Pump Failure Survey

[mas985]

This may be a futile exercise, but I am attempting to get to the bottom of why many PBs and techs have such a poor opinion about Hayward pumps. While, I could go through all of the old posts to collect data, I am hoping to get enough responses to this post in order to draw at least some conclusions. So if you have ever had a pump failure of any kind and from any manufacture (not just Hayward), please answer the following questions:

1) Pump make and model.
2) Approximate age of pump at failure
3) Reason for pump failure. (e.g. motor, leak, housing crack, etc)
4) Plumbing size (e.g. 1.5", 2", 2.5")
5) Sheltered or exposed installation

For those "In The Industry" and have collected actual data, please note any and all pumps that you have come across in your line of work but please stick to the facts above. Anecdotal evidence is interesting but it is very difficult to quantify in any meaningful way.

Thanks in advance to all who participate.

 

[zea3]

Hi, I'll answer within your post.

This may be a futile exercise, but I am attempting to get to the bottom of why many PBs and techs have such a poor opinion about Hayward pumps. While, I could go through all of the old posts to collect data, I am hoping to get enough responses to this post in order to draw at least some conclusions. So if you have ever had a pump failure of any kind and from any manufacture (not just Hayward), please answer the following questions:

1) Pump make and model. Pentair Dynamo 1.5 hp single speed
2) Approximate age of pump at failure5 years
3) Reason for pump failure. (e.g. motor, leak, housing crack, etc)bottom of casing rusted through to motor
4) Plumbing size (e.g. 1.5", 2", 2.5") 1.5"
5) Sheltered or exposed installation exposed installation on plastic pump/filter base

For those "In The Industry" and have collected actual data, please note any and all pumps that you have come across in your line of work but please stick to the facts above. Anecdotal evidence is interesting but it is very difficult to quantify in any meaningful way.

Thanks in advance to all who participate.

 

[mas985]

Thanks for your help! Hopefully others will add their experience.

 

[TFPJules111]

1) Pump make and model.

Pentair Whisperflow 1.5hp

2) Approximate age of pump at failure

Unknown - pool was built in 1987. We bought the house in 2007. Pump motor failed 4/2011

3) Reason for pump failure. (e.g. motor, leak, housing crack, etc)

Motor failed - replaced - pump still going strong

4) Plumbing size (e.g. 1.5", 2", 2.5")

1.5"

5) Sheltered or exposed installation

Partially sheltered from sunlight by large bush, but no structure over pump, so it's exposed to the elements

 

[hopkiba]

This may be a futile exercise, but I am attempting to get to the bottom of why many PBs and techs have such a poor opinion about Hayward pumps. While, I could go through all of the old posts to collect data, I am hoping to get enough responses to this post in order to draw at least some conclusions. So if you have ever had a pump failure of any kind and from any manufacture (not just Hayward), please answer the following questions:

1) Pump make and model. 1.5 hp Hayward Super Pump 2 Speed (has speed switch built in)
2) Approximate age of pump at failure 6 months
3) Reason for pump failure. (e.g. motor, leak, housing crack, etc) Very noisy on low speed (sounds like a diesel engine idling) and leaking between pump and motor at high speed
4) Plumbing size (e.g. 1.5", 2", 2.5") 1.5"
5) Sheltered or exposed installation exposed

Note that I am in the process of having it replaced under warranty

For those "In The Industry" and have collected actual data, please note any and all pumps that you have come across in your line of work but please stick to the facts above. Anecdotal evidence is interesting but it is very difficult to quantify in any meaningful way.

Thanks in advance to all who participate.

