Pump not turning on

gilbertpsk · Jun 21, 2016

Hi - I have a Superpump 1.5 HP and it's about 9 years old. The past two seasons, I have had to have the impeller manually started during startup. After I paid someone twice to do it, I finally learned how to do it myself!

Anyway, this year, during startup, I flipped the on switch and the pump didn't start. Power was still sent to my SWCG but the pump made no noise. Well, it may be making a low hum, but it's much quieter than in years past with the impeller situation.

Question: Is the pump dead? How can I tell for sure without paying a pool company tons of money to come over?

needsajet · Jun 22, 2016

Texas Splash · Jun 22, 2016

If you are not able to get it going by reaching in from behind the cover and manually turning the motor shaft to break it loose, then it may be time for a replacement. I suppose it might also be related to your capacitor. Some other forum members are quite good about troubleshooting those and testing continuity. Me .. not so much.

Smykowski · Jun 22, 2016

Sounds like a bad capacitor. It'll be under the hump on the pump.

gilbertpsk · Jun 22, 2016

In the meanwhile, the water is growing some wonderful algea. Really nice green stuff. Without the pump running, what's the best way to control to cholorinate without a pump running?

Mr Bruce · Jun 22, 2016

Add half a gallon of bleach and brush the whole pool. Take a lap around the pool with a paddle/oar if you've got one. 2x4 would work too.

needsajet · Jun 22, 2016

Or buy a cheapo sump pump. Mine cost AU$80 (US$50) and handles dirty water cause I needed that to stop the mosquitoes while I was waiting for plaster.

For circulation, tie a rope to it, plug it in and drop it into the deep end with no outlet hose attached, but outlet turned to point up at a 45 degree angle (holds it from moving around, and also gets the water moving). My rules include - lock the pool gate. no swimming with 115V hanging in the pool.

I also set it on my top step and shoot water to the other end of the pool for aeration (when doing TA reduction). I don't plan to drain ever, but I could use it to help with that.

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250 volt down here!