Pump making loud buzzing noise

[Islander2C]

Hello everyone
I have 27' AG round pool and it is my 4th summer with it. The water is clear, pump is working, but today when I was finished vacuuming, the pump starting making a loud buzz noise (constant) and continued. I turned it off for a little while, checked the filter, all clear, pressure is reading ok on gage when it is running, but it is really loud now. Is this a sign that the pump is on its way out? God I hope not! It has been running 24/7 for the last week but last year I also ran it pretty well 24/7 and it didn't make any noise.
I'm assuming since it is running, and pressure is ok, water is circulating it should be ok, but I can't understand why it all of the sudden got so loud.
I turned it off for now and will leave it shut off for a couple of hours, but I thought I would ask if anyone else had a similar thing happen and if so did you eventually have to get a new pump?
Any suggestions would be appreciated.
Thanks
Mary

[chrisexv6]

Could be something caught in the impeller, especially right after vacuuming.

If you have the make/model someone here might be able to walk you thru getting to the impeller to check it, or perhaps you can find the info on the net.

-Chris

[Poconos]

Usually you can at least get your fingers or a wire hook in via the pump basket housing. I agree with Chris that this is too coincidental with vacuuming. The clearances between the impeller and the pump housing aren't much and something small could have gotten caught. Something else to try, remove the basket lid and drain the water from the basket chamber so the pump is dry. Turn it on for a few seconds and listen to see if the noise is coming from the impeller area. Won't damage anything to run dry for even a minute or so. If it is something caught I would think the noise would be quite loud listening at the basket with no water in the pump.
Just a warning...be sure the pump can't accidentally come on when you're messing in the impeller area.
Al

[Islander2C]

Thanks so much for the replies. I will try that Al and let you know how I got along. My husband thinks that it is the pump on it's way out! All he can see is $$$ in his mind! I hope he is wrong!
Fortunately it is still running and water is crystal clear! Just really loud!
It's my day off today, and the sun is shinning. I'm going out to enjoy the deck (with the pump turned off!) for a few hours then I will try your suggestion.
Mary

[Spensar]

Thanks so much for the replies. I will try that Al and let you know how I got along. My husband thinks that it is the pump on it's way out! All he can see is $$$ in his mind!

LOL. My next door neighbour has an above ground pool and his pump buzzes all the time, kinda loud, I've been waiting for it to die for 3 years now... At least it is in the back of his yard and isn't a bother.

[towney]

Could also be very well the bearings in the pump motor. This is usually the sound it make when the bearing are going. Good thing is that you will only need to replace the motor and not the whole pump.