Hello to this great forum! I have searched this board for what seemed like related problems to what I am experiancing, and I believe I have found possible solutions, but I thought I would relate them and see if anyone thought different.
Just opened the pool this past week, and after removing the cover and refilling the pool with water to the correct level, attempted to start the pump. The motor hummed for a few seconds and quit. Afraid my motor had fried, I decided to pull the motor and see if I could get it to reset. The motor had seized, but with not much effort I was able to free it. I looked over the motor and after not finding a "reset" button, decided to wire it back up and see if it would run laying on the sidewalk...it did. I reassembled the pump, and and upon restarting the motor began screaming. I shut it off and restarted and it eventually quieted somewhat after a minute or so.
The problem now is, as I have read other posts with similar problems, the pump basket "pot" is not full of water. I do have a leak on the 3 way valve before the intake of the pump and am going to replace it, but used duct tape to hopefully seal off the suction leak. That did help as I went from about 3 psi to about 12. Normal pressure is about 20, and I am still getting a lot of air in my returns and it doesn't matter if I isolate the skimmer or the bottom drain.
I am thinking I need to replace the pump motor bearings. Am I right? Should I assume the air in my returns is cause by the leaking valve and just isn't sealed well enough? Or is my pump laying down be causing part or all of that problem?
Just opened the pool this past week, and after removing the cover and refilling the pool with water to the correct level, attempted to start the pump. The motor hummed for a few seconds and quit. Afraid my motor had fried, I decided to pull the motor and see if I could get it to reset. The motor had seized, but with not much effort I was able to free it. I looked over the motor and after not finding a "reset" button, decided to wire it back up and see if it would run laying on the sidewalk...it did. I reassembled the pump, and and upon restarting the motor began screaming. I shut it off and restarted and it eventually quieted somewhat after a minute or so.
The problem now is, as I have read other posts with similar problems, the pump basket "pot" is not full of water. I do have a leak on the 3 way valve before the intake of the pump and am going to replace it, but used duct tape to hopefully seal off the suction leak. That did help as I went from about 3 psi to about 12. Normal pressure is about 20, and I am still getting a lot of air in my returns and it doesn't matter if I isolate the skimmer or the bottom drain.
I am thinking I need to replace the pump motor bearings. Am I right? Should I assume the air in my returns is cause by the leaking valve and just isn't sealed well enough? Or is my pump laying down be causing part or all of that problem?