Pool pump act as the heart of your swimming pool. Neglecting it might cause problems leading to you rushing the last minute. However, if you can be alert on these mistakes, your pool pump will have a long life.

Failing to Clean the Pump Basket

Failing to clean your pump basket minimises the filtration of the pool water hence reduced water flow. This will, in turn, lead to the formation of algae and after that a smelly and dirty pool. To avoid this mistake, make sure you clean the pump basket at least once a week. During spring and fall, cleaning should be done more regularly, at least twice a week.

Incorrect Sizing of the Pump

There is a common assumption that a better pool pump offers better performance than a smaller one. However, this is not always true, especially if the filter is not oversized accordingly. A larger pump only consumes lots of energy but its general performance is poor. A smaller pump, on the other hand, gets easily overloaded, especially if you throw a suction in the pool.

The bottom line, under-sizing or over-sizing your pool pump will lead to inefficiency. It is therefore recommended that you consider the perfect size.

Overusing or Under-using the Pump

Some pool owners try to minimise utility bill by failing to run their pool pump. Doing this might end up costing you much than paying the bill and especially if your pool pump fails. Make sure you execute the pump daily and let all the water flow through the pump to prevent dirt from accumulating. On the flip side, running the pool pump 24/7 causes unnecessary strain to the pump motor. Unless it is very necessary, run the pump for only 8-12hours a day depending on the pool size.

Failing to Change the Shaft Seal During Motor Replacement

Another common mistake by many pool owners is assuming that by changing the motor instead of buying a new pump, everything is going to be okay. The seal might seem to be in good condition, but you need to recognise the fact that over time, it wears out. At times it might even fail to fit with your new motor rendering the motor warranty void. Ignoring to change the shaft seal may seem like a cost-effective idea, but you will realise in the end, it is more expensive than buying a full motor with the shaft.