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.
Before you tackle the impeller, check to see that your filter and pump skimmer basket are clean. To see our How To Guides on these procedures click How To Clean a Pool Cartridge Filter, and How To Clean Out the Pool Pump Strainer
If you have a floor vacuum, check to see if any of the hoses are cracked. To do this – with the pump running – pull the hoses above the water one by one and bend them back and forth. If you hear air coming from any hose, throw it out.
If these efforts have not increased your filter pressure, you now need to look at a possible clogged impeller. Collect a coat hanger and a pair of pliers
Turn off electricity going to the pump motor at your circuit breaker, not just the timer. You don’t want the pump to turn on when you are working on the pump.
Remove the pump basket lid and the pump basket
With the pliers, make a small hook about 1/2” - 3/4” at the end.
Bend the wire a bit about 6" up so you can maneuver it.
Insert the wire slowly into the opening leading to the impeller until it stops. Now fish around for debris.
Pull it out and clean it now and then. You may be surprised at how much comes out (especially if you have palms around your pool).
Once you are done, put the pump basket back and with a garden hose, fill the housing with water in order to prime the pump correctly. Replace the pump lid.
Turn on the electricity at your circuit breaker, and then turn on you pump.
If your pressure is still low, have a professional look at your pool as there could very well be something else wrong.
Rick Posted: 06/25/2017 14:08 PM Latest
Fixed the problem with a bent hanger and fingers. Saved money. Thank you.
Mike S Posted: 06/25/2017 11:34 AM Latest
I found your website after a google search. Started with the priming instructions. Made the pump flow better but was still weak. Instructions led me to this impeller clean-out page. Pulled a gob of palm tree hairs out of the pump. Running like new. I'm a fan and customer for life. Excellent instructions. Thank you. ...People, follow their instructions, they work, don't give up.
Mary Posted: 06/16/2017 14:01 PM
Great site! Helped us out greatly.
Steve Posted: 06/14/2017 8:36 AM
Found the site, figured the problem only thing left to say is that I am glad there are some really clever people out there!!
Thanks
Anonymous Posted: 06/04/2017 18:47 PM
AWESOME!! Thank you for this article, it saved me as well, had low pressure, tried a bunch of things (thought I had a slight blockage in the intake lines like I've had before, but I couldn't find it this time) and then came across this article... Cleaned out the impellor and bam, full pressure again!
Thanks again!
Tinker Posted: 06/03/2017 10:05 AM
thank you,thank you...I had really low pressure.was scared my motor was going bad or something that was going to cost$$$.cleaned with a small brush .i couldn't believe what was in there...it's all good now..great pressure..and 0$$...thanks again!
Anonymous Posted: 05/25/2017 23:46 PM
Thank you, Thank you!!! 3 minutes and impeller clear!! What a time saver and money saver!! Up and running again!
Steve in Bakersfield Posted: 05/21/2017 20:07 PM
Thank you!!! Your solution is the only one that came up on the first Google search that actually pertained to my problem - all the others ignored my low pressure issue and talked about high pressure. Since I have seen your advice before and knew you know what you are talking about I followed your suggestion and sure enough it worked like a charm (except for the clothes hanger - had to use my fingers, but with breaker off; no risk). I won't find your advice in a Google search anymore, you are now saved as my go-to site. Thanks, again.
Anonymous Posted: 05/21/2017 10:38 AM
Thank you for this great explanation. My impeller was clogged and the fix was easy.
John Posted: 05/09/2017 11:30 AM
Agree with Ron, you guys Rock!
I was away a week and left my son in charge of pool and skimmer got overwhelmed with leaves a couple times and I returned to low pressure and checked usual suspects without answer then used your impeller clean out with hanger and much debris removed and pump back to full power.
Thanks again John
Ron Posted: 04/30/2017 20:52 PM
Wow ! Saved a lot of money by taking your advice on the impeller. That's exactly what it was. Thank you !
