Pump leaking water at pad

[Furiousss]

Hopefully today is the final day below freezing here. My pool water is currently 30 degrees and was 32-34 all day yesterday. Pumps have been in Freeze Protection with water flowing the entire time.

One of my pumps, the one that controls the sheer descents in my raised beam, is leaking water at the pad. I have a camera that partially captures the equipment pad and can pinpoint this started on Sunday at 9:45am at about the mid-point of the pump. I cleared the ice, but can't observe any cracks or flowing water. Looking through camera footage, the puddle/ice seems to "surge" every few hours.

The pool was built last summer and I guess it's possible that the leak has always been there.

1. Is there a gasket/seal that may have contracted due to the cold?
2. Is the pump definitely damaged?

I'm headed out of town today for a few days, so won't be here for the thaw.

Here's a picture from yesterday around 5pm just after I last cleared the ice and another from this morning around 7:30am.

 

[Texas Splash]

and can pinpoint this started on Sunday at 9:45am at about the mid-point of the pump.

Perhaps around the seal plate area. You may be able to replace the seal plate gasket if the freezing and expansion of ice around that seal plate hasn't done any permanent damage. Hard to see much in these pics, so maybe later try to post a couple more pics later from a better angle.

 

[Furiousss]

Perhaps around the seal plate area. You may be able to replace the seal plate gasket if the freezing and expansion of ice around that seal plate hasn't done any permanent damage. Hard to see much in these pics, so maybe later try to post a couple more pics later from a better angle.

I just cleared the ice again. What pictures would be most useful?

 

[Texas Splash]

What pictures would be most useful?

Closer from the sides of the pump and/or anywhere you see the leak between the pump pot (wet end) and the motor. Also of any ID labels could be helpful.

 

[Furiousss]

I don't see the leak at all, unfortunately.

 

[Texas Splash]

I don't see the leak at all, unfortunately.

Yeah, it's a bit tough to tell with all the ice and such. Might need to just let it ride until the next day or so when everything thaws a bit. Then you may be able to to pinpoint the exact location.

 

[Furiousss]

I'll let you know what I find later this week.

 

[DavidArmenB]

If you are sure it isn’t just ice melting off the pump due to the heat generated by the motor, then it is probably the shaft seal.

 

[Furiousss]

If you are sure it isn’t just ice melting off the pump due to the heat generated by the motor, then it is probably the shaft seal.

The water/ice forms at the base of the pump, not on the pump itself. Clearest indication that's not the issue is that the other, identical VS900 pump next to it has no such issue.

 

[Furiousss]

Nervous as I was headed out of town, so I called for repair. Shaft/mechanical seal was the culprit. He had one on his truck and is replacing it now.

 

[Texas Splash]

Interesting the seal went bad so quickly. Perhaps one of those bad luck deals. Hopefully the water chemistry hasn't been too corrosive to contribute to such a premature failure. Your other pump seems to be fine, so hopefully just one of those odd things. Glad to hear you got it resolved.