Image you are relaxing around your pool with friends on a hot summer afternoon. Suddenly a noisy pool pump motor kicks in ruining the peacefulness of your backyard. The noise and vibration is such a distraction and annoyance that you have to go inside to avoid it. Learn how to soundproof a pool pump to solve this problem.
Here’s a summary of how to reduce pool pump noise:
- Determine the reason for the excessive noise
- Check the pool pump installation
- Dampen pool motor vibration
- Service the pool pump equipment
- Install a pool pump cover
- Buy or Build a soundproof pool pump enclosure
- Replace the pump with a new, quieter motor
If you want your family, friends and neighbors to enjoy the peace and serenity of your backyard you will need to service and insulate your pool equipment to reduce the noise.
Table of Contents
Why Is My Pool Pump So Noisy?
All swimming pool pump motors make some level of noise. However, if your pump noise has become excessive or annoying you need to investigate the cause. Maybe you can implement one of the following solutions to the problem.
Sometimes there is a simple reason for a swimming pool pump making excessive noise. Maybe blocked filtration equipment, low water level or a loose mounting bracket. If you have one of the following issues you may be able to quickly and simply reduce the noise with little effort.
So let’s work through the issues to determine what is causing the excessive noise and try to soundproof your pool pump.
How to Soundproof your Pool Pump
1. Check the Water Level in Your Pool
Checking the water level is always the first thing you should check. The pool water level will naturally decrease with evaporation and increase with rainfall.
If the water level is too high this is not so much an issue for your pool filtration system. The pump will still be able to draw sufficient water to operate normally. However, your pool may be about to overflow on your patio or landscaping causing a small flood. And if someone dives or swims in the pool it will cause an overflow.
When the water level is too low the water is at the bottom of the skimmer flap or lower. Your pool pump can be struggling to draw in water to the filter system. You will notice the skimmer flap is drawn wide open, the box fills with water and the flap closes. The water in the skimmer box is quickly sucked away by the pump. Then the flap will open again to refill the skimmer box. When the box is empty the pump is sucking in air causing the noisy, gurgling sound at the filter. At the pump you will see the pump basket fill with water. Then it will be sucked dry then refill with water again.
This is not only noisy but is causing your filter system and salt water chlorinator to not operate correctly. Do not allow this to continue as your pool water will not be filtered properly and you could burn out your pump motor.
The normal water level in your pool has to be between the bottom and top of the skimmer box flap in the side of the pool. Add water to set the water level at the midway mark of the flap.
2. Clean the Skimmer and Pump Baskets
The second most important regular pool check is to clean debris out of the skimmer basket in the skimmer box. You will need to do this if you have just manually vacuumed the pool because any debris that was on the bottom will now be in the skimmer basket.
The skimmer box is designed to trap larger pieces of debris such as leaves, insects, or anything floating on the surface of the water and prevent the debris clogging the filter. If the skimmer box is full of debris this will choke the water supply to the pump causing the pump to draw in air making a gurgling noise and placing mechanical strain on the motor. And you don’t want to burn out your motor!
Simply clean the skimmer basket by removing it and empty it into your rubbish bin. Note: Please turn off your pump when cleaning the basket for safety reasons.
Check the pump basket attached to the water inlet of your pool pump. The pump basket is the final backstop to trap debris before it is sucked through the pump into the filter unit.
Normally, the pump basket should stay clean if your pool water is clear and you have been cleaning your skimmer basket(s) regularly. However, if the pump basket contains debris when the pump is running you may see the pump basket only partially filled with water or fill with water, be sucked dry then refill with water again. This indicates the pump mechanism is partially blocked and cannot operate effectively making the pump work harder. You will need to turn off the pump, open the basket lid and clean out the debris.
Read our article on How to Clean a Swimming Pool
3. Clean the Pool Pump Impeller
The impeller is the spinning blade mechanism inside the pool pump unit that sucks water from the swimming pool through the pump to the filter and back to the pool.
If the pool pump impeller is partially blocked this will cause a noisy pump that is straining to suck water into the filter. In a severe case you may get cavitation. This is when the pump is sucking air to the impeller blade causing a vibration of the blade. This can lead to straining and overheating the motor causing damage to the pump unit.
If the pump basket has been dirty, debris may have been sucked into the pump impeller which will also need to be cleaned out. Turn off the pump so the timer unit cannot activate the pump.
One way to clean the impeller is to remove the pump basket and suck out the debris from the pump pipes with a vacuum cleaner by inserting the vacuum nozzle into the pipe. Otherwise, you will need to open the pump unit by removing the pump housing and clean out the debris. Check the impeller blade for damage. If the impeller looks worn out then it’s time to replace the whole unit.
4. Check the Pool Pump Mounting is Secure
Sometimes a pool pump can be noisy because it is vibrating on its mounting. In fact, the whole filtration unit (motor, filter, pipes, etc.) can be vibrating because it is no longer fastened securely to the base or it was never properly fastened when installed.
Check the unit is level as an unevenly installed pump may be vibrating.
Check the mounting bolts are tight. It is normal for mounting bolts to work loose over time due to the constant vibration from the motor unit. If loose tighten up with a spanner or socket wrench. Replace the washers under the bolts if worn out.
