Pump does not seem very powerful

Often, we hear that a person’s pool pump just does not seem to be pumping as hard as it used to.  This could be due to a variety of problems. 

Some older pumps are simply worn out.  This is especially true of pumps like the Swimquip XL-VI pumps which are approaching twenty years old.  It was a good pump in its time, but there are much better pumps out there now.  About 2 years ago, we replaced a 2 HP Swimquip pump with newer 3/4 HP pump and actually increased the flow!

On bronze pumps like the Aqua-flo A series, the impellers may simply be worn or out of adjustment.  A lot of pool guys malign the old Aqua-flo pumps, but in reality, they are often simply in need of adjustment.  The impeller should be checked and adjusted every 1-2 years. Many times a simple adjustment will significantly increase the performance of the pump.

This problem or reduced power may also be due to something as simple as the filter needing to be backwashed or manually cleaned. Anything that impedes the flow of water can contribute to this problem.  We look for the most obvious source of restriction when this problem occurs.