy's heat pump manual sets minimum and maximum water flow rates and links its no flow fault to the circulation pump, valves, dirty filters and low water. A weak pump can therefore look like a chiller problem in summer.

If a motor keeps tripping in hot months, ask the technician to look at plant room ventilation and the electrical supply as well as the pump.

Shared and hotel pools in Dubai fall under Dubai Municipality's public pool safety guidelines, which require automatic dosing and continuous monitoring of pH and disinfectant, and closure of the pool if disinfection falls outside the acceptable range. A pump outage stops circulation, so managers should plan repairs and spare parts with that in mind.