A pool pump is the motor and impeller that pulls water from the skimmer and main drain, catches leaves in its strainer basket and sends the water through the filter and back to the pool. Unlike most pumps on this site it is not submersible: it is a self-priming surface pump that sits beside the pool. When it hums and will not start, leaks at the seal or gets noisy, the pool goes green within days. Tell us what you need, a new pump or a repair, and we pass your request to independent pool pump suppliers and repairers near you, who quote directly.
Sizing a pool pump
Home pool pumps are often 0.55 kW to 1.1 kW, with 0.75 kW a common size. The pump should match the filter and the pipework, not just the pool: a pump too big for the filter pushes water through too fast and wastes power. Most pools are filtered so that all the water passes through the filter once or more a day, the turnover, usually on a timer. Give the supplier the pool size, the filter type and size, and how far the pump is from the pool.
Single speed or variable speed
A single speed pump runs flat out whenever it is on. A variable speed pool pump can run slowly for filtering and fast for backwashing or vacuuming, and at low speed it often uses much less electricity and makes less noise. It costs more to buy. Ask the supplier to compare running costs for your pool and hours, and whether your timer and wiring suit it. New wiring should be done by a qualified electrician.
Common faults and repairs
Most pool pump problems are familiar to any repairer.
- Hums but will not start: often the capacitor, sometimes seized bearings
- Water dripping under the motor: a worn mechanical seal
- Screeching or rumbling: worn bearings
- Air in the strainer, low flow: a leak at the lid, O-ring or suction pipe
Capacitors, seals and bearings can usually be replaced. A burnt motor may be rewound, though on a small pump a new one can cost less. Our water pump repairs and pump spares pages go further.
Draining and topping up
The pool pump must not run dry, so it is not the tool for emptying a pool. That is a job for a submersible drainage pump or a hired pump, and some pools should not be emptied fully. Check your municipality's rules on where to discharge. During water cuts, some owners top up from a tank with a small booster pump.
What to put in your request
- New pump or a repair, and the fault
- Pool size or volume, roughly
- Filter type and size
- Current pump kW and age
- Single or variable speed wanted
Pool Pumps for homes, farms and businesses
- Homeowners: a garden pool pump replaced or repaired when it hums, leaks or trips
- Smallholdings and plots: a farm house pool filtered on a timer with a pump sized to the filter
- Farms: guest house and staff pools kept clean with simple single speed pumps
- Complexes, estates and body corporates: communal pools run long hours where a variable speed pump cuts power use
- Offices, shops, hotels and lodges: hotel, lodge, gym and school pools with larger pumps and standby units
- Factories, plants and depots: rarely relevant, apart from staff recreation pools at large sites
- Mines and quarries: mine village and club pools serviced on a maintenance contract
- Municipalities, schools and clinics: public swimming pools with large filter pumps and spare motors
- Contractors and drillers: pool builders and renovators fitting new pumps and filters
Frequently asked questions
Why does my pool pump hum but not start?
How many hours a day should a pool pump run?
Is a variable speed pool pump worth it?
Do you repair or install pool pumps?
Pool Pumps by province and city
- Johannesburg
- Pretoria
- Centurion
- Midrand
- Sandton
- Randburg
- Roodepoort
- Krugersdorp
- Randfontein
- Germiston
- Boksburg
- Benoni
- Kempton Park
- Alberton
- Vanderbijlpark
- Vereeniging
- Durban
- Pinetown
- Pietermaritzburg
- Richards Bay
- Newcastle
- Ladysmith
- Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth)
- East London
- Kariega (Uitenhage)
- Mthatha
- Cape Town
- Bellville
- Paarl
- Stellenbosch
- George
- Worcester
- eMalahleni (Witbank)
- Middelburg
- Secunda
- Mbombela (Nelspruit)
- Rustenburg
- Brits
- Klerksdorp
- Potchefstroom
- Mahikeng
- Polokwane
- Tzaneen
- Kimberley
- Upington
- Bloemfontein
- Welkom
- Sasolburg