Does Your Pool Pump Makes Unusual Noises?
If you spent a lot of time choosing a pool pump that would operate quietly, then you will not be happy if it suddenly gets noisy. You may start to worry that something is wrong with the pump if it makes unusual noises that you have not heard before.
The noises you hear can give you clues to what is happening with the pump. What is your pump trying to tell you? How can you get it running quietly again?
1. The pump makes a vibrating sound
Pool pumps sometimes vibrate or hum for a simple reason. They may not sit on level ground any longer.
For example, this can happen if you have moved the pump recently or if the vibrating mat it sits on has moved out of place. Sometimes, a connection on the base may have come loose. If you have one of these issues and fix it, then the pump should quieten down again.
2. The pump's noise stops and starts
If a pool pump has to work harder to get enough water through it, then its normal operating noise might change. Here, the pump will not make its usual regular noise; it may sound like it stops and starts.
This sometimes happens if your skimmer or debris baskets are full or if something is stuck in them. The build-up or obstruction prevents water from moving through the pump evenly at the right flow rate.
The pump does not get enough water to work correctly. So, the intermittent flow interrupts the sounds it normally makes. If you clean out your baskets, this noise should stop.
3. The pump sounds like it is grinding
Pool pumps sometimes make grinding noises. This can sound like stones rattling inside the pump, or it can sound a little like a coffee grinder grinding beans.
Again, this sound can be a sign that your baskets need cleaning out. Grinding sounds are often from a lack of water moving through the pump.
If your baskets are clear, then you probably have a problem somewhere else in the pump. For example, something may block a suction pipe. Or, something may have got in the way of the impeller inside the pump. In some cases, the impeller itself may be loose or out of position.
Internal blockages are more serious. If water cannot flow through the pump's system at an even rate, then air pockets develop inside.
These dry areas make the pump work harder. It also heats up more than it should. Ultimately, it could overheat and burn out. You need professional help at this stage to diagnose and fix the problem.
4. The pump makes a screeching whine
While some pump noises are just irritating, a screeching whine sounds more alarming. This high-pitched screaming noise could simply be a sign that something is caught inside the pump, like in the impeller. Sometimes, the obstruction will clear as the pump works. The sound will go away as things go back to normal.
However, this noise can be a sign that the pump's bearings have worn down too much. They may have rusted. Or, they may be close to breaking point. They are not fit for purpose any longer.
If you hear this kind of noise, and it does not stop quickly on its own, then you may need new bearings. Again, this is a job best left to the professionals.