When your water barelyMoves at all

What you may notice

When pool circulation drops, you might notice the water barely moving inside the clear pump lid. You might notice large air bubbles forming inside the pump pot. The skimmer can stop pulling leaves from the surface. At the return jets, the water flow might feel weak or nonexistent. If you have a pool heater, it might display an error code and fail to ignite. A high reading on the filter pressure gauge can be a sign of restricted flow. Weak circulation can point to an issue with the pump, the filter or the plumbing lines at the equipment pad.

Common causes in the valley

The Southern Nevada Water Authority states that an average in-ground pool loses 48.6 gallons per square foot per year to evaporation. If the water level falls, the pump pulls air instead of water. The monsoon brings storms, strong winds and blowing dust in July and August, according to NWS Las Vegas. This debris fills the skimmer and pump baskets. The US Department of Energy and InterNACHI note that pool pumps and filters commonly last around 10 years, depending on run time and water balance. The US DOE rule enacted on July 19, 2021, means new pool filter pumps must meet federal efficiency standards, which in practice means variable-speed pumps for most residential pools.

What you can safely check

Before calling for a repair, there are a few safe visual checks you can do. Check whether the skimmer and pump baskets are full of leaves and debris. Check whether the water level looks low. Check whether the filter gauge reads higher than it usually does, or look for visible drips at the equipment pad. Look for any error code on a display. Do not open or adjust the equipment. Electrical sparks, burning smells or water near electrical equipment: turn the equipment off at the breaker only if it is safe to do so, keep everyone away, and call NV Energy or 911 if there is any danger.

When to call a technician

If you have checked the baskets and the water level but the circulation is weak, you can call a technician. A pump that hums without moving water can point to a failed motor or capacitor. We schedule urgent repairs, such as equipment that has stopped circulating the water, a leak at the equipment pad or a failed pool or spa heater, ahead of routine work during business hours. A technician has the tools to evaluate the suction lines and test the motor. If the system involves an attached spa, weak circulation can point to the spa heater or jets failing to operate.

How Kingfisher diagnoses it

Our repair diagnostic visit is $85, credited in full toward the repair when approved within 30 days. We provide a written estimate first. The technician inspects the pump, filter and equipment pad to locate the flow restriction. The technician explains what failed, what a repair costs and what replacement would cost. We recommend replacement only when age, parts availability or repeated failures make a repair poor value. We repair most major brands, including Pentair, Hayward, Jandy, Raypak and Sta-Rite. We provide a 90-day warranty on repair labor. New equipment we install carries a one-year installation labor warranty plus the manufacturer parts warranty.