Pool pump noise

Bosox6ersfan

Bronze Supporter
Aug 13, 2022
25
Central Pennsylvania
Pool Size
19000
Surface
Vinyl
Chlorine
Liquid Chlorine
Disclaimer: I am friends with the family that lives behind me. No bad beef, no complaints, no whining. We talk like cordial neighbors do almost daily. Even knock some back together from time to time.

My pool pump runs at night, set on a timer. 1HP Heyward, non variable speed. Sometimes it can be a tad noisy but that's more due to the vibration from the plastic pad sitting on top of a concrete slab. I have a brick that I'll set on the pad, and that usually quiets it down. Once in a while I have to move the brick due to it shifting. The pump's operating noise is normal, tested it with a cheap decibel meter I have at work. Can't attest to what the specs are but I compared to my parents pump and readings are the same (they have exact same pump). Unfortunately, the pump sits between a 6 foot wooden privacy fence (border between our yard and said neighbor) and a wooden pool shed. There's about a 6 foot space between the 2 where the pump is. Kind of acts like an echo chamber. Neighbor was over today, I asked if he could hear it, he said yes. As the disclaimer said, he wasn't complaining. Is there anything I can do to reduce the noise? Wondering if there's some type of noise reducing 'screen' I could buy or something else that muffles the noise of the motor. Searched threads and didn't see anything.

And yes, I've considered running during the day. If they asked I would absolutely change the timer but that still wouldn't muffle any noise.

Any feedback appreciated. Thanks!
 
Why not upgrade to a variable speed pump and save money on your electric for years to come. Our pump is super quiet, especially on low speed and saves me $30 per month. While expensive, it will pay for itself.
It's in the plans. I have twin boys in college atm and just put a new roof on my home. Not necessarily rolling in cash rn! Was looking for a cheap fix until i upgrade. Closing the pool for the winter next weekend so maybe I'll bite the bullet and swap it out b4 opening next year.
 
I gotcha. We did our roof 4 years ago, two AC units one year ago and now we are remodeling the inside of the house, room by room (finally stuff I can do myself.) There just doesn't seem to be enough cash to go around. We keep spending on the house and not going on vacation.
 
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Some utilities provide a rebate for installing a variable speed pump.

You can replace just the motor.

What exact model is the pump?


 
I have a single speed pump that can be a tad noisy, and sometimes I get a resonant vibration plastic base to the substrate base. I got one of those foam rubber pads that one puts on a concrete floor in a workspace, cut it to just a bit oversize and put it under the plastic base. Voila, pretty quiet.
 
I have a single speed pump that can be a tad noisy, and sometimes I get a resonant vibration plastic base to the substrate base. I got one of those foam rubber pads that one puts on a concrete floor in a workspace, cut it to just a bit oversize and put it under the plastic base. Voila, pretty quiet.
Great idea. I think the vibration on the plastic pad on my concrete base adds to the noise of the motor and it's near as close to 'white noise' as the sound of motor is. Gonna try this next season if I don't bite the bullet on an VSP this winter.

Thanks for the tip!
 
Some utilities provide a rebate for installing a variable speed pump.

You can replace just the motor.

What exact model is the pump?


I'll check when I get home this evening. If the flange shape and bolt pattern matches, I can just swap out pump? Makes sense, but pool stuff likes to throw you for loops!
 
Is the pump bolted down to the pad? Bolting it down can help with vibration noises as well as reducing stress on the PVC plumbing (these things have a LOT of torque when they turn on). A little piece of bituminous rubber under the motor mount (ice-guard for your roof, found at your local home center) can also help.
 

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I wonder if you could make a portable cover for it and cover the inside of it with sound deadening mat? Of course you'd need to consider cooling and ventilation in the design of the cover.

 
Is the pump bolted down to the pad? Bolting it down can help with vibration noises as well as reducing stress on the PVC plumbing (these things have a LOT of torque when they turn on). A little piece of bituminous rubber under the motor mount (ice-guard for your roof, found at your local home center) can also help.
Pump bolted down to a plastic pad but the plastic pad is not bolted down to the concrete pad it sits on. I've been using 2 bricks to reduce the vibration but they shift sometimes. Someone else on thread mentioned the padding some people use in their garage. Gonna buy that or what you mentioned to hold me over till I bite the bullet on a VSP..
 
I'll check when I get home this evening. If the flange shape and bolt pattern matches, I can just swap out pump? Makes sense, but pool stuff likes to throw you for loops!
Some utilities provide a rebate for installing a variable speed pump.

You can replace just the motor.

What exact model is the pump?


Apologies, I unknowingly lied. The pump I have is a Century HST080, 0.80 HP. Looks like the original homeowner replaced only the motor at 1 time because all the decals on the skimmer basket are Heyward 1.0 HP related. Minus the motor, everything else in the setup is Heyward, I've done enuf work on it to know for sure. That being said, gonna start researching VSP motors. Assume since i have the model number of current motor, it should be fairly easy to search ones that are compatible for a 'plug and play' swap? Also, got any recommendations? Been on this site long enuf to know that anyone labeled expert always steers you in the right direction.

I'm fairly handy but ideally I'd like to get one that has exact same bolt pattern and shape as existing motor. Meaning a new gasket and maybe some gasket lubricant should be the only thing I need to buy besides pump. Pull old one off and 'slide' new one in. Maybe I'm dreaming but it sure sounds ideal.
 
HST080 is the motor model. Is there anything on it to say what model the pump is so we are sure to recommend the correct seals for it? Feel free to attach pictures of the pump and the motor.
 
I have a single speed pump that can be a tad noisy, and sometimes I get a resonant vibration plastic base to the substrate base. I got one of those foam rubber pads that one puts on a concrete floor in a workspace, cut it to just a bit oversize and put it under the plastic base. Voila, pretty quiet.
+1 to the post re the rubber pad. I have a cleaner booster pump that's kind of rattle-ey and a pad fixed it.

I'm writing this to say you need not buy anything. I used a piece of closed-cell foam sheet that came as packing material. Black stuff about 3/4" thick. Huge difference. Been out there for 2 years and still working great.
 
There are a few variable-speed motors out there that would work (if you decide to go that route)- the Century (A.O. Smith) V-Green EVO 1.30 HP VS Motor - Model EVC130 is one option.
Search the internet for a GOKIT3 for a seal kit for your Hayward Super Pump for a leak-free installation. As was discussed, running a variable-speed motor at less than full speed can make these things pay for themselves relatively quickly depending upon your electric rate and how long you run the pump.
 
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HST080 is the motor model. Is there anything on it to say what model the pump is so we are sure to recommend the correct seals for it? Feel free to attach pictures of the pump and the motor.
JamesW posted pics from my post a few years back. Do they suffice or do you need more specifics? And yeah, the putty is long gone, was fighting a leak back then. Surprisingly, (or not surprisingly based on horror stories from this site) a local pool company made that leak worse. For some reason the pool tech thought wrapping the thread with about 2 rolls of plumbers tape would solve the leak. Instead he made it worse. Liquid Teflon and a dab of pure silicon did the trick. That story aside, I can add deets if.needed.
 

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