As the saying goes, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.
This may be especially true in dealing with what has been called the "heart" of the pool and spa equipment pad — the pump motor. Clearly, when maintaining and servicing pool and spa motors, professional technicians would do themselves a favor by keeping the areas around the motor as clean and dry as possible.
The motor should also be kept cool, but remember: A properly functioning motor is too hot to touch while it is running.
One of the most important maintenance routines should be regular clearing and inspection of the pump's strainer basket. This is because the basket collects the heavier debris before it can reach the pump and can easily become plugged. A plugged strainer basket offers greater resistance to flow to the pump and can cause cavitation.
If the suction strainer is allowed to become overloaded — or if it breaks — debris may find its way into the eye of the impeller, plugging it as well. This will reduce flow and pressure from the pump, causing a low vacuum and low pressure gauge readings.
Keep an eye out for the obvious. Don't let the motor run dry. Watch for leaking seals, repack and lubricate ouly according to manufacturer's directions. Remember that over-greasing can be more dangerous than under-greasing.
If you have a self-priming pump that fails to prime, check for one or more of the following:
Electrical shock is always a hazard when working with electricity near water. Make certain that you take all necessary precautions, including checking equipment for proper grounding and bonding.
Again, don't overlook the obvious when finding a motor that will not start. Is the line switch on? Is the timer on? Is there a fuse blown or circuit breaker tripped?
If the motor falls to start and is making no sound, check the line voltage at the motor terminal board. The voltage reading should be within +/-10 percent of the voltage stated on the manufacturer's nameplate.
If the reading is more than 10 percent below normal, check for overloaded circuits, undersized wiring or poor connections. Then check for continuity through the protector and through the motor windings.
If the motor fails to start and you hear a humming noise, again use your meter to check the voltage at the motor terminals. If the voltage is low (minus 10 percent of the voltage stated on the nameplate), check for overloaded circuits, undersized wiring and/or poor connections.
On capacitor-start motors, insure that the start switch contacts are free from debris and are closed when the motor is not running, and that the governor moves free. Then check the capacitor, which may be open or have become shorted. Check all of the electrical connections to the motor, as well as mechanical obstructions in pump.
Check the motor shaft rotation by hand for smooth operation of bearings or rotor drag. Finally, check for mechanical obstructions in the motor.
If the motor is running noisily, again start with your voltmeter, checking the voltage at the motor terminals. Then:
One final common-sense tip: Never attempt a repair that requires a licensed electriccian without the proper licensing.
Properly sized for the job and properly maintained according to manufacturer recomendations, pump motors should provide excellent, trouble-free service life for you and your customer.