What does replacing a pool pump motor involve?

Replacing a pool pump motor is a mechanical job and an electrical job, and in Virginia the electrical half belongs to a licensed electrician. A pro cuts power at the breaker, removes the old motor, fits a motor with the right horsepower, voltage and frame, reconnects the wiring, checks the grounding, bonding and GFCI protection, and then primes the pump and watches it run. Most of the time is spent on the wiring and the checks, not the bolts.

What the job covers

A pump has a wet end, where the water goes through a strainer housing, an impeller and a diffuser, and a dry end, the motor. Hayward's owner's manual for its Super Pump says the pump is designed so that the motor and entire drive group assembly can be removed without disturbing pipe or mounting connections.^[1] That is why a motor swap does not normally mean cutting pipe.

On a typical visit the technician:

• confirms the motor is the problem, not a tripped GFCI, a failed capacitor, a jammed impeller or a clogged strainer
• matches the replacement to the old motor's nameplate: horsepower, voltage, single or two speed, and frame size
• replaces the shaft seal while the pump is apart, because the seal sits between the wet end and the motor
• reconnects the motor to its circuit, bonds it to the pool structure and tests the GFCI
• primes the pump, checks for leaks and air, and records the running pressure

Ask whether the quote includes the seal and any gaskets. They are cheap parts that are costly to skip. Hayward says only qualified personnel should attempt rotary seal replacement.^[1]

Why the wiring is the part that needs a licence

The manual is blunt about who should do this work. Hayward says its product "should be installed and serviced only by a qualified professional," and that all wiring must be done by a licensed electrician and must conform to local and national codes and regulations.^[1]

The manual gives specific reasons:

• Voltage must match. Hayward labels a mismatch a fire hazard and says supply voltage must match the motor nameplate voltage.^[1] It adds that voltage at the motor must not be more than 10% above or below the nameplate rating, or the motor may overheat, causing overload tripping and reduced component life.^[1]
• Bonding. Hayward says to bond the motor to the pool structure, which connects all metal parts within and around the pool with a continuous wire.^[1] It warns that failing to bond all electrical equipment to the pool structure increases the risk of electrocution and could result in injury or death.^[1]
• GFCI protection. Hayward says the pump must be permanently connected to a GFCI, and that if a power outage trips it the pump will not run normally until it is reset.^[1]

A mistake in any of these may not show up when the pump runs. It shows up later, when somebody is standing in the water.

Motor only, or the whole pump

A motor-only repair keeps the wet end you have. A new motor on an old pump makes sense when the housing, impeller and diffuser are in good shape. If the wet end is cracked or worn, or if you want a variable-speed model, the whole pump is the better buy, and the cost question is covered in is it worth fixing a pool pump motor.

ENERGY STAR describes warning signs that it is time to call a pool services contractor, such as a pump that is seven to ten years old, does not seem as powerful, makes continuous noise, gets hot and shuts off, hums or buzzes but will not start, or starts slowly.^[2] If the pump hums and will not start, the cause is often not the motor itself, so ask for the diagnosis in writing before you agree to a replacement.

Permits

Virginia's building code requires a permit application before installations or alterations involving electric wiring.^[3] Whether a like-for-like motor swap triggers a permit and inspection is decided by your locality's building department, so ask the business whether it will pull one and whether the fee is in the quote. Do not assume the answer.

When to call a licensed pro

For the whole job, from the first test of the circuit to the final GFCI check. 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] Look the business up in DPOR's licence search first; how to check if a contractor is licensed in Virginia shows how.

DPOR advises getting at least three written bids or estimates using identical plans and specifications so you can compare prices and contractors.^[6] For a pump, "identical" means the same motor specification, the same seal and gasket parts, and the same permit and warranty terms. If you want the cost side first, read how much pool pump repair costs in Virginia.

Loclis lists DPOR-licensed businesses with their licence number and class. Browse pool and spa equipment answers or find pool and spa businesses near you.

To have licensed local businesses quote the job, describe the pool pump problem once.