If you have a pool or live next to someone that has a pool, then you know the sound I’m talking about. That dreadfully loud noise can drive you crazy so wanted to do some research on how to minimize the noise.
What should you do if you have a very noisy pool pump? Here is a checklist of loud pool pump solutions you can try in order to resolve this problem:
- Level the pool pump surface
- Tighten the floor bolts
- Install vibration pads
- Replace bad bearings
- Buy a new pool pump (if all else fails)
- Put up quiet fencing
- Clean the skimmer basket
- Raise the pool water level
- Clean the pump
- Clean the impeller
- Create a frame and cover with a soundproof blanket
- Create a plastic soundproof enclosure
In order to quiet a pool pump, you need to look at what is causing the noise. I wanted to find a few common fixes that could help quiet the sound. The rest of this post is dedicated to explaining some of the most common reasons why your pump may be running louder than normal and also how to remedy the problem.
Uneven Installation
The loud noises coming from your pump may be the result of a variety of different things. One of the first issues I came across in my research was how the pump was originally installed.
You want to make sure everything is installed evenly and resting on a flat surface. Simply observe how your pump is secured to the ground. Some pumps rest on grass, dirt or wood planks while others are mounted to slabs of concrete or attached to a wall. In order for your pump and filter to operate it must be installed on an even surface. Any crooked surface will provoke gravity to compromise the integrity of your pool pump.
How To Fix It:
Make The Surface Even – Physically take a look at the surface on which your pump is resting. Does it look level to the naked eye? Feel free to use a level like this one on Amazon just to make sure the surface is flat. If you discover it to be uneven then simply adjusting so the base becomes level could reduce the noise greatly.
Listen To What Your Pump Is Telling You
Next, you need to determine the type of pump noise. Is it vibrating? Does it sound like there is a bunch of marbles rattling around inside? If so, then it could be impeller damage or ineffective vibration pads that the unit rests upon.
If it sounds like a high pitched scream then your bearings could be starting to fail. Bearings are important to help reduce the amount of friction in the motor.
Does it sound like a bunch of loose metal? You might just need to tighten the bolts.
Does it sound like it’s dying? Then it’s probably time for a new pump.
Below I have listed a few actions you can take to better soundproof the overall noise of your pump. Some are simple fixes while others may require more work.
Tighten Floor Bolts
This is a simple fix. If you notice the bolts securing your motor to the surface have come loose then tighten them. This can stop vibration and unwanted noise. I noticed one of the bolts was loose on my pump so I tightened it and now the loose vibrating and shaking noise has disappeared.
Install Vibration Pads
If leveling your system does not fix the sound issue then you can try installing vibration isolation pads under each leg to reduce the rattling noise. If lag bolted, make sure to drill a hole in the pads that measure the same diameter as the bolts.
Replace The Bearings
If you hear a high screeching noise then you probably need to replace the bearings. You may need to have a professional do this as it is a challenging process. Before spending your hard-earned money on replacing these bearings, try tapping the motor casing with a hammer a few times. Sometimes rust can form on the motor impacting the operation of the bearings. By jarring it a little bit with a hammer can remove the rust.
Change Your Pump
If your pump system is old and possibly dying then it may be time to change it. If you want a quiet pump make sure to get a variable speed pump like the Pentair on Amazon and run it at a slower speed.
Install Quiet Fencing
If you just want to take the overall pump noise down a few notches then use noise barriers such as the quiet fence to help make your pump quieter. This is a super easy and effective way to block sound. All you need is a few garden stakes to make it stand upright.
Clogged Impeller & Cavitation
Cavitation is another possible issue that can cause your pump to make a racket. This occurs when there is a lack of water flowing through the pump causing air pockets to form behind the impeller blade. Your impeller is now drawing in more air than it is designed to handle resulting in system dryness.
Cavitation can cause steam to form, which will ultimately impact the functionality of the rest of the pump system. Your pump will become extremely hot causing the impeller to detach from its shaft altering its normal spinning alignment and thus produce an awfully loud grinding noise against the face of its spiral shell.
How To Fix:
Clean The Skimmer Basket
Check your skimmer basket every day because you do not know what type of debris could get stuck in there. If the debris is large enough it will reduce water flow resulting in cavitation. Make it a habit to clear this basket every day.
Raise Water Level
You should check the water level of your pool every day. It should at least be the height of the skimmer opening for your pump to get enough water to function properly. People always seem to forget about evaporation, which can lower your pool water level.
Something so simple as checking the level of water can have a huge impact on your pool filtration system. If the water level of your pool drops very low it can allow unwanted air to get sucked into the filter. When this happens, it causes your pump to work harder than it should which raises the noise level.
You want to keep adding water to your pool until the water level rises into the top third of your skimmer faceplate. Doing this will help your pool resolve the noise issue on its own.
Clean the Pump Motor Skimmer
A clogged pump strainer forces your motor to make the same noise as when your skimmer basket gets clogged. Therefore you need to remember to keep this clean as well.
How to clean a pump motor skimmer?
- Remove the lid
- Pull the strainer basket out and wipe clean
- Wipe the transparent lid and pump edge clean
- Fill the pump with water before turning on
A neat tip to produce an airtight seal between the lid and pump is to apply petroleum jelly around the edges of the lid and the surface it touches.
Clean The Impeller
You can also clean the impeller to reduce sound and maintain the overall health of your pool pump system.
How to clean an impeller?
- Turn off the pump and disconnecting the electricity so you do not get shocked.
- Remove the lid and strainer.
- Cut a piece of wire coat hanger to about 12 inches long and form a hook at one end. Use this to fish out any debris in the impeller.
DIY Soundproof Pool Pump Enclosure
For those of you that love DIY projects here are two ways to soundproof your pool pump. You can do one of two things:
- Build a frame around your pool pump and cover it with a soundproof blanket
- Create a customized pool pump noise enclosure.
DIY Frame & Blanket
If you are somewhat handy you can build a wood frame around your pump and then cover it with a soundproof blanket to reduce the noise. Also, an extra tip to improve the soundproofing of this structure is attaching mass loaded vinyl to the studs like I mentioned in my article on how to soundproof a wall in your bathroom.
DIY Plastic Enclosure
This is a pretty simple and affordable way to soundproof your pool pump. You will be creating a box or cover that fits around your pool pump. You will need to get a large plastic tub that is large enough to cover your pump. You will also need some sound deadening material such as this mass loaded vinyl that will line the inside of your plastic bin to further dampen the sound. You will also need a measuring tape, marker, saw, and some scissors.
It is actually fairly easy to create this pool pump noise enclosure. Just follow the simple steps below:
- Place the large plastic tub next to your pool pump
- Use a measuring tape to marker some approximate cutting lines that match the locations of all plumbing and electric. This will help guide you to saw big enough holes in the correct places in your tub. You can cut out additional holes for ventilation if necessary.
- Line the inside of the plastic tub with mass loaded vinyl.
- Place your cover over the pump to make sure it fits and make adjustments where necessary.
