How To Troubleshoot a Pool Pump Motor - Motor Noisy

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How To Troubleshoot a Pool Pump Motor - Motor Noisy

WRITTEN BY: Inyo Pools

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If your pool pump motor start to get noisy, it often means that your motor's bearing are failing and need to be replaced. If a failing bearing is not replaced promptly, the motor can overheat and cause the windings to fail. This guide discusses possible causes of a noisy motor including bad bearings.

Click Here to View Pump Motor Parts (Including Run & Start Capacitors, Bearings, and Switches)

Click Here to Find Replacement Pump Parts (Motors, Impellers, Baskets & More)

Step by Step

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Step 1

BE SAFE - Before you even touch the motor, MAKE SURE THE POWER IS OFF. Always turn the power off at the electric service fuse or breaker box. To prevent electrical shock, use a meter to check for electrical shorts and be sure the motor is securely grounded and bonded in conformity with local codes. Do not work on electrical devices if water or moist conditions are present and cannot be avoided.

Step 2

CHECK LOOSE EXTERNAL PARTS - Check motor coupling, brackets and other attached parts. Tighten loose nuts, bolts or set screws. Sometimes it the motor is not bolted down properly, vibration over time will cause it to move around more and generate noise.

Click Here to View Pump Motor Parts (Including Run & Start Capacitors, Bearings, and Switches)

Click Here to Find Replacement Pump Parts (Motors, Impellers, Baskets & More)

Step 3

CHECK LOOSE INTERNAL PARTS - Turn the motor shaft. If it is rough or tight, check inside for a loose or broken impeller or diffuser. They wear and start to wobble or sometime a hard object like a small stone or not will get inside and crack part of the impeller. Note: This picture is cut-away to be able to show the inside components of a pump.

Click Here to Find Replacement Pump Parts (Motors, Impellers, Baskets & More)

Step 4

CHECK BEARINGS - If a tight shaft is not due to loose internal parts, check the motor's bearings. They may be starting to fail and will need to be replaced. Also be aware that bearing noise is often a sign that the pump seal has been leaking. Always change the pump seal when you change the bearings. Also always change both bearing if one is bad. The other is sure to follow.

Click Here to View Pump Motor Parts (Including Run & Start Capacitors, Bearings, and Switches)

Step 5

CHECK PUMP CAVITATION - If you see a lot of air in your pump's strainer basket, your pump is cavatating and this will generate noise. Cavitation is generally caused by an air leak in the suction side of the pump or by shutting down most of your intake valves so that you do not provide sufficient water to the pump.

Click Here to Find Replacement Pump Parts (Motors, Impellers, Baskets & More)

Comments

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(1 to 10 of 10)

Keith Posted: 4/23/2020

I recently installed a new pump motor about a week ago. After it sits overnight and turns on in the morning , It’s squeals for a minute and then goes away. What could this be?
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InyoPools Product Specialist Matt S. Posted: 4/24/2020

It may be the beginning of a bearing issue. When you replaced the motor did you replace the shaft seal? After the pump runs for a while, does the equipment pad look wet?
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Greg Posted: 4/1/2020

I have an Astral Variable speed pump (viron P320) which is only 39 months old. It is noisey in a normal sound than it used to be, but is now screeching 2-3 times a day for 10-15 minutes at a time. Your thought? Repair or replace already?
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InyoPools Product Specialist Matt S. Posted: 4/2/2020

Squealing or screeching is a sign of bad bearings. You may be able to replace bearings on that VS, but a motor shop will have to do the work. VS motors are more intricate than your standard single speed. Because your motor is more than three years old, the pump is likely no longer under warranty.
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Tony Posted: 12/9/2019

What is the the pool pump is making a loud sucking type of noise? What could be the problem there? Cavitation? Thanks
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InyoPools Product Specialist Matt S. Posted: 12/10/2019

It could be a suction side air leak. How to Identify and Correct Air Leaks
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InyoPools Product Specialist Dennis R. Posted: 6/13/2017

NoisyPool - If your motor is squealing badly, it is very likely that your motor bearings are going. You could try to replace the bearing, but when the motor gets to that point, most people just replace the motor.
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Ron Posted: 3/26/2019

Hi Dennis, I think my bearings are going because the motor is making noise. You got my curiosity up your wrote that when your motor gets to the point that the bearings are going out, it's better to just replace the motor. Why is that? Why wouldn't replacing the bearings correct the issue? Thanks in advance for your response .
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InyoPools Product Specialist Robert M. Posted: 3/26/2019

Hello Ron - The bearings can be replaced and you can add a few more months to the motor. We don't usually see people get years out of the motor after they replace the bearings. The windings are the next thing to fail and at that point, the motor will need to be replaced.
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NoisyPool Posted: 6/12/2017

After ensuring that the inlet and outlet are not obstructed, I would check the bearings on the motor and pump shafts. The bearings may require periodic lubrication. My next step would be to remove the pool pump motor, and check it for unusual noise. If everything is okay up to this point, I would think the pump has a problem. Depending on the pump, it might be repairable, or it might be designed in such a way that replacement is the only option.
- http://noisypool.com/
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