It’s important to understand what is happening with a pool pump and whether or not it is in good working condition.
You do not want a situation where the pool pump breaks down and/or damages the electrical circuit it is connected to.
An issue some people report has to do with a pool pump that hums and trips the breaker.
If a pool pump hums and trips the breaker, this means the impeller is not functioning properly or the capacitor is damaged. To fix the issue, turn off the power to the switch, remove the lid plus basket, and then spin the impeller by hand. If this does not work, replace the capacitor.
It’s essential to go through these steps as a way to see what is wrong with the pool pump.
This guide is going to tell you what to do when it is time to fix a pool pump that hums and trips the breaker.
Table of Contents
Steps On How To Fix Pool Pump That Hums And Trips Breaker
1. Turn Off Power To The Switch
When a pool pump is malfunctioning, you are going to want to turn off the power to the switch.
This is going to let you get a better read on where the humming is coming from and what is causing the breaker to trip.
it is essential to better understand your options and figure out where the issue is.
In some cases, it does become an issue when the pool pump won’t turn on. However, in this case, you will be dealing with the breaker tripping due to the pool pump.
If this is happening, you do need to cut the power to the switch.
This is going to allow you to dig deeper into the electrical components and figure out what is going on inside.
2. Remove The Pump Lid And Basket
When you are sure the power is off, you are now going to go and remove the pool pump’s lid.
This is going to also allow you to take out the pump basket.
The reason for doing this is to make sure you have immediate access to the impeller. This is where the issue is depending on what the root cause of the humming is.
You will not want to rush the process.
You will want to make sure to remove the pump lid and basket.
Once the pump lid and basket are out of the way, you are going to gain more control of the situation and it will work out as you want it to.
3. Spin The Impeller By Hand
At this point, you are going to want to look at the impeller.
This is often an issue when the pool pump is not working the right way. It is going to start making noise and you will need to figure out how to get it going again.
The best option in this situation is to spin the impeller by hand.
The reason you are going to want to spin it by hand is to make sure you are getting it to stabilize. This is an issue when the pool pump ages.
Look to spin the impeller and see that it moves.
if it moves, you are going to know it will get better as soon as you reconnect the power source.
4. Change The Capacitor
This is often the most likely cause when nothing else works.
When the capacitor does not work the right way, it is going to cause this humming noise. This is why most professionals will inspect the capacitor and see if it is about to burn out.
If the capacitor is doing this, it will trip the breaker too.
You will want to swap out the capacitor with a compatible fit to get the desired result. Otherwise, it will only get worse as time goes on.
Final Thoughts
These steps are key when it is time to fix a pool pump that hums and trips the breaker.
If a pool pump hums and trips the breaker, it is either due to a bad capacitor or a malfunctioning impeller. To fix the issue, turn off the power, open the pool pump by removing its lid, and then spin the impeller manually. If this does not work, the capacitor has to be replaced.
It is best to go through these steps and work on the impeller before investing in a new capacitor.
You could save money if all it takes is spinning the impeller manually to get it to work again. You will want to be patient with the process and make sure you are not cutting corners about what you are doing or how you are doing it.
