Help! My pump isn’t working!

We get this type of call all the time. Here’s some steps you can take if you notice that your pump, the lifeblood of your aquatic ecosystem, has stopped working.

Step 1: Verify the pump is plugged in and that there is power at the outlet

Many times a breaker has tripped or the reset button on the GFCI outlet needs to be reset. Plug something else in to see whether there is power or not. If the outlet or breaker trips immediately after being reset, it means there is either water in the cord or pump itself causing a ground fault or the GFCI outlet may need to be replaced. Pull out the pump, inspect the power cord for any damage, and plug it into a different outlet. If it runs while dry try submerging in a bucket of water. If it still runs fine then it’s likely the GFCI outlet may be faulty and needs to be replaced. If it is tripping then water has gotten inside the pump. Depending on the make and model there are seal kits that can be purchased to make the pump water tight again.

Step 2: Check for clogging

If there is definitely power getting to the pump the most likely scenario is that leaves, algae, or other debris have clogged it. Clean off anything that is blocking the pump’s intake screen. You should also take the screen off and make sure that nothing got past the screen that is now clogging the impeller. ​

Step 3: Make sure enough water is getting to the pump

  If the pump is in a skimmer the water level in the pond needs to be high enough to allow the proper flow of water into the skimmer opening while the pump is running. If you’ve lost enough water due to evaporation or a leak then your pump will quickly outpace the flow of water coming into the skimmer. 

 If you have an external pump it’s possible that the pump lost its prime for whatever reason and is sucking air. Make sure the intake screen isn’t clogged and is fully underwater, the drain plug is sealed tight, it’s filled with water, and the inlet and outlet fittings are sealed tight. Any source of air leakage will prevent the pump from priming correctly.

Step 4: Check the outflow

Sometimes debris or filter media can black the opening at the bottom of your biofalls. If this is the case, you’ll need to take out the media in the biofalls to investigate. This would also allow you to make sure the plumbing below ground is not crushed or blocked. Run a garden hose into the top of the pipe and disconnect the pump from the plumbing to see if water runs all the way through the piping.

Check Valve Assembly

Check valves can occasionally be the problem as well. If the rubber stopper inside the check valve has become damaged or broken loose it can totally or partially block the flow of water. Taking off the check valve and hearing rattling when it’s shaken is a telltale sign that it needs to be replaced

​Step 5: Motor Troubleshooting

If nothing is clogging the pump’s screen, impeller, or outflow and there’s definitely power at the outlet it’s plugged into, try to listen for any humming or vibration coming from the pump. This would be a sign of life. Many pump models have a capacitor that acts as a battery to help initially jump start the pump. If this has broken then the motor will not start without it being replaced. Call the manufacturer for details. ​

If you can’t hear any humming or vibrations coming from the pump when plugged in then it’s very likely your pump will need to be replaced. Consult this pump sizing guide to make sure your replacement is the right fit for your situation. It’s possible that the broken pump wasn't initially sized properly and therefore died prematurely.

Give us a call here at AWM Water Features if you need any help through the pump troubleshooting process!

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