Last night I heard louder than normal noises coming from the pool area, and when I investigated this afternoon, I found that the Polaris booster pump is seriously ill...
With the booster pump off, and the main pump on, I get a drip out the bottom of the pump in the area between the pump head and the motor - presumably the main seal...
When I turn it on, the motor sounds like it is running, but it squeals with a loud metallic rubbing noise, and the drip is worse...
Far as I know, the pump timing is right - both time switches are showing the same time, and I haven't changed the programming, so the booster pump shouldn't be running when the main isn't...
I forget the pumps exact age, but I would guess it has to be 10-15 years old - the Polaris setup was a gift from the GF's parents, and I installed it many years before I got hurt...
A few questions...
1. Is this likely to be a "normal death" - or should I be looking for causes :?: I don't want to do repairs / fixes w/o solving any underlying issues...
2. I noticed at least one pump repair parts vendor mentioned having different seals for normal and salt-water pools - is my switching to a salt pool this spring (which I'm otherwise glad to have done) something that caused the problem, and do I need to worry about it when fixing this :?:
3. Repair or replace :?:
3A. If repair, is it likely a DIY job, or is it something better taken to a pump repair place :?:
If I get a kit to do it myself, should I get the version w/ the impeller or without :?:
3B. If replace, is there anything better and / or more energy efficient than the Polaris pump :?:
Thanks,
ex-Gooserider
With the booster pump off, and the main pump on, I get a drip out the bottom of the pump in the area between the pump head and the motor - presumably the main seal...
When I turn it on, the motor sounds like it is running, but it squeals with a loud metallic rubbing noise, and the drip is worse...
Far as I know, the pump timing is right - both time switches are showing the same time, and I haven't changed the programming, so the booster pump shouldn't be running when the main isn't...
I forget the pumps exact age, but I would guess it has to be 10-15 years old - the Polaris setup was a gift from the GF's parents, and I installed it many years before I got hurt...
A few questions...
1. Is this likely to be a "normal death" - or should I be looking for causes :?: I don't want to do repairs / fixes w/o solving any underlying issues...
2. I noticed at least one pump repair parts vendor mentioned having different seals for normal and salt-water pools - is my switching to a salt pool this spring (which I'm otherwise glad to have done) something that caused the problem, and do I need to worry about it when fixing this :?:
3. Repair or replace :?:
3A. If repair, is it likely a DIY job, or is it something better taken to a pump repair place :?:
If I get a kit to do it myself, should I get the version w/ the impeller or without :?:
3B. If replace, is there anything better and / or more energy efficient than the Polaris pump :?:
Thanks,
ex-Gooserider