Is it worth fixing a pool pump motor?

Often yes, if the pump is fairly young, the rest of it is in good shape and the motor is the only thing that has failed. Often no, if the pump is near the end of its life, has more than one problem, or is an old single-speed model that runs many hours a day. The deciding numbers are the written repair quote, the price of a whole new pump installed and what the new pump would save you on your electric bill.

Start with the diagnosis

A pump that hums, trips, runs hot or will not start is not automatically a bad motor. A tripped GFCI, a failed capacitor, a jammed impeller or a worn shaft seal can look the same from the pool deck, and each costs less than a motor. Before you decide anything, ask a licensed business to find the cause and put it in writing. What replacing a pool pump motor involves explains what the repair covers.

When repairing makes sense

• The pump is not old. ENERGY STAR lists a pump that is seven to ten years old among the signs that it is time to call a pool services contractor.^[2] A pump well short of that, with one failed part, is usually worth fixing.
• The wet end is sound. Hayward's manual says its Super Pump is designed so that the motor and entire drive group assembly can be removed without disturbing pipe or mounting connections,^[1] so a motor swap on a sound housing keeps your plumbing as it is.
• It is already efficient or lightly used. A pump that runs only a few hours a day gains less from replacement.
• A seal or capacitor is the cause. Those are small repairs on a motor that is otherwise healthy.

When replacing the whole pump makes more sense

• The pump is at or past the ages ENERGY STAR flags, or it has a history of repairs. A new motor on a worn pump leaves you paying for the next failure.
• The quote for motor, seal and labor is close to the price of a new pump. Ask each business to price both options on the same visit.
• You have a single-speed pump. ENERGY STAR says conventional single-speed pumps are set to run at the higher speeds a pool cleaner needs and waste energy during filtration by running faster than necessary.^[3] It says reducing pump speed by one-half allows the pump to use just one-eighth as much energy.^[3]
• Energy cost is the real expense. ENERGY STAR says a pool pump could be your home's second largest energy user, costing as much as $310 in energy every year, and that certified in-ground pumps use 20% less energy than standard pool pumps and can save approximately $50 a year.^[3] ENERGY STAR also says variable-speed pumps are quieter, require less maintenance and last longer.^[3]
• A utility rebate applies. ENERGY STAR notes that many utilities offer incentives for purchasing a certified pool pump.^[2] Ask your own electric provider before you buy.

ENERGY STAR's own figures are national and manufacturer-neutral, so treat them as a guide. Your savings depend on pump size, speed settings and how many hours it runs. A timer helps whichever pump you own: ENERGY STAR says running a pool filter 6 hours a day instead of 24 reduces energy use by 75%.^[3]

Comparing the two options

Ask for two written quotes from each business, one for the repair and one for a new pump, using the same terms. DPOR advises getting at least three written bids or estimates using identical plans and specifications so you can compare prices and contractors.^[6] Check that each lists the motor or pump model, the seal and gaskets, GFCI and bonding checks, any permit and the warranty. How much pool pump repair costs in Virginia lists the cost drivers.

Choosing the contractor matters as much as the pump. ENERGY STAR says to confirm your contractor is insured and has the appropriate qualifications, such as being licensed to perform pool services in your state.^[2] It says a good installer calibrates the flow of a new pump to obtain adequate circulation at the lowest possible motor speed.^[2]

When to call a licensed pro

For both options. Either one means working on the motor's wiring, and Hayward says all wiring must be done by a licensed electrician and must conform to local and national codes and regulations.^[1] In Virginia no individual may work, or offer to work, as an electrical tradesman without a tradesman licence, unless working under the supervision of a tradesman licensed in that specialty.^[4][5] DPOR also says that if the work is valued at $1,000 or more, a valid Virginia contractor's licence is required for the licence category in which the contractor is to work.^[6] Verify the business in DPOR's lookup; how to check if a contractor is licensed in Virginia shows how.

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To have licensed local businesses diagnose your pump and price both options, describe the pool pump problem.