Frank - St. Pete, Florida Posted: 03/31/2017 16:35 PM
I was minutes from calling a service for low water flow and thought I'd check for postings. The directions for clearing the impeller were right on the money - it took 5 minutes. Water is flowing freely from all jets!
Thanks, thanks, thanks
Laura Posted: 03/30/2017 18:26 PM
This site has simply just saved me a few hundred dollars. This video of cleaning the impeller was so simple. I didn't know this was the problem for such low pressure, but I found debris in it and cleaned it out. Thank you again! I hate calling anyone out when I can do my own handy work!
TD Posted: 03/29/2017 9:56 AM
Thanks for the tip.. Cleaned the impeller and pressure came right back.. Very easy!
Duff Posted: 03/22/2017 18:19 PM
Always looking to make great advice even easier----I use my shopvac and sucked out all sorts of debris. But the wire told me something was in there. Thanks for to tip.
Becky Posted: 03/15/2017 21:28 PM
Thanks for the advice. I was able to pull a bunch of leaves out of my impeller and saved calling the pool repair man!
Mike Posted: 03/12/2017 19:23 PM
Wow! Thank you so much. I spent two days with this problem. I turned off the breaker to the filter.
Probably not a great idea but I used my hand and pulled all kind of debris out. Our neighbor has an Oak tree. Leaves always in the pool.
Thanks again.
L in ga Posted: 01/08/2017 1:02 AM
This was a life saver. Something so simple helped and made such a huge difference. Freezing tonight here and pump was in freeze mode running but no pressure. I was worried it was so many different expensive parts and this was the only issue. Thank you so very much. This was simple! Great help!
Anonymous Posted: 11/13/2016 15:52 PM
Thanks for the tutorial, not sure why the pool guy didn't just do this last week when he saw the pressure low. Instead he was talking about a potential leak which made me all worried. It took me all of 5 minutes to clean the impeller and I didn't even know what I was doing. Would have taken him like 2 minutes
Thank you Posted: 11/05/2016 18:11 PM
Super you save me!!
Mike Posted: 10/07/2016 18:42 PM
Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! You saved me time and money! I can't believe how simple this was. Pump pressure is back to normal!
poolpete Posted: 09/27/2016 18:41 PM
Thank you! It only took a few minutes to get the pressure back to normal.
Serge Posted: 09/10/2016 14:54 PM
Excellent recommendation!! I have this tree with really annoying little leaves that always seem to want to fall in the pool... I'm always trying to keep the baskets clear of debris but today it was a whole other thing, I was about to cancel the pool for the season because enough is enough, PSI isn't coming back up no matter what I did. Then I find this article, took me about 5 minutes of clearing up the junk, and now maybe we can swim one last time before the cold comes in. THANK YOU!!!!!!
Anonymous Posted: 09/07/2016 18:24 PM
Thank you, thank you! Only one week left in our pool season and suddenly almost no pressure. I was afraid something was blocking the lines, but the pump sounded a bit off. Did some research and came across your site. Followed the instructions, got a lot of pine needles out, and now everything is running great. You saved the day, and probably saved me a lot of money for a pool service.
Anonymous Posted: 09/05/2016 15:41 PM
Hi, I just wanted say thank you for posting these HOW TO GUIDES. Today, because of your helpful guidance and videos - I was able to (both) clean out my sand filter and unclog my impeller. As a result the PSI went right from 5psi to 15-20 psi and I'm now getting the proper circulation in my in-ground pool. Really appreciate the help.
Best,
Bill
Ashland, MA
dawagonbus Posted: 08/31/2016 8:39 AM
Just like Everyone else....Thank You!!!!! I tried everything I could think of but solved my low PSI by cleaning the impeller. Now I'll make it part of my cleaning routine.
Anonymous Posted: 08/28/2016 17:32 PM
Thank you very much, save me a call to the pool repair guy tomorrow.
