One of the great things about having a swimming pool in Australia is that in states like Queensland, there is an opportunity to swim almost year-round thanks to the mild climate. However, when something goes wrong with a pool part, repairs must be done swiftly to avoid any permanent damage. If you're wondering why your pool pump is making a strange noise, learn about two common sounds you may hear the pool pump make and the reasons behind them.

Humming Pool Pump

Unfortunately, the humming in question is not your pool pump trying to carry a tune. If you hear this noise, something is likely wrong with the impeller. The impeller is located within the pool pump motor and it spins to turn the volute. The impeller and the volute are the mechanisms which move water through your pool pump. An impeller often becomes clogged when debris is wrapped around it. If the impeller cannot move freely, then it creates a humming noise as it struggles to continue normal rotations.

To clear the impeller of debris, you need to turn off the pool pump and take the motor apart. Videos to show you how to do this are available on YouTube. If you are not confident about doing this yourself, then your local pool contractor can do it for you.

Screeching Pool Pump

Does your pool pump screech like a dozen off-key violins being played badly? This audible woe is related to your pool pump motor. Screeching is often an indication that the bearings within the motor have worn out or lack grease and there is now a grinding of metal on metal occurring. The bearings in your pool pump motor are not a replaceable item as they are sealed within a metal housing, so you need to replace the whole housing as opposed to just the bearings. Speak to your pool contractor in regards to the cost of the part versus the cost of replacing the pump motor. Depending on its age, a new motor is often more cost-effective.

A pool pump should operate relatively quietly, so if you do hear strange noises that you have not heard before, then something is probably wrong within the pump system. Your best course of action is to let a professional take a closer look because they can tend to the repairs for you. As a pool pump does need both water and electricity to operate, it is best to let the experts take care of any malfunctions so that you do not expose yourself to an electric shock.