What does it take to kill a pump?

[Jimbarstow]

Our pool sprung a massive leak and drained itself dry while we were away. When I got home I found the empty pool and our Pentair Versaflo pump running. The leak is fixed and I'm having water delivered. What is the chance that the pump will still be ok? As my wife pointed out, at least it didn't seize. Is there any way to test it in advance without a filled pool? If it is dead, do I need to replace the whole thing ($1100) or can I replace just part of it?

Note that the equipment is below the bottom of the pool so the pump may still have had water splashing around even though there wasn't enough to pump.

 

[Texas Splash]

If your plumbing at the pump, or pump basket, didn't melt or warp, that's a good start. However you won't know the motor situation until you crank it up again and listen. You'll also look for any leaks which might indicate a damaged seal (shaft or seal plate).

I don't recall from your other post, was the pump OFF when you got home? At some point it may have shut itself off for overheat protection. That would be a good thing.

 

[ajw22]

I don't recall from your other post,

Came home to find an empty pool (Updated: Diagnosis and cure at end)

We have a 20,000 gal in ground concrete/gunnite pool. Just before I left on sunday, I checked the pool chemistry and everything looked fine. Got back on Thursday and the pool was empty. Bone dry. A couple minor signs of dampness in the meadow below the pool but other than that, no sign of where...

www.troublefreepool.com

 

[Jimbarstow]

Intelliflo Pump was running at low speed when I arrived at 2:30 pm. The booster pump (for the cleaner) runs in the morning and based on the dryness of the pool bottom and walls, I suspect it was dry at that time. The solar pump is shut off since we've switched the system over to heating the house instead of the pool.

 

[needsajet]

Sorry to hear that

When the pump is unable to prime, it still has some water in it for a fair while. Fingers crossed that was enough to keep it cool.

We're lucky here in Aus with the salt water chlorinator running the pump. If the SWC senses no flow, everything shuts down.

 

[1Sammy]

I guess you know the answer by now but for the "next" time, lol,, fill the basket with your hose and let it run and turn on the pump, if it sucks the water up in a few seconds you should be ok. As said above watch for a shaft seal drip as that should be the only damage if any. The motor don't know if it is turning a fan, saw blade or a pool impeller so shouldn't be a problem there unless there was an upcoming problem that would have happened to it anyway.