by James Williams
Having a swimming pool can be a lot of fun for both adults and children. One of the main parts of a well-functioning pool is its motor, which allows the proper circulation of clean water in the pool.
However, its maintenance demands a lot of hard work and abiding by rules. Even though it sounds like a job for mechanics, anyone is capable of doing it. Besides, it is not always possible to call or find a mechanic at the slightest inconvenience.
Don't worry; we'll save you some trouble by explaining everything there is to know about pool pump motor replacement. As long as you are equipped with the right items, getting the job done is a simple business.
Contents
Read on for more details!
If you are wondering how to determine your pool pump motor needs to be replaced, then look no further. We have listed the reasons and described them for your convenience:
This is a major reason behind the importance and urgency of changing the motor. Sometimes air seeps inside the swimming pool pump, which causes the rate of rotation of the impeller to increase. Thus, the motor starts to overheat and is in dire need to be replaced.
When the bearings on the motor go through some wear and tear, there is too much friction, which also results in overheating. If you notice this early on, changing the bearings will be enough, and there wouldn't be any need to replace the whole motor.
The motor also heats up when the swimming pool is situated directly towards the sunlight.
After a certain amount of time, it is very likely that you will hear some strange sounds from the motor. It is either owing to issues with the bearings but usually points towards the reparation of the motor immediately. Bearings are the most susceptible to defect since they are constantly in use.
There isn't really a way to evade the discordant mix of sounds, which is a good thing as it acts as a signal for replacement.
Debris, large or small, stuck inside the impeller stops the smooth flow of water. The impeller can also be clogged up if some of its parts come off.
This is why someone should check the impeller and clean the pool on a regular basis.
Continuous presence of bubbles in the pool means that there is not enough water in the pump. As a consequence of this, there is an air leak, and the pool water becomes unhygienic.
This affects the vital parts in the inside of the motor, hence why it will have to be changed.
During heavy rain, a huge amount of water might enter the motor through worn-out gaskets or shaft seals. This inevitably results in a short circuit. It is safer to replace than to repair the motor now.
Always make sure to use the appropriate voltage.
If you are lucky enough to not have faced any of the above complications, you would still need to change your motor after a certain amount of time has passed.
An upgrade is especially desirable when you have more people using the pool but have not been able to maintain it frequently. Find an improved and better quality pump this time that best suits your purpose.
Before you venture out to place an order for a new motor, you must enlighten yourself about the model and production of your pump. This eases the process of buying a new motor. If the arrangement of all the parts in a motor is not the best fit for the pump you are currently using, it can cause numerous complications.
Most people prefer to buy a Go-kit as it contains all the components such as shaft seal, bearings, gasket, etc. Plus, it's inexpensive. You can find all the proper items in the kit to carry out a replacement without any hassle.
If you are an eco-friendly person, we would suggest you buy a motor that is energy efficient. These can circulate gallons of water at high speed and a shorter amount of time. You can easily save on operational costs and electricity bills.
Once you have decided to replace your pool pump motor, it is now time to get down to work. These are the guidelines you need to follow:
First and foremost, turn off the power supply. Wear gloves and goggles to be on the safe side.
Then, unscrew all the bolts that hold the seal plate and motor housing together. Now, you can remove the wires which will separate the motor from the pump.
Disconnect all electrical wires from the electrical plate of the old motor. You must use different colored pens for each wire - ground, neutral, and hot. Marking these wires will help you reconnect them to the new motor.
Place the pump on the floor or a table. Unscrew the hex key to extract the diffuser and reveal the impeller. Use an open-ended wrench over the flat portion of the shaft to prevent it from rotating. Remove the screw in the middle of the impeller by spinning it counterclockwise, and the impeller will come off.
Make sure to extract any debris stuck in the impeller. Here you can find Impeller replacement guide in details.
Once the impeller is removed, start to unscrew the four bolts so you can separate the seal plate from the motor. The shaft seal is under the seal plate. Use a flat head screwdriver to pull out the shaft seal from there. Another part of the shaft seal is typically inside the impeller, which can also be removed by using a screwdriver.
Please do not touch the ceramic part of the seal with your fingers as it is very vulnerable to damage.
Even though you can reuse your current shaft seal, it is advised that you don't because it gets damaged very easily. However, if you are going to reuse any of the components, make sure to wipe them clean. Be sure to mark the top and end sections when you are reassembling.
This object's main purpose is to prevent any kind of leakage. Take out the old gasket and replace it with the new one. It is usually attached to the top of the diffuser. For more details check out our step by step gasket replacement guide here.
Now that the shaft assembly is put away, you can get access to the bearings of the motor. Remove the motor capacitor and use pliers to cut off the governor springs. With the help of a bearing puller, work the bearings off of the motor shaft.
We recommend proper lubrication of the gasket and bearings for enhanced durability.
Here you can fine more detail about the replacing pool pump bearing.
Remove the capacitor to get access to the motor shaft. Place the new motor on the end of the mounting plate where it is marked "TOP".
Insert the new shaft seal into the impeller that you removed earlier into the new motor, then put back the capacitor. The ceramic side of the shaft seal will be on the outside while the black surface will be on the inside. Again, do not touch it with your bare hands. Use a water-based lubricant and a rag.
Also, put back the diffuser above the impeller.
Now carefully put back the new motor inside the pump. Reattach all the bolts you unscrewed in the beginning. Ensure that the bolts are in correct positions and not loosened or too tightened. Next, shield the motor with the electrical plate and connect all the electrical wires.
You are almost done!
Turn on the power back and check if there is an air leak or noises. If not, you have successfully installed a new motor.
Pool pump motor replacement needs to be done as soon as a problem is detected in order to avoid any hazards or accidents.
All you need to do is buy a new motor and other tools required for the procedure before you start following the quick and easy methods. Be cautious and patient while dealing with the whole situation to prevent fire or electrical shocks.
Now you and others can enjoy a nice time at the pool.
About James Williams
Hi, This is James from HomerDIY. I have great experience in writing about everything related to Pump and DIY tools. For the last few years, I am researching the different types of tools and sharing my opinion on this blog.
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