What You Need To Know If Your Pool Pump Is Leaking

Your pool has many different pieces of equipment that all must work correctly. One of the most important pieces is the pool pump, and if that's not working the pool is likely unusable. Your pool pump keeps the swimming pool clean by circulating the water through the entire system (including the filter) and back to the pool. This makes the pump the heart beat of the entire pool. So when you suspect you have a pool leak and it's caused by the pump, you need to know these important elements. 

Get The Pump Leak Handled Quickly Or Else...

When your pool pump is leaking, it's crucial to act fast and get it fixed. Failure to move fast can only make the problems worse and cost you more money. If you don't know what you're doing, we highly recommend contacting a professional in leak detection. 

Here's a few key things to look for during a pool pump leak: the shaft, the seal, the suction line, and the return line. 

Common Areas For A Pool Pump Leak

Motor Shaft Seal Leak

The shaft seal is the spot where the pump connects to the motor. The seal helps prevent water from entering the motor, because motors do not like water. A leak from this spot can cause damage to the pump or the motor which are both quite expensive to replace. Often, leaks occur here because the seal hasn't been replaced in a long time, or it wasn't replaced properly when the motor was replaced. We usually find that homeowners try to replace the motor themselves and forget about replacing the shaft seal. Replacing the shaft seal isn't complicated or difficult, but it's often forgotten. 

Signs Of A Shaft Seal Leak

  • You see a puddle of water underneath the pump or under the connection point between the pump and motor
  • You see obvious signs of water damage around the pump
  • You hear abnormal noises coming from the motor which could mean water has entered it

Suction Side Or Intake Leak

Your pool pump might also leak due to air being sucked in the closed system. This can lead to an air leak which is often caused by an incomplete seal at the pump strainer lid. 

Signs Of A Pump Strainer Lid Leak

  • The pump has difficulty moving water on startup
  • There's power on but nothing is moving
  • The pump needs to be refilled and restarted more often than normal
  • You see cloudy water in the pool
  • The skimmer baskets are floating
  • The filter tank pressure is consistently low
  • The flow rate is low in the system due to air infiltration at the pump
  • The pool needs to be vacuumed more often than normal
  • The connection pipe feels loose

Other Areas That Commonly Leak On Suction Side

  • Cracked plumbing pipes or valves
  • The skimmer is having issues because air is infiltrating
  • Strainer basket drain is plugged

Pressure Side Leak In System

The pressure line is the side of the pump that actually pushes water out to the pool. It is named because it's constantly under pressure (and it makes sense). This constant pressure allows water to escape even the tiniest of cracks anywhere in the pipes. Even a loose fitting or hairline crack in a PVC pipe could be causing a leak. 

Signs of a Pressure Side Pool Leak

  • Dripping, leaking or spraying water at the connection to the pump
  • Puddle of water under the pump or dripping down the side of the pump
  • Water damage surrounding the pump and motor
  • Noticeable water loss in the pool

Why You Need To Hire a Professional For Pool Pump Leaks

Pool leaks are a tough situation for every pool owner. They seem simple enough that you might be able to DIY test or repair them. That can sometimes work, but often leads to more issues. Many times it can lead to solving just a symptom instead of the source of the problem. That's why we always recommend talking with a professional who can diagnose the problem and propose a solution to repair it. Some companies can only find leaks, we are one of the few who can locate AND repair it so contact us.