When the Pool Filter, Pump or Heater Quits: What to Check and What to Say

Pool equipment tends to quit on the first hot weekend, which is when you most want it to work. The good news is that a lot of equipment trouble follows predictable patterns, and a few minutes of observation before you call makes the repair quicker. Here's how to think about the filter, the pump, the plumbing around them and the heater, and what a technician will want to know.

Filter: clean it or replace it?

A filter that's struggling isn't always a dead filter. Cloudy water, rising pressure on the gauge, weak flow back into the pool and short stretches between cleanings are the usual signs of a clogged or overloaded filter. Cleaning often brings it back, and it's worth doing before you assume the whole unit is finished.

Replacement enters the picture when cleaning stops working. A cracked tank, a leaking housing, damaged internal parts, or a filter that clears up for a day and clouds again after repeated cleanings all suggest the unit itself has given out. Bob Clement Pool Service does filter cleaning, repair and replacement, so the first visit can sort out which side you're on.

Pump problems

When the pump quits, the symptoms usually point somewhere. A pump that hums but doesn't move water often has a blockage, an air problem or a motor that's struggling. One that runs but pulls poorly may have an air leak on the suction side or a clogged basket. One that's loud, grinding or squealing is warning you about worn parts. If it sounds bad, turn it off. Running a pump dry or against a blockage can turn a small repair into a bigger one.

Leaks around the equipment and plumbing

Wet ground near the pad, drips at unions, a damp spot that never dries, or a pool that loses water with the equipment running can all point to plumbing. Because the same water loss can come from the liner, don't guess. Note where it's wet, whether the leak shows up only with the pump running, and whether the water level falls faster at some times than others. Plumbing repair is another thing Bob Clement Pool Service handles, which saves you from calling one outfit for the pool and another for the pipes.

Heater installation questions

A heater stretches the swimming season, but it takes more planning than swapping a pump. Before anyone installs one, you'll want answers to these:

• What will it run on, and is that supply already near the equipment pad?
• How big is the pool, and how quickly do you want it to warm?
• Where will it sit, and is there clearance and ventilation around it?
• How does it connect to the existing plumbing and filter?
• Does anything else need to happen first, such as running power or fuel to the pad?

Bob Clement Pool Service installs pool heaters and is licensed, bonded and insured. Ask for those questions to be walked through for your setup before you pick a unit, not after.

What to tell the technician on the phone

The more specific you are, the fewer trips it takes. Have this ready when you call:

• What the equipment is doing, and what it was doing right before it stopped
• Any noises, smells, leaks or warning lights
• Whether the problem came on suddenly or built up slowly
• What the pressure gauge reads, if you have one
• What you've already tried, such as emptying the baskets or cleaning the filter
• Photos of the equipment pad and any wet areas

Mention it if the pool was just opened, since a winter problem looks different from a mid-summer failure. Tell them what kind of pool you have, too, whether above-ground, wood or something else, so the right parts and the right person show up.

Habits that keep equipment out of trouble

A few small habits cut down on breakdowns. Keep the skimmer and pump baskets empty so the pump isn't pulling against debris. Watch the filter pressure and clean the filter before it clogs completely. Never let the pump run dry. And glance at the pad area now and then for new drips, because a small leak caught early is a small repair.

If something has quit on you, call Bob Clement Pool Service at (586) 463-2090 for a free estimate, Monday through Saturday, 8 to 5, and describe what you're seeing. The goal is to fix it right on the first call.