 

[scooperhsd]

This may be a futile exercise, but I am attempting to get to the bottom of why many PBs and techs have such a poor opinion about Hayward pumps. While, I could go through all of the old posts to collect data, I am hoping to get enough responses to this post in order to draw at least some conclusions. So if you have ever had a pump failure of any kind and from any manufacture (not just Hayward), please answer the following questions:

1) Pump make and model.
2 different Hayward SuperPumps
2) Approximate age of pump at failure
unknown on first, about 7 years on the second
3) Reason for pump failure. (e.g. motor, leak, housing crack, etc)
1st - pump just quit running. 2nd - outside case of motor rusted out, bearings failed
4) Plumbing size (e.g. 1.5", 2", 2.5")
1.5 inches
5) Sheltered or exposed installation
exposed.

Thanks in advance to all who participate.

Currently using a Pentair SuperFlo High effeincy 1.5 HP single speed. I have a 28 year old (very low hours) PowerFlo II that I salvaged from a bathtub /spa (currently without a strainer assembly) that I used for 2 weeks last summer between when the SuperPump failed and I got the SuperFlo installed.

 

[guamguy]

1) Pump make and model.Sta-Rite 1HP
2) Approximate age of pump at failure26
3) Reason for pump failure.Noisy motor bearings and rusted motor housing(could see the windings!)
4) Plumbing size (e.g. 1.5", 2", 2.5")2"
5) Sheltered or exposed installationSheltered in pumphouse

The wet end is still going strong, I replaced the motor with a 2-speed to help save on the electric bill. Sorry, I can't read the model number, the plate on the pump housing is corroded too badly.

 

[Bama Rambler]

1) Pump make and model. Pentair Dynamo, 1½hp
2) Approximate age of pump at failure. 1 month
3) Reason for pump failure (e.g. motor, leak, housing crack, etc). Bad Capacitor
4) Plumbing size (e.g. 1.5", 2", 2.5"). 1½" Rigid
5) Sheltered or exposed installation. Exposed

This was a case of infant mortality. The entire pump was replaced under warranty. Two years later, no issues.

 

[Melt In The Sun]

1 - Hayward Super 2, 1 hp (1.5 thp)
2 - 6 years
3 - wet end housing cracked, slow leak that ruined the motor
4 - 2" rigid
5 - exposed

I wouldn't call this a premature failure, and I think it was due to a sloppy installation. I think too much T-tape was used and it was screwed in too tight, which cracked the plastic.

 

[Durk]

1) Pump make and model. Hayward Super 2.
2) Approximate age of pump at failure 7 years
3) Reason for pump failure. Extended immersion (3 days) due to Hurricane Floyd flooding/power failure.
4) Plumbing size 1.5 inches
5) Sheltered installation

Probably not helpful but wanted to show my support. Replacement motor had 5 years when retired.

 

[mas985]

Thanks to everyone's support! Any and all data is welcomed so keep it coming. With 27000 members, hopefully there are many more that have replaced their pump at one point.

 

[JohnT]

Sta-Rite Duraglass II
4 years
After multiple bearings and seals were replaced (first by me, then by a motor shop)the pump was still excessively loud.
Outdoors for two years, indoors for two.

 

[AnnaK]

1) Pump make and model.
Pentair Dynamo 1.5 HP 2 speed
2) Approximate age of pump at failure
6 years
3) Reason for pump failure. (e.g. motor, leak, housing crack, etc)
Motor got very loud on low speed
4) Plumbing size (e.g. 1.5", 2", 2.5")
2"
5) Sheltered or exposed installation
Exposed to elements, mostly shaded though

 

[ChrisL]

1) Pump make and model. Superpump 1.5 hp
2) Approximate age of pump at failure 6 years
3) Reason for pump failure. (e.g. motor, leak, housing crack, etc) impeller broke, melted to motor shaft
4) Plumbing size (e.g. 1.5", 2", 2.5") 1.5"
5) Sheltered or exposed installation exposed

 

[Fronobulax]

please answer the following questions:
The pump currently on my system (just failed)
1) Pump make and model. Hayward Super Pump 2 Speed Pump 1.5HP SP2610X152S
2) Approximate age of pump at failure. 2 Years
3) Reason for pump failure. (e.g. motor, leak, housing crack, etc) Loud Noise, worse on low speed. Had to turn off before neighbors complain
4) Plumbing size (e.g. 1.5", 2", 2.5") 1.5"
5) Sheltered or exposed installation Exposed

