How To Quiet A Noisy Pool Pump Motor
Pool pump motors are an integral part of any modern pool. They work by pumping water from the pool, through the filter and back to the pool, thus ensuring the water is healthy and free of germs and debris.
A properly functioning pool pump motor does make some noise, but not loud enough to bother you or your neighbours.
So if it’s become too loud to bare, here are a few things that will help.
Reduce Your Pool Pump Motor’s Vibrations
Vibration noise is the first thing you should look into.
The bolts at the base of the pump may become loose, so when the pump works it will cause a racket.
To fix this problem, first turn off the pool pump motor. Then tighten the bolts by using an adjustable wench (link to Amazon).
If this doesn’t fix the problem, remove the bolts and place some soft but durable material in between the pool pump and the concrete pad. A rubber pad is the best option.
Then secure the pool pump to the concrete pad with the bolts. With this soft material between, there will be significantly less vibrations.
Clean The Skimmer Baskets
The skimmer baskets along the sides of your pool may have collected small and large objects. Leaves are the usual culprit.
When that happens, the pool pump motor does not receive enough water, and thus emits more noise.
It is generally recommended to clean the skimmer baskets at least once a week.
If some items are stuck in there, make sure to take them out. Check out this video to see exactly how to do it:
Raise The Water Level In The Pool
If there’s not enough water in the pool, the noise from the pool pump motor will be the same as if the skimmer baskets were blocked.
It will also lead to over-heating of the pool pump motor which can literally melt the basket in the pool pump motor.
So if the water is not reaching the skimmer openings you should definitely raise the water level.
Clean Out Your Pool Pump Basket
Leaves and other debris getting trapped in the basket can also cause additional noise. Here is how you clean the pool pump basket.
First you have to turn the pool pump off. Then you can take off the lid and clean the basket.
Once you’ve cleaned it, insert it back, fill the pump with water and put the lid back on.
Now, turn the pump on and let the air out of the filter.
This video shows the entire procedure performed on a number of different pumps:
Bonus soundproofing tip:
You can additionally reduce noise by following this step.
First, wipe the edge of the lid and the part of the pump where the lid attaches.
Then apply petroleum jelly (link to Amazon) around the edge of the lid and around this opening from the inside.
The jelly will act as a watertight seal and prevent the noise from falling through the cracks.
Clean The Impeller
The pool pump motor’s impeller can also catch vegetation and debris.
In that case also, the water flow will be reduced, and there can be a screeching noise present.
So what you need to do is turn the motor off and then use a hook, a screwdriver or any other item to remove any debris stuck in the impeller.
This video shows you exactly how to do that:
Replace The Pool Pump Motor Bearings
If after following these tips the loud noise persists, the most likely problem are failed pool pump motor bearings. In that case, there are two things you can do.
1. You can have the bearings replaced at a small motor repair shop. I highly recommend this option.
2. You can replace the bearings yourself. This can be tricky if you’ve never done it before.
Using the wrong bearings or placing them incorrectly can do permanent damage to the motor.
The other problem is that the older the pump is, the more corrosion on the bolts and other issues like tight impellers are there to contend with.
You might even have to use a blow torch to heat up the end bell of the bolts in order to get out the threads. And then you have to worry about melting the plastic cooling fan!
Like I said, choose the first option, unless you’re a major masochist.
But ultimately it’s your personal choice. So here’s a tutorial that shows you how to remove bearings properly, albeit on a new pool pump motor:
Replace The Pool Pump
What if you’ve tried all of the above tips and the awful noise is still present?
If your pool pump is really old, and I mean a decade or more, it will cost you less to replace it then try to repair the many decaying parts.
I’ve done a fair share of research on newer pool pumps and found 3 excellent newer models:
Hayward Above-Ground Pool Pump with Cord – Best Affordable Option
This is a solid pump for all the right reasons.
It has a clear cover so it’s easy to see when it needs cleaning, and there is also a drain plug present for easier maintenance.
The housing is made from reinforced thermoplastic, which makes it pretty quiet since there is very little reverberation.
There are two models of this pump, one with 1 horsepower, and the other with 1.5 horsepower.
I recommend getting the stronger one if you have a large pool.
To check out the price and over 1700 customer reviews on Amazon, click here.
Hayward Super Pool Pump – Best Buy Option
Call me old-fashioned, but I like to stick to companies like Hayward that have a solid record.
According to stats and customer reviews (I’ve compared 20+ of the most popular pool pumps at the moment) this is the best mid-range choice both in terms of price and quality.
One of the perks I particularly like is the large debris basket that can hold extra leafs and debris, so it cuts down on maintenance a lot.
The other one are the swing away hand knobs. They make the job of removing the strainer cover very simple. No tools and screwing around is required.
Many users have highlighted lack of noise as the biggest plus. If that’s your major concern and you’re willing to pay a little extra to get great quality, this might just be the one.
To check out the price and customer reviews for Hayward Super Pump, click here (link to Amazon).
Hayward Tristar Variable-Speed Pool Pump – Best High Quality Option
If you want the best of the best, this is it. Hayward Variable Speed Pool Pump features 2.7 horsepower.
It also has:
- Integrated Safety Vacuum Release System
- EnduraDrive Technology for improved functioning under all conditions
- completely enclosed fan cooled (TEFC) motor
- Energy star approved
Most importantly, it has a strong and VERY QUIET motor.
One user noted that the pump is saving him a decent amount of money on electric bills, which have gone down about $140 each month.
This is the most expensive pool pump on this list, but the quality matches the price.
On top of that, there is a lot of useful info about this pump, like this useful installation video.
To check out the price on Amazon, click here.
Conclusion
When the pool pump motors starts to produce loud noise, it is a warning sign that some part of the whole system is not functioning properly.
If you follow the most likely causes and solutions I’ve outlined in this article, I’m sure you will bring the noise levels back to normal in no time.
Got any questions, or useful suggestions for other readers? Leave them in the comment section below. – Luka Baron
