Keeping the pool looking good in winter

It's easy to get complacent about pool pump maintenance over the winter, but now spring has arrived it is time to get the pool in tip top shape and ready for summer. Your pool pump is a vital mechanism for getting the pool clean again, but as this is your first spring clean of your home's pool, you may not recognise a problem if it is there. These are the two points you need to know while you are getting your swimming pool pump back into action.

Failure of Seals

Seals in a pool pump are designed to be water-tight. However, seals can deteriorate through age and also exposure to harsh weather conditions. So, if you see either of these issues occurring when you start your pool pump running again, then you have an issue.

1. When you turn the pump on, look for water spraying from the pump housing. If the spray only happens when the pump is running, it is likely to be a seal.
2. However, if the pump is continually leaking water whether it is on or off, this indicates the compromise of the seal around the pump motor shaft.

Out of these two scenarios, it is necessary to repair the motor shaft seal quickly. This seal protects water getting into your electric motor. Turn you pump off and call in a pool pump repairer to replace the seal before you attempt to run the pump again.

Worn, Clogged or Broken Pump Impeller

The location of the impeller is within the housing of your pool pump. Its job is to correctly regulate the pressure of the water flowing through your pool's filtration system. When the impeller is worn, clogged or broken, you will notice a difference in the filter pressure. Most filter systems have a pressure gauge attached to them, so check this reading over three to four days to see if the pressure drop is consistent.

Before blaming the impeller for the bad pressure, next check to see if the filter or the skimmer baskets are filled with debris. Palm fronds and other plant vegetation are notorious for filling these up during winter. If these areas are both empty, call a pool pump repairer to come out and examine the impeller for you. Since it is located within the motor's housing (the impeller is attached to the motor drive shaft), opening this housing is best left to the professionals to avoid electric shocks or motor damage.

Once you have your pool pump up and running again, you can start counting down the days until it is warm enough for you to get out there and start swimming again.