I have question about the main pool pump motor. I have a 1/2 horse pac fab motor. Yesterday I was checking the equipment and noticed an old piece of PVC pipe that was laying across the housing of the electric motor that runs the pump. When I moved the pipe I noticed where the motor housing had burned the pipe. I tried to feel the motor but it was too hot to touch. Is it supposed to get this hot? Of course after I discovered this I thought that the motor sounded a little bit different than what I remember but it might just be my imagination. I run my pump 24/7 but after this discovery I set the timer so that I am only running about 20 hrs a day now. Has anyone else experienced this? Is it better on the motor to leave it running all the time or set it to where it cuts on and off. I've been told conflicting stories. Is this just the beginning stages of the death of my pump motor?

Thanks