Anybody know how to repair a pool pump?

[KathyTX]

Ugh!!! Long holiday weekend, temp in the mid 90's , and what do I wake up to?

A pool that has no water pumping.

We have a spa on one end with a fountain... no water spouting or splashing. A rock waterfall on the other end... no water falling.

And the water level in the spa is low... VERY low. Pressing the button to start the filter pump does NOTHING!

So DH calls the company that does our chemicals- they've done minor repairs for us before. They send someone out while we're at work, but they don't call DH back. He calls them several times throughout the day to find out what they've discovered... "We'll try to get in touch with the technician, sir."

They close at 4pm, and never got back with DH. And, of course, they are closed for the holiday weekend.

I get home at 4:30, and find that they've left a note... "Your pump has seized. It needs to be repaired or replaced. Call and let us know what you want to do."

Well, how about FIX IT!!!! Which is WHAT WE CALLED YOU FOR!!!

There is zero chance of getting someone out to look at or fix it this weekend... arrrggghhh!

Seriously, what on earth did they THINK we wanted them to do? I know DH did not tell them to "just look" at it- we can do that ourselves.

I really don't want to have 18,000 gallons of yucky green water next week.

 

[DisneyHumbug]

I have found when one pool company can't come and fix the problem, there's another that can.
Lost my pump last year and had to have it replaced. It was 8 years old.
Last week (3 days before my DDs graduation party) the pool light went out. The pool company I deal with said the bulb was "backordered". I found it somewhere else. Oh yeah, they called yesterday to tell me it just came in!!
Call around, you might find someone who can fix it today!! Good luck. I know what 19,000 gal. of greeen water looks like!

 

[tinaluis]

If you can't find a pool place to come out, maybe a general "handyman". If the pump is shot already and it's your only chance it may be worth a shot. Good luck to you -- I, too, know what 18,000 gallons of green water looks like - UGH!

 

[Dan Murphy]

 

[drdelsol]

Locally we have several places that carry pumps.

Last time I just picked one up and put it in myself. It's really not very technical, just turn the power off first.

If you really want one this weekend that may be the way.

 

[KathyTX]

DH has made several runs to our pool supply store (they can repair and order parts, but don't do house calls), and they guys there have been trying to talk him through it. He's spent hours studying a general pool maintenance book to try to get an idea how this stuff all fits together...

This is a pretty complex system, at least to our untrained eyes... we've got pumps and filters and heaters and all kinds of stuff we've never cared about before all tacked on and tangled together...

It's probably a five minute job for someone who has an idea what he's doing, but we're confused.

The man attempting this has never even changed the oil in his own car.


(Wish us luck, please!)

 

[floridaminnie]

Good luck...sometimes those pumps can be a nightmare...remember that's what all those wonderful chemicals are for if it does go green....Hoping it doesn't though.

 

[Taylor]

I have fixed our pump on several occasions. Typically an extremely small rock is locking things up. If you want to email me digital pictures of your pump I may be able to tell you how to fix it. Send to kevin.l.taylor@comcast.net

 

[KathyTX]

Finally- SUCCESS!

DH removed the pump motor and took it to the pool store. Turned out that it needed a new capacitor (?), and it wasn't very expensive at all!

Everything's pumping away now, and we're all set for a sunny holiday weekend. Woo-hoo!!!

 

[FroggyinArk]

glad things worked out,, now ya wanna come help vacuum ours? we had to put it under part of the canopy of a pecan tree . of all the places was either that or under a gum tree with the big stickery gum balls

 

[KathyTX]

Oh, Froggy!! I'll bet you have to vacuum a LOT!

Those stickery gum balls- ouchie! Brings back LOTS of memories of growing up in East Texas. Bare feet on those things- YIKES!

(Think golf balls covered with sharp spikes... EEK!)