When you are setting up a pool pump most people are going to have it set up in a traditional layout. This means it is going to be above water level.
However, in some cases, you might think about going with a separate iteration that is not going to be in line with conventional wisdom.
Is that feasible and reliable? Is this something pool experts state is a good idea?
You will want to ask, can you have a pool pump below water level?
No, you cannot have a pool pump below water level without facing issues. The problems can include overheating, inefficient drawing of water, a reduced flow rate, and/or an increased likelihood of unwanted damage.
Yes, it might work for a few days but it is not going to be effective at getting things done the right way. You do need to think about this when it comes to maximizing how the pool pump works and the value you get from it.
This article is going to look at some of the main reasons to not have a pool pump below water level and what you should be considering when attempting to do things the right way.
Table of Contents
Reasons To Not Have A Pool Pump Below Water Level
1. Does Not Draw Water In Properly
In general, you are not going to want to set up the pool pump in this manner because it is not going to draw in water properly.
This means its sole purpose is not going to be fulfilled.
The entire premise of a pool pump is to “pump” water and that is not going to happen when it is not getting water to come in properly.
A lot of pool owners report leaking when this occurs and that is an unwanted issue you are not going to want to have to deal with.
The better option is to keep the pool pump above water level to ensure it continues to function as you want it to. This provides peace of mind and the pool pump does not die out on you.
This alone is a major reason to avoid putting the pool pump in a spot that is as ineffective as this. It is not going to be worth it.
2. Reduced Flow Rate
You have to think about the flow rate.
The flow rate is a real concern for those who are thinking about how they are going to set up the pool pump and how they are going to get things to work out.
If you are not taking the time to manage the flow rate, it is not going to turn out as well as you want it to. This does become a concern when you are trying to get things spot on.
You will have to optimize the flow rate and that is not easy with the pool pump below water level.
3. Increased Likelihood Of Damage
You will also have to think about potential damage.
The pool pump is not designed to be set up in this manner and it is not going to be optimized when it is going to be working from this position.
As a result, it is not going to be running at the rate you want it to.
Not only is this going to impact the pumping that is done by the pool pump but it is also going to start leaking more.
This is not good for its longevity and that is the type of damage you are not going to want to have to face later.
4. Overheating
This is a surprise to some pool owners when they set up the pool pump below water level.
In general, the pool pump is now going to be set up in a way where it is going to overheat. This is not good for the pump depending on the conditions of the water.
This is not going to let the pool pump run and then it is going to come to a dead stop.
This happens a lot and it is not a good sign for the longevity or efficiency of the pool pump that you have below water level.
Final Thoughts
Can you have a pool pump below the water level?
You cannot have a pool pump below water level without running into issues. The problems can include overheating, a decreased flow rate, reduced pumping of water, and/or unwanted damage to the pump itself.
You will always be better off having it in a more traditional setup.
This is going to allow the pool pump to maintain a higher rate and continue to manage the flow of water as intended.
If you are doing this, you are going to feel confident in how the pool pump is going to run and how efficient it’s going to be as time goes on.