5. Install a Vibration Pad under the Pool Pump
If you have worked through the above issues and your pool pump is still too noisy you can try installing an anti-vibration pad under the motor unit to dampen the vibration and noise
When the pump is running you can try holding the pump with your hands or firmly pushing down on the pump to see if that reduces the vibration and noise. If this works to reduce the noise I recommend installing an anti-vibration pad under the pump unit.
Most pool filtration systems are installed on a concrete slab with mounting bolts. It is a simple procedure to unbolt the pool pump unit, slide an anti-vibration pad under the pump and bolt it down again. You may have to drill holes in the pad for the bolts to pass through.
If you are going to install a pad under the pump, I recommend you buy a quality anti-vibration pad that has been specifically designed for mounting electric pool pump motors in outdoor conditions otherwise the pad will rapidly deteriorate and fail to reduce noise and vibration.
6. Replace Worn Out Pump Bearings
When your pool pump is an older unit the motor bearings and shaft seal may be worn down. This causes the motor to make excessive noise.
If you’re a handyman and enjoy the challenge and satisfaction of fixing things yourself go ahead and buy a rebuild kit for the motor. When you do it yourself it will be less expensive than having the motor professionally serviced or buying a new pump.
However, for most people, if the motor is old and wearing out I would highly recommend investing your money into a new pool pump unit which will be quieter, more energy efficient and more powerful than your old pump. Also you will get a warranty.
7. Use a Cartridge Filter
If your pool filter unit is an old style sand-filled unit it may be naturally noisy due to the design of the unit. There is nothing you can do about this except replace it with a new cartridge filtration unit or build an insulated enclosure around the whole filter unit.
The newer style cartridge filters are double insulated and much quieter than the old-style sand filter units. Also I find the filter cartridges are easier to backwash or remove to clean with a hose. When the filter cartridge is old and worn out it is easy and relatively inexpensive to replace.
Read our article on How to Clean a Pool Cartridge Filter
8. Install a Cover to Soundproof your Pool Pump
When none of the above solutions has helped reduce your swimming pool pump noise level install a pool pump cover.
This is an easy solution for anyone to install as the cover simply slides over the pump around the plumbing and is bolted down. Sometimes it is necessary to cut a groove in the cover to fit around pipes.
These covers are designed to dampen and deflect noise but also provide adequate ventilation around the pump motor unit. The cover will also protect your pump from the rain and sun.
9. Move the Filter System further away from the Pool
Usually it is not possible or would be too expensive to relocate the pool pump and filter to another location further away from the pool area. All the pool plumbing and mounting pad would need to be relocated. Normally, the pool pump needs to be installed within a maximum distance from the pool for it to work effectively. Otherwise you would need a more powerful motor to pump the water a greater distance through the pipes to the filter unit.
I have seen an installation where the owner was able to successfully move the pump around the corner of the house. The move successfully deflected noise away from the pool area. However this is not usually a viable option for most existing installations.
10. Install an Enclosure to Soundproof your Pool Pump
Another simple way to reduce the noise from the pump is to purchase a small garden tool shed and place it over the whole filtration system. If you’re a handyman you may want to build your own customized enclosure from timber or metal materials. Lining the enclosure with acoustic panels is easy and will provide extra soundproofing. The enclosure will also provide your filter system with protection from the weather. Just make sure the enclosure allows airflow to the pump motor.
11. Replace Your Old Noisy Pool Pump
The last solution is to replace your noisy pool pump with a new one. This definitely will definitely help to reduce noise and soundproof your pool pump.
Over time pool pump technology has vastly improved with more powerful, more energy efficient and much quieter motors. There are even variable speed motors that automatically operate at the appropriate speed level for the amount of water pressure required to pump water through the filter.
If you have an old pool pump, rather than spending your time and money to implement all the above solutions to quieten a pool pump, it may be more cost efficient to purchase a new pump.
You will not only have a very quiet pump but you will save a lot of money in electricity charges.
If you are a home handyman you should be able to install the pump yourself saving more money.
I recommend buying a new pump online to ensure you get the best product at the best price.
Read our article on Variable Speed Pool Pumps
When to Run the Pool Pump
Sometimes the disturbance from pool pump noise can be minimized by running the pool pump at select times of the day. Normally pumps are run for a few hours in the morning and again for a few hours in the late afternoon or early evening. You may want to set your filter controller to run longer hours in the weekend and shorter hours on week days if the pool isn’t used during the week. So simply by changing the times when your pump runs can reduce the distraction of pump noise to your family.
However, this depends on the electricity supply to your pump. If your pump is connected to a reduced night rate of power, run the motor at night. However it had better be insulated or you will be having trouble sleeping and your neighbors won’t be impressed with you. If you have solar power on your roof then the middle of the day is the best time to run your pump.
And don’t forget that during the summer the pump will have to run longer than in the winter. The extra heat and pool usage requires more filtration and chlorine production.
Final Thoughts
I hope you found this information useful for learning how to soundproof your pool pump. If so, please share this web page with other pool owners. Maybe you have a neighbor with a noisy pump that needs this information.
Do you have any questions or comments regarding your own pool? Please feel free to type them in the comment section below. We’ll get back to you as soon as we can.
