Pump still running but no longer moving water...

[aylad]

Turned on the pump this morning, fired right up, working, no problem. Went out by pool this afternoon about 2:00, still working, no problem. Went out to get water sample just now, and pump is still on, humming away, making normal noises, zero water movement in pool or skimmer. Opened strainer basket, water is very hot, basket filled only about halfway. Turned off pump, let it sit a few minutes, verified that there's plenty of water in the pool , turned pump back on, pump comes on fine but still no water movement. Something in the impeller? I stuck my fingers into the water inlet as far as I could but can't touch anything. Tried inserting a hook on end of a clothes hanger, it goes in about 4-5 inches and then stops--I figure that's the impeller, but I can't get anything to move past that.

Suggestions?

Janet

[mas985]

If there is no water movement at all and the filter pressure reads 0 PSI then it could be the impeller is either not moving or completely clogged or even the suction pipe is completly blocked. That would be consistent with the hot water as well. The only way to really check the impeller is to remove the motor from the wet end so you can make sure it is attached to the motor shaft and it is not clogged. Double check the suction lines for shut off valves or blockage. A broken check valve on the suction side can also block the line.

No water movement with very high filter pressure would indicate a return side blockage.

[aylad]

That pretty much confirms what I thought--but was curious why the impeller would clog or get stuck mid-day while the thing was running, instead of just refusing to start up. Guess I'll get hubby to take the thing apart tomorrow and see what happens...
Thanks...
Janet

[CarlD]

Jan,

If the motor's turning then the impeller is probably turning as well, but the channel from the pump's basket, or from the impeller to the filter may be jammed. You COULD try disconnecting a fitting from the filter and seeing if it works then, spraying water. If it does, your filter is jammed and it's not your pump.

Of course, if the motor is humming and not turning your impeller is jammed. But try disconnecting the output first (turn the filter to CLOSE first)....did you check your Multivalve to make sure it's on filter?

Just checking the obvious stuff...we all miss it. I did it last night. I just got a replacement for a Dell that had problems right off the bat (Dell was good about sending me a new box). But no sound! I went crazy and finally logged on to on-line support. The guy asked me if the speakers had a USB plug. I had never heard of such a thing on speakers but...he was right. They use the USB for power. I plugged it in and...felt really, really dumb. Diagnosis: "Idiot User Error"!

[Pool Clown]

Janet, Go and get a small mirror. That will possibly save some time. Use it to look at the inlet of the impeller to see if anything is in there. You may need a flashlight too. The smallest part in the impeller vanes is right at the inlet. If you have a blockage, you should be able to see w/o taking apart the pump.

Did you check and make sure that the weir (door) in the skimmer moves freely? If it gets stuck "up", the pump will drain out the skimmer, and give the symptoms you describe.

[aylad]

Carl, yes, the multiport is in "filter"--it had been running all day with me being the only one home with access to it, before it stopped moving water, but I checked anyway--and removing a fitting from my filter doesn't give me any water flow, either.

Pool clown, I like the mirror trick, will give that a shot and see what I can see, but again I stuck my fingers into the inlet as far as I could last night and couldn't touch the impeller, so not sure I can negotiate the angle with a flashlight and mirror, but I'll give it a shot. (Have a big rock waterfall that butts up to one side of the strainer basket--limits some maneuvering around the basket.) My brother owes me a favor and is supposed to come over this afternoon and take it apart for me. I had lots of little girls with long hair in the pool this summer, so I'm hoping it's as simple as that. We'll see!!

Janet