You know that sound. That angry, gurgling, metallic grind that makes you flinch every time you walk past the equipment pad.
That’s your pool pump, trying to tell you something. Actually, it’s yelling.
You let it run dry
First rule of pool ownership: water is life. If your pump runs without water, even for a few minutes, it can overheat and cook itself from the inside. That grinding? That’s what failure sounds like.
Check the water level. Make sure the skimmer isn’t clogged. Prime the pump properly before hitting the switch. If you don’t know how, don’t guess. YouTube is full of people who’ve made your mistake and filmed it.
This Reddit thread breaks it down better than most manuals.
You ignored the air leaks
Tiny bubbles in the return jets? That’s not charming. That’s air in your system. It could be a loose lid, cracked o-ring, or a bad union fitting on the suction side. All of that puts stress on your pump and starves it of flow.
Find the leak. Fix the leak. Don’t assume it will go away on its own. It won’t.
The pump basket is a leaf stew
When’s the last time you cleaned it? Don’t lie. If your pump basket is packed with gunk, your pump can’t breathe. That leads to overheating, cavitation, and eventually, a loud, expensive funeral.
Want help diagnosing pump issues? We cover more in the pool equipment blog section. Save your ears and your wallet.