The pump that was in use before the one above.
1) Pump make and model. Hayward Super Pump 1HP
2) Approximate age of pump at failure 2.5 years
3) Reason for pump failure. (e.g. motor, leak, housing crack, etc) Motor Bearings
4) Plumbing size (e.g. 1.5", 2", 2.5") 1.5"
5) Sheltered or exposed installation Exposed

Hope this helps, I'm very interested in the results myself as the 1st pump just failed last night and I need to find a replacement.

 

[mas985]

Thanks again to everyone who participated. I will be bumping this up every now and then to hopefully get some more responses.

 

[fuzzy_dba]

1) Pump make and model.
Hayward Superpump 1.0 HP
2) Approximate age of pump at failure
4-1/2 years
3) Reason for pump failure. (e.g. motor, leak, housing crack, etc)
Motor loud (bearings) last summer, wet end stuck now
4) Plumbing size (e.g. 1.5", 2", 2.5")
1.5"
5) Sheltered or exposed installation
Exposed to elements, mostly shaded

Replacing with a Whisperflow Full Rated 1.5HP 2 speed.

 

[woohoo]

This may be a futile exercise, but I am attempting to get to the bottom of why many PBs and techs have such a poor opinion about Hayward pumps. While, I could go through all of the old posts to collect data, I am hoping to get enough responses to this post in order to draw at least some conclusions. So if you have ever had a pump failure of any kind and from any manufacture (not just Hayward), please answer the following questions:

1) Pump make and model. Hayward Super Pump II
2) Approximate age of pump at failure 2 years
3) Reason for pump failure. (e.g. motor, leak, housing crack, etc) Leak at back of pump into motor and caused corrosion
4) Plumbing size (e.g. 1.5", 2", 2.5") 1.5"
5) Sheltered or exposed installation Exposed

For those "In The Industry" and have collected actual data, please note any and all pumps that you have come across in your line of work but please stick to the facts above. Anecdotal evidence is interesting but it is very difficult to quantify in any meaningful way.

Thanks in advance to all who participate.

That was my second pump to go. The first was the same model and went legs up after a lightning strike. Can't really count that one.

 

[zea3]

Hi, I'll answer within your post.

This may be a futile exercise, but I am attempting to get to the bottom of why many PBs and techs have such a poor opinion about Hayward pumps. While, I could go through all of the old posts to collect data, I am hoping to get enough responses to this post in order to draw at least some conclusions. So if you have ever had a pump failure of any kind and from any manufacture (not just Hayward), please answer the following questions:

1) Pump make and model. Pentair Dynamo 1.5 hp single speed
2) Approximate age of pump at failure5 years
3) Reason for pump failure. (e.g. motor, leak, housing crack, etc)bottom of casing rusted through to motor
4) Plumbing size (e.g. 1.5", 2", 2.5") 1.5"
5) Sheltered or exposed installation exposed installation on plastic pump/filter base

For those "In The Industry" and have collected actual data, please note any and all pumps that you have come across in your line of work but please stick to the facts above. Anecdotal evidence is interesting but it is very difficult to quantify in any meaningful way.

Thanks in advance to all who participate.

Just wanted to add that the replacement pump, another Dynamo, this time a 2 speed .75/1.0 HP is showing signs of rust in the same area after 2 years in the elements. It is starting at the mounting bracket, just like last time. I elevated the pump 1/2" off the platform with rubber washers but it doesn't appear to have helped. This one is also noisy so I have a replacement motor I will install soon. Thinking about coating the mounting brackets with that spray on rubber stuff before I install it.

 

[Bama Rambler]

I'll have to remember to check mine closely when I go back out there. Thanks for the heads up.