3 Must-Know Facts Before Replacing a Pool Pump for Your Home
Posted on: 24 July 2019
Swimming pools are becoming popular in modern homes because they help homeowners to enjoy the warm outdoors, especially during summer. Pool maintenance is essential for the health of the swimming pool, and this includes the filtration system that removes dirt. It is better and cost-effective to replace a malfunctioning or worn-out pool pump, which aids in the filtration process as opposed to replastering the pool. Therefore, installing a new pool pump not only keeps the swimming pool sparkling clean, but it also saves you money in the long term. Here are some must-know facts before replacing a pool pump.
Why Pool Pumps Fail
Water can penetrate a pump through defective gaskets, shaft seals and O-rings. The water, especially from rain, will eventually seep through the motor windings, thereby causing the pool pump to short-circuit. Apart from short-circuiting, pool pumps have bearings that are susceptible to corrosion, vibration and shock. Faulty bearings will cause the pump to produce an abnormal whirring sound. Another potential cause of pool pump failure is clogging of stock-up impellers, particularly when the pool has large debris like leaves that pass through the filter or strainer. Also, impeller nuts, washer and diffuser bolts can become loose and back up the system.
Pump Size
Most homeowners unknowingly install the wrong pump size in their pools, leading to a myriad of problems such as poor filtration. In this sense, bigger is not necessarily better because of high operating costs and pressure that is exerted on the filtration system. A good rule of thumb is that the pump should filter all the water in eight hours. Therefore, determine the amount of water in the pool, which depends on the shape of the swimming pool. After getting the amount of water in litres, you should divide the volume by eight to arrive at litres per hour (LPH) that need to be cleaned by the pump. Other pool pumps are specified in litres per minute, which means that you must divide the LPH figure by 60. Lastly, calculate the feet of the head before purchasing the ideal pump for your pool based on the above arithmetic.
Pro or DIY?
If you intend to do a DIY project of replacing a pool pump, you need to be comfortable and knowledgeable working with electricity. Also, all precautions must be observed when installing a pump because you run the risk of damaging a new pump or even electrocuting yourself. Therefore, the safest bet is to hire a certified pool technician to do the installation for you.
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