Breaking Down the Parts of a Pool Pump
Hello, fellow ePoolSupply supporters! Today I want to go over the parts of a pool pump and to go over what their purpose is. First, I want to talk about what the purpose of a pump is and what to consider before purchasing your pool pump.
What is the purpose of a pool pump?
The pool pump is the heart of your pool’s circulatory system. It pulls water from the pool and pushes it to other equipment to be heated, treated, and filtered. This will return cleaner, healthier, and warmer pool water. When your pool pump isn't operating at peak performance, it can negatively affect the rest of your pool equipment and the water you deserve to enjoy.
There are two primary types of pool pumps: single-speed and variable-speed. Single-speed pumps operate one at one single speed. On the other hand, variable speed pool pumps allow a user to adjust the flow rate of the water through the system at varying speeds. The ability to run a pump at different speeds is what makes this technology a game-changer. Please check out the list below for some more information on the purpose of a pool pump.
Basic Purposes of a pool pump:
- Creates the flow of water needed for circulation.
- Helps remove debris from your pool and spa.
- Increases the effectiveness and longevity of pool chemicals.
- Helps distribute heat evenly throughout the pool and spa.
- Required to operate your equipment.
How do you know which pump is best for your pool?
There are a few things to consider when choosing a pool pump. The size of your pool pump should be appropriate to maintain proper pool chemistry, cleanliness, and clarity.
Please note that bigger is not always better. If your pool has any water features or additional equipment like a heater or salt cell, your pool pump needs will be different. The size of the pump needs to fit the pipe size on your pad.
If replacing a pump, it is easier to use a pump with the same size plumbing already installed in the pool. If you are not sure which pool pump to buy, please contact a pool professional who can calculate the exact needs of your pool.
How to pick the right pool pump:
- Determine how many gallons of water your pool holds.
- Determine how many gallons you need to pump per hour.
- If your pool has water features, the pump will have different needs.
- The size of your pump needs to fit the pipe size for your equipment.
- Bigger is better! With variable speed, you can always tone down to save energy.
- Voltage requirements. What do you have at your equipment? 120V or 220? 208?
What are the parts of a pool pump?
All of the pump's inner workings fit in or onto the pump's housing. The pump's housing holds up extremely well under duress from heat, rain, and water pressure.
The strainer lid is the pump's main inspection point and will help determine a system's health. The strainer basket collects debris before it reaches the important parts of the pump. It will help prevent hard debris like pebbles from surging into the pump and chilling the impeller.
The gaskets and seals are what keep your equipment pad dry and your water moving. There are four main gaskets and seals on a pool pump: lid gasket, diffuser gasket, housing gasket, and shaft seal. The lid gasket is located on or under the strainer lid. The diffuser gasket is found on the cone tip of the diffuser. The housing gasket is the largest and is found in the seam between the main housing on the motor seal plate. The shaft seal sits underneath the impeller on the shaft or the motor. This is the most important seal as it prevents water from surging into the motor and causing fatal damage. The seal plate is a motors mounting flange that allows it to be secured to the pump housing.
Attached to the back of the pump housing is the motor. The motor is the driving force behind the pump. It creates the churning force necessary to prime the pump and circulates water.
The impeller transforms the spinning shaft of the motor into the pulling force for pumping. An impeller is essentially two discs glued together to sandwich fan blades. The diffuser amplifies the pull of the impeller by creating a tightly enclosed vacuum lock to the front housing to maximize its power. The diffuser resembles a funnel that shrouds the impeller sealed by the diffuser gasket.
The impeller ring is a plastic ring that fits the tip of the impeller. The purpose is to act as an extension of the impeller to ensure a seal between the impeller and the diffuser. The impeller screw is meant to secure an impeller to internally threaded shaft motors. For a more simple breakdown check out the list below for a generic pump breakdown.
Basic Parts of a Pool Pump:
- Housing
- Volute
- Strainer Basket
- Gaskets
- Seal Plate
- Motor
- Impeller, impeller ring, impeller screw
- Diffuser
- Drive
- Bolts
- Keypads (Where applicable)
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