Is your filter pressure running low or does your pump motor sound strained? Was your pool pressure fine a week or so ago? Do you have an automatic floor vacuum that is barely moving on the pool floor? If you answered “Yes” to any or all of these questions, your pump impeller could be clogged with debris. This especially holds true if you have palm trees around your pool as the fine hairs of the palms tend to clog things up. The location of the pool pump impeller is shown in this cut-away of a pump.
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Chris Posted: 7/18/2020
Great advice. Thanks. It worked perfectly.Reply
Tina Posted: 6/22/2020
This fix seems simple however, what can be used as an alternative to a wire hanger when there are no wire hangers available?Reply
InyoPools Product Specialist Matt S. Posted: 10/6/2020
I digress, you can use a plumbing snake. There is a higher chance of having a wire hanger on hand than a plumbing snake though.Reply
Craig Olson Posted: 6/12/2020
Saved my bacon today. Thanks for the helpful information.Reply
InyoPools Product Specialist Matt S. Posted: 10/20/2020 Latest
You're welcome. Thanks for reading!Reply
Jenn Posted: 5/24/2020
Best site ever! I cannot believe how much stuff was jammed in there!!Reply
David D Posted: 4/7/2020
Thank you so much! This video saved the day!!!Reply
Jessica Posted: 4/7/2020
This saved us today. The water is moving so much better after cleaning out the impeller. It didn’t even seem like a lot of debris. Thank you!!Reply
InyoPools Product Specialist Matt S. Posted: 4/7/2020
Awesome! You're welcome.Reply
Mark Posted: 3/15/2020
Thanks for the advice. I had low pressure too and yep the issue was the pump impeller was clogged. Pressure is back now and the pool cleaner is doing its job again. So easy to fix!Reply
Michelle Posted: 2/8/2020
Thank you so much for the advice! My pump basket had a crack in it and let a bunch of leaves through to the impeller. Your instructions were perfect! My impeller is clean and my pool is back to normal.Reply
InyoPools Product Specialist Matt S. Posted: 2/10/2020
Awesome! Thanks for dropping byReply
Jim Posted: 1/11/2020
Wow, your trick if cleaning out the impeller was $$$! Than you so much for all your i site. My Saturday is now complete. Great website. Thank you, jimReply
bob h Posted: 11/28/2019
Thank you. Was ready to order a new pump today... and on a whim scanned internet and found this article. My impeller WAS clogged. Not much... but enough to restrict water flow. Thank you so much. Amazing.Reply
InyoPools Product Specialist Robert M. Posted: 12/4/2019
Thanks for the feedback, Bob! We're glad you found this guide beneficial.Reply
M Allen Posted: 11/25/2019
Thank you for this video, it was exactly the problem I had and I followed your directions exactly and was amazed at how easy it was to unclog. My pool pump pressure is normal again. :-)Reply
Alison Langley Posted: 11/2/2019
Great tip - thank you for sharing. Worked perfectly.Reply
Christine Wood Posted: 7/30/2019
You're instructions saved me a lot of money. I'm a single 46 year old woman and I followed your tutorial, it fixed my pool pump with no issues!!! Thank you!!!Reply
Christine Wood Posted: 7/30/2019
You're instructions saved me a lot of money. I'm a single 46 year old woman and I followed your tutorial, it fixed my pool pump with no issues!!! Thank you!!!Reply
Roxy the MacGyver! Posted: 7/1/2019
Your advice was spot on! Cleaned out the impeller and the suction pressure came back, thank you!Reply
Bill L Posted: 5/22/2019
Great tip on cleaning the impeller, worked like a charm to bring my pressure back up to normal, thanks!Reply
Mimi Posted: 5/17/2019
Awesome advice... Simple fix we needed! Thanks a millionReply
Dave Posted: 5/16/2019
My pump runs fine on all settings except filter after 1 hour of use i lose all suction in skimmer basket. Im guessing that is the prime. I have done these steps and still dont suckReply
InyoPools Product Specialist Matt S. Posted: 5/21/2019
What type of filter do have? Also, is your water clear, cloudy or green?Reply
lucho Posted: 3/2/2019
All of my problems were resolved on Step 2: one of the hoses was cracked. I replaced it and now the pressure remains steady. Thanks!Reply
Albert Posted: 1/8/2019
I have a 1.5 -1.65 hp rated pump runs my fountain. Cleaned the impeller and used a shop vac on it. Amazing results!! Thank you!!Reply
Halit Posted: 11/1/2018
Impeller cleaning worked a treat. Thank you for the detailed solution to all possible problems. Well done.Reply
Brad Posted: 3/31/2019
Same here. Cleaned the impeller as described and worked like a charm.Reply
CJ Posted: 8/13/2018
Worked like a champ!!! Thanks for the info!Reply
dj Posted: 8/10/2018
Thank you, thank you, thank you! I was dreading calling someone out to look at my pressure issue that seemed to come out of nowhere, when I found these instructions on cleaning out the impeller. We've had a lot of storms lately, and there was quite a bit of debris in there. My pump is working like new again. I am so grateful.Reply
Brenda Posted: 5/26/2018
Thank you so much for the valuable information. this corrected the problem immediately. Very detailed instructions.Reply
Tom P Posted: 5/23/2018
Thanks for the great tip! I had to actually expose the impeller and push a wire through the ports to get all the pinon tree needles and disintegrated pool cover "blue dots" that clogged the impeller. Pressure is now back to normal.Reply
Nohojo Posted: 5/21/2018
Thank you so much for the idea. I was sure I had created a major problem opening this year. Started vacuuming debris with the filter basket still sitting in my winter storage box. Took a break, did some Googling, found your video and had the impeller cleaned of pine needles in minutes. Full pressure restored and everything is running. I'll keep Inyopools.com bookmarked because I know I'll need help at some point this year!Reply
Garry Posted: 4/20/2018
thanks for the help was able to clean out impeller with pressured water pump is now working great.Reply
Anonymous Posted: 3/10/2018
That worked! I was sure I was in for an expensive visit from the pool repair company. I just used a hose with a high pressure nozzle. A few leaves came out and the problem was solved.Reply
Saundra Posted: 2/24/2018
Thank you so much. This was the problem. I wasn't able to use a hook to clean out the impeller, but reaching in I could feel all the debris and once clean, the pressure rose and the pool was good to go. I so appreciate your help!!!!Reply
deron867 Posted: 10/4/2017
Thank you for this site!!! Thought I was going to have to call someone out, but it was the impeller (which I've never heard of) blocked. FYI, i used my hose with a high pressure nozzle to clean it (the hangar wasn't effecitve for me). Again, Thanks!!!Reply
InyoPools Product Specialist Dennis R. Posted: 7/30/2017
SM - If you have sand getting into your pools, you may have problems with a broken lateral, lateral hub or standpipe. If you haven't changed your sand for 5 or more years, it may be time which will allow you to check your lateral assembly.Reply
SM Posted: 7/27/2017
I did my backwash and now I have a problem. I get sand deposits at the bottom of my pool. In addition water flow is very weak. When I put my valve into circulation position water runs as it should be. So I believe that backwashing somehow caused my trouble. Is it possible that laterals are clogged. Any chance to repair this without changing sand.Thanks
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Anonymous Posted: 7/24/2017
Thanks. Just fixed the low pressure that's been puzzling me for a few weeks. I don't think my impeller is the same as the one shown. I can poke my fingers around the impeller to get at any debris but the coat hanger had no where to go. I did get the hose and used high pressure spray into the impeller and lots of gunk came out. Turned the pump back on and the pressure was back up.Reply