Pool Pump Concerns

[DPH]

So I'm trying to learn more about how pool pumps work and different types of issues poor maintenance can cause. (My questions are solely for educational purposes)

I am curious about what types of things can happen to your pool if you don't have a working pump if it was broken or not running properly. I know the pool will likely turn green from lack of pushing water through the filter, but could it cause damage to other equipment as well by simply not circulating water?

What would be the additional costs someone could face by not replacing a broken pump quickly?

 

[YippeeSkippy]

Hi there DPH, welcome to TFP

Can I ask whom you are trying to educate? Pool owners or someone else?

Maddie

 

[DPH]

Thanks Maddie! I'm trying to grow my personal knowledge, I'm a homeowner and am just curious in general about what potential concerns there would be if a broken pump was left for more than a day or two

 

[YippeeSkippy]

Well, the short answer is that a green pool is a chemistry problem, not a filtration problem.

If one's pump is off line, the pool can be maintained to an extent of avoiding algae overtaking it by the continued use of (preferably) liquid chlorine. That can be mixed into the pool water via brushing or a sump pump returning the water to the pool, or thru the use of a robot cleaner that runs around stirring up the water.

Without filtration the pool will dull from microscopic debris building up and not being passed thru a filter, but it shouldn't go green.

Maddie

 

[AusPhil]

I know the pool will likely turn green from lack of pushing water through the filter

That myth has well and truly been busted...... filtration and circulation are needed for some reasons but NOT for the prevention of Algae. Sanitation (Chlorine) does that.

What would be the additional costs someone could face by not replacing a broken pump quickly?

Ultimately that will be season dependent, deep in the middle of winter in non tropical areas it likely doesn't have any cost implications.
During any time that sanitation is required (Chlorine addition) then any additional cost would be likely just related to the additional requirements to circulate the chemicals.

 

[setsailsoon]

D,

I think you've got great answers about what happens and how to prevent the green pool. As far as how pumps work pool pumps are centrifugal pumps meaning they rotate the water via a rotating impeller. Water is sucked into the middle and then slings out through the outlet. It's pretty simple actually. If you want a deeper dive see the articles in my signature. TFP has some real authorities on the topic.

With good preventative maintenance pumps can last a very long time. Unfortunately many just run them 'till they make noise or break and this often cuts their life in half.

Chris

 

[DPH]

So if a pump isn't running or isn't running properly, it doesn't create any real risk toward other pool equipment or the pool itself? It essentially just allows debris to settle?

 

[mas985]

Any debris that could be captured by a filter will eventually sink to the bottom of the pool with the circulation pump turned off.

As for algae, with non-functioning pump, you would still need to add and distribute CL somehow. It is the lack of CL that causes algae, not the lack of filtering.