Jiffer Posted: 08/24/2016 20:39 PM
Thank you so much! We had no pressure and had no idea what was wrong. We just knew we were about to spend a lot of money, but cleaning the impeller worked! What a relief.
pOOL OWNER Posted: 08/19/2016 10:59 AM
Thank you!!! That was exactly what the problem was and your suggestion worked perfectly.
metoo Posted: 08/03/2016 19:55 PM
i love you guys. you solved my problem. thanks so very much
Inyopools Posted: 07/25/2016 13:24 PM Inyo Product Specialist
QOD - Take a look at our guide on "How To Service the Inside of a Hayward Navigator Suction Cleaner". It explains to some degree what the internal parts of a Navigator control. Check in particular the gearbox.
QOD Posted: 07/24/2016 11:55 AM
After backtracking all possible quick fixes the coathanger to the impeller proved to be the culprit for dropped pressure. three minutes later I'm up and running with full pressure. I am running a Hayward navigatorpool cleaner which I just recently rebuilt can you tell me why the hoses keep wanting to twist....I never rolled up and these are new flat hoses I checked the navigator and be turning wheel is operational with the lift test
Gronks Posted: 07/20/2016 18:09 PM
I tried everything....cleaning filter extensively, new DE, checking valves, vacuum to waste, cleaning skimmer and pump baskets repeatedly...nothing worked to bring the filter pressure past 4psi. I tried your recommendation...not much came out, but a little did. I returned basket and got a nice tight seal back on the pump cover, turned it on and....I knew within seconds that the problem was solved. Pressure rose to 16psi (normal for my pool), I let the air out of the filter and have a perfect 'vacuum' again.
Can't thank you enough for this tip!!!
Anonymous Posted: 07/16/2016 13:49 PM
OMG - kudos to you guys! My pool pressure dropped and was running very low....got it back once when I pulled out the basket and cleaned it and then it dropped again. This time I pulled the basket and worked with a hanger....and found a small piece of plastic in the impeller. You saved me hundreds of dollars. I get billed $100 just for driving out to my property and then awful fees from that point forward! Lifesavers!! Love you all! Thanks, thanks, thanks!!
justmekhl Posted: 07/02/2016 11:52 AM
Thank you...Thank you....Thank you!!!! OMG so glad I found this. Opened pool about a month ago and there was so little suction I could not vacuum the pool because it would not suck up the dirt. I had searched before and came up with little info. Single mom with little money so didn't want to call a pool man to come and find the problem and fix until absolutely had to. This worked..there was so much old leaves and crude. Pulled it all out and like new!
Vivian Posted: 06/23/2016 17:43 PM
Ha! I was about to cry thinking I was going to need a new pump or pipes dug up. Found my way to your site and VOILA! my pump is humming a happy tune - all fountains go. Some screen from my pool cage had made it in... somehow. Was all clogged up. Pulled it out and hit the switch and could tell a big difference straight away.
Single lady - first time pool owner, so I would never have known. My ex-husband was SO impressed. Ha! ;)
Thank you!
Inyopools Posted: 06/17/2016 15:18 PM Inyo Product Specialist
LyndaO - A clogged impeller would cause a drop in water flow but would not cause a suction leak. Try smearing shaving cream on any connection on the suction side of the pump and around the strainer cover. If you see an indentation in the cream , you have an air leak.
Lynda O Posted: 06/14/2016 16:26 PM
one of our return lines is blowing a lot of air into the pool and there is a lot of water agitation in the pump basket. We have checked all the fittings and lubed the O-rings and gaskets, but still sucking air from somewhere -- hoping not from the underground lines. Could a clogged pump impeller be the culprit?
dtxtrimax Posted: 05/29/2016 14:18 PM
Try this first before going to step 6: Use a wet vacuum - insert the hose into the impeller opening and vacuum the crud out - rinse with a hose and repeat. It worked great for me - went from 5 to 18 psi, which is normal running pressure.
doublej Posted: 05/28/2016 12:02 PM
OMG! You are a genius. I was almost to the point of tears when I found your video. The impeller was jammed full of junk. Cleaned it out and the pump is running like new. Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!!!