EQUIPMENT

The pump will not start

It is nearly always power rather than a dead motor, so work through the breaker, the RCD and the timer before you assume the worst.

Work down the list in order. The first few take under a minute each and account for most cases.

Open the control box and look at the pump's breaker.
If it is tripped or sitting mid-way, push it fully down first, then up. Flipping it up from the middle position usually does not re-engage it.
If it trips again the moment you reset it, stop here. Do not reset it a third time.
Look at the RCD in the same box. If it has tripped, reset it once.
If the RCD drops again within minutes there is a genuine earth leakage. Leave it off and call us.
Turn the timer dial, or press its button, to a manual ON position.
If the pump fires up, nothing is broken. Reset the timer to 8–10 hours a day.
Listen. If the pump hums but the shaft does not turn, switch the breaker off within seconds.
With the power off, take the fan cover off the back of the motor and try turning the shaft by hand.
Stiff or seized means a jammed shaft; free but still humming when powered usually means the capacitor. Either way, that is a technician's job.
If it had been running and cut out on a very hot day, leave it off for 30–60 minutes to cool, then try again.
Check nothing is stacked against the motor's air vents.

If the motor spins but no water moves

Switch the pump off and open the strainer lid.
Lift the basket out and rinse it clear.
Wipe the O-ring and its seat clean, then give it a thin film of silicone grease.
Fill the pump body with water, right to the brim.
Hand-tighten the lid without tools, then restart the pump.

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Last updated 26 February 2026