On average, a pool pump motor can last between 8 and 10 years before it needs to be replaced. If you hear a noise, such as screeching, humming, or even no noise at all, these are warnings that something has to be done. Alternatively, your pool pump should last about 60 months on average.
Any out-of-character noises may be early warning signs that your pool pump is not working properly. Loud screeching or grinding sounds usually indicate the motor is starting to fail. This is usually due to rust from unwanted water getting in from a leaky shaft seal.
On a pump that is over five years old, you should be more careful about putting a lot of money into the pump. A small repair would still probably make sense, but if you have a repair item like a motor that costs over half the cost of the new pump, you need to think twice.
The single most common reason for pump failure in any climate is bad environment. Many homeowners do not realize how long their pool equipment is in the sun, or they may not be aware of a sprinkler nearby or run-off from the roof during heavy rain.
Replacing the entire pump can cost twice or even four times as much as replacing the motor. Some pool repairmen might try to talk you into replacing the entire pump, but you'll actually be better off with a simple pool pump motor replacement.
On average, a pool pump motor can last between 8 and 10 years before it needs to be replaced. If you hear a noise, such as screeching, humming, or even no noise at all, these are warnings that something has to be done. Alternatively, your pool pump should last about 60 months on average.
The price of pool pumps ranges from $400 to $3,100, though most homeowners pay $1,750 on average.
Well-maintained high-quality pool pumps can last between eight to 12 years. If you've missed out on many critical pool services, however, you can expect your pump to fail sooner. If your pump is more than half a decade old and it's becoming more and more problematic, it's best to get a new one.
The first test is simply whether you can touch the motor or not. Under normal operating conditions, the motor end of the pump is hot enough that you can barely touch it — but not searing hot. If you check your pool pump motor and find it is far too hot to be able to touch with your hand, that's not good.
As much as you can
If your question is “How often should I run my pump to keep the pool at its best?” the answer would be 24/7 for as much of the year as the pool is in operation.
You've done a great job looking after your pump so keep it up! We recommend seeking a yearly checkup by a professional, just to make sure everything is in order, and running as it should be.
No part of installing a new pool pump is prohibitively difficult however it does require making electrical connections as well as plumbing connections. In addition to needing to be comfortable with both electrical and plumbing, you will also need to know how to choose the right pump for your pool in the first place.
Best overall: Pentair - WhisperFlo VST EC-011533
Our top pick for the best overall energy-efficient pool pump is the Pentair WhisperFlo VST. The WhisperFlo is designed to work with a lot of different size pools with various accessories. It's powerful enough to run a waterfall or pool cleaner when at full power.
If you still have electricity, you can use a robotic pool cleaner or a submersible pump to clean, move and circulate the water. If you are without power, grab your pool brush!
It may be cheaper to run the pump at night, but honestly you should run it 1 hour a day per 10 degrees of temperature at least, and it should be during the day. Running the pump at night should only be when you are doing a major chemical treatment such as algae clean-up.
A humming noise is a sign of pool pump motor failure. The noise is a result of many different issues with the motor, the entire motor going bad, or a failed capacitor. Although these things can be fixed, whatever caused the issue in the first place can cause it again.
Don't give pool debris a chance to break down and become un-fishable, especially without a pool pump running and filtering your pool water. Smaller pieces of leaves and debris will break down faster, causing phosphates to be deposited into your pool, and you know what phosphates are, algae food!
Keep it Cool. Without proper air circulation, your pool motor can overheat while running. Keeping your motor cool will help it to last longer and avoid malfunction. To keep your pump motor cool, be sure to avoid putting the pump near plants, mulch, or enclosed spaces that could block airflow.
Do pool pumps use a lot of electricity? In fact, a pool pump will consume between 3,000 and 5,000 KWh per year, which translates to between $480 to $800, based on the national average electricity rate of 16 cents per KWh.
In fact, due to the high energy costs, even with an energy efficient in-ground single speed swimming pool pump, it would still cost a fortune to run it 24-hours a day. Some commercial properties require 24-hour a day pump circulation, but as a homeowner, this is not advisable.
On average, you should run your pool pump around 6-8 hours per day during winter and 10-12 hours per day during summer. Note that you need to run your pool pump longer during summer because algae grow more in warm temperatures.
(Pool capacity in gallons/desired turnover rate in hours)/60=Flow rate in GPM. Example: If you have a 20,000 gallon pool and a desired turnover rate of 5 hours, your desired flow rate would be: (20,000/5) = 4,000 gallons per hour/60 = 66.66 GPM, or approximately 67 GPM.