Swimming Pool Pump Baskets and Cover

It’s very important that the pump basket be in place and in good condition. A cracked or warped pump basket will let particles through that will clog the pump. If debris has clogged the pump intake, take a small screwdriver and move it around the throat of the pump (the part between the pump and the pump basket). Use your finger to remove whatever debris you get out of the pump. One way to tell if a pump intake is clogged is that the flow of water through the pump will decrease dramatically. If cleaning the throat of the pump doesn’t improve the flow of water, you will need to have the pump impeller cleaned out. This involves taking the pump apart and using a piece of wire to clear debris from the impeller body. If you’re not fully confident that you can do the job, call a pool repair guy.

Pump baskets become warped when the pump has been run dry for an extended period of time. The spinning pump generates a lot of heat that can’t be diffused. The pump body itself will swell up and cause leaks on the intake and discharge pipes of the pump. They both will need to be replumbed.

Pump basket covers are clear plastic. They’re threaded into the pump housing and sealed with an o-ring. Some covers have special wrenches that fit into them. Others have slots that you can fit a stick into to loosen the cover. Don’t overtighten the cover. Tighten it as tight as you can get it using your hands. If it’s not tight enough, air will pass by it and the pump won’t prime. The pump should reprime itself in 30-45 seconds. If it doesn’t then you didn’t get the cover tight enough or the o-ring needs to be lubricated or replaced. Replace o-rings that are cracked or stretched out of shape. The o-ring should fit perfectly into its groove.

Some flat pump basket covers develop cracks. The cracks are visible. Pour water over the cover with the pump running to tell if the cracks are letting air in. The air bubbles inside the housing will disappear if the cover is cracked fully through. If so, replace the cover.