Home and Garden + Home Inspection and Real Estate Pro's of Olympian Home Services

Pool Pumps and Motors

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Because pool pumps and motors are always sold together, they are usually referred to as the pump. These motors are generally electrically powered and need little or no maintenance. Most are even sealed units that require no lubrication, but there are some models that require periodic oiling. The motor and the pump unit are connected by an airtight watertight seal and they are usually mounted in a single frame. Knowing what to look for will help you as you shop for one of these pumps.

This is how one of these units works. It is the combination of the motor and pump that draws the water from the pool, forces it through the filter, and then sends it back to the pool. Most of these filter systems come with a pump and the motor included.

There are certain safety features that pool pumps should have and the ground fault circuit interrupter is one of the things that you should check on. If the unit that you have or are looking at does not have one of these, you should consult a licensed electrician to prevent possible electrocution.

It’s important as well, that you get the right size pump, as one that is too big and powerful will damage the filter. If the pump that you choose is too small the filter will not work correctly either and neither will the other accessories like the skimmer and the vacuum attachment or even the automatic vacuuming unit.

There’s a certain calculation that will ensure that you get the right pump. Here, you’ll need to take into account the pool capacity in gallons and the turnover rate, then size the filter to the pump. If you’re unsure of how to do this correctly, there are many experts at your local pool store that will be happy to assist you with this calculation.

There are other considerations as well. Electric motors for these pumps are available in a wider variety of sizes that include different horsepower. They also have different starter systems and casing materials as well. But they all follow the same principles. Look at any of these motors and you’ll see that there will be a large number of copper wires that are wound together to fit in the casing. It’s important to note as well, that starting the motor is much like starting you car in that it takes a certain amount of energy to get it going. Much less is used when it is running at full speed. To provide this little extra push, these motors require a starting mechanism or switch that will supply this needed surge.

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