Yesterday my Hayward 1.5 hp pump was working fine. I had been filtering & backwashing, then back to filtering on and off in the afternoon (the water level was too high and I wanted to lower it back to normal before I started to vacuum). I turned it off for a few seconds to switch from filter to backwash (I heard it's better to turn it off when switching functions - is that true?), and when I tried to turn it back on it just made a humming sound and wouldn't turn over. I let it cool overnight thinking it probably just overheated because it was VERY hot, but now it's the morning and it still won't work. What is the cause of this? How can I fix it? It has been running off of an extension cord since we got the new pump (2 years ago) and we have never had a problem. If I get a 14 or 12 gauge cord, will it solve the problem and start working again? I thought that the pump had thermal overload to protect it from completely burning out and that it would work fine once it has cooled off. Now that it's the next morning and still not working, I am very concerned. I don't want to have to buy a new pump - they are expensive and this one is still pretty new. Your help is very much appreciated!
First, Yes you need to turn off the pump when switching from filter to backwash. And Yes again get a heavy guage cord so you don't burn out the windings in the motor. The thermal will usually stop the motor from catching fire after the damage is done.
Now your problem; Water can be put under pressure but you can't compress it. Air on the other hand you can compress. If you had any air in the tank and didn't get it out while switching from filter to backwash. When you shut the pump off that air will expand at a rapid rate and rush back through the sustem. This will cause the impellor to spin off the shaft inside the pump and bind up. If you take the pump apart and look this could be your problem.More often than not your threads on the impellor will be runed so yopu probally need a new one and a new seal but cheaper than a new motor. If you take it to a pool store they can do this for you for a small charge or just the price of parts. While you have it there have them check to see if you can get a left hand thread impellor screw to lock the impellor on so this won't happen again. Most motor shafts are already drilled and tapped for this. The left hand thread can't spin off and will keep the impellor in place. Also be careful not to **** air when draining water from pool.Good luck.
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