Hayward Power-Flo Troubleshooting & Repair Guide
By The Hayward Power Flo swimming pool pump can be found installed on may above ground swimming pools. Although the Hayward Power-Flo pump is rated as one of the top of the line above ground swimming pool pumps they still will need to be repaired as time goes on. Hayward Pool Products offers a full line of replacement parts for all of the Power-Flo models.
There are three different models of the Hayward Power Flo above ground swimming pool pump. The three models are the Power Flo Standard, The Power Flo LX and the Power Flo II. Even though the models are different and some options will vary between all three of the Hayward Power Flo pumps, the basic repair of this style pump will be the same. For example if you need to change the motor bearings because the pump is noisy or if you have to change the pump seal because it is leaking the repair would be the same for all three of the models listed above.
Some differences between the power flo models are options such as different horse powered motors, built in swimming pool timers and off course Hayward has made these pool pumps more energy efficient over the years as well. So if you are having any issues with your power flo LX, II or older model you can use our Hayward repair and troubleshooting guide below to help you get your pool pump up and running again in no time.
How To Turn On The Hayward Power-Flo Pump
The Hayward Power-Flo pump comes in many different models and depending which one you have will determine how it will turn on. Some of the power flo’s have timers on the back of the motors. If this is the case you will want to look for the manual on / off switch to manually turn the pump on or off. There also will be two-timer pins that you can set to make the pump turn on and off with the timer.
If your Hayward Power Flo does not have an automatic timer on the backside of the motor then you could just have a single toggle switch that will be located on the bottom of the back plastic housing. If you look on the bottom of the back motor housing there will be a switch that you can push from one side to the other. There also will be small print that says power on or off if you have a power flo with this option.
Not all Hayward Power Flo pumps will have this either. The last option is that your power flow pump could be directly wired into your pool electrical system and you will have to look for the pool timer box to turn in on. You usually will not have this situation and will have one of the two mentioned above.
How To Replace The Power Flo Pump Seal
If you notice some water leaking from the motor shaft of your pump you might need to replace the mechanical pump seal. The Pump seal is located between the impeller and the seal housing. You can buy a replacement Hayward Power Flo Pump Seal from many swimming pool stores or even a pump and motor repair shop.
To install the new pump seal you will first need to remove the pump volute. After you remove the volute you can remove the bolts that are located on the flange on the front of the wet end of the power flo(see diagram below). Once you remove the flange you will have access to the Hayward Power Flo impeller. You will not want to unscrew the impeller from the motor shaft.
The next step will be to remove the motor through bolts that connect the pump seal housing to the motor frame. Using a nut driver or small wrench remove the four motor through bolts and your pump seal housing will disconnect. Now that the pump seal housing is disconnect you will be able to remove the ceramic base of the pump seal from the housing. Once you remove that ceramic seal seat you will want to replace it with the new one.
The last part of the seal will be located on the pump impeller. There will be a spring on the impeller shaft with a ceramic disk on the end of the spring. You will want to slide this off of the impeller and replace with the new pump seal spring you have. Once you place this part of the pump seal onto the impeller you can screw your impeller back onto the pump shaft and re-assemble the entire Hayward Power Flo Pump.
How To Prime The Power Flo Pump
The Hayward Power Flo pump is generally used in above ground swimming pool filter systems were the skimmer is installed higher then the pump. This will provide gravity feed of water to the pump but what can happen is something called swimming pool pump hydro lock. Hydro lock happens when a pocket of air gets caught between the pump and the skimmer. The pump will then try to prime but will not be able to because of the air locked pump.
The way to unlock the air from the Hayward Power Flo and prime it correctly is to first make sure that the swimming pool is filled to mid skimmer. Once the pool is filled to that level you will want to open the top pf the pump slightly, just enough so air can wisp out of it and once you start to get water you can close the pump lid. Your pump is now primed and ready to start. Always stick around for a few minutes and watch the return jets in the pool to make sure the pump has reached full prime.
How To Clean The Power Flo Pump Basket
If your power flo pump is not flowing the water enough your pump strainer basket could be full of debris or possibly clogged. You will need to open the pump and remove the Hayward Power Flo pump strainer basket and empty and clean it. The way you can do this is to grab the handle on top of the pump lid. The cover / lid on the power flo will be clear. You will need to turn the cover about 90 degrees until the cover un-locks from the grooves. If you look at the side of the pump housing you will be able to see the notch and grooves that the cover of the pump housing locks into.
Once you have the cover removed you will want to pull out the pump strainer basket and clean it thoroughly with a garden hose making sure it is free of all debris. If you leave any loose debris inside of the pump basket it could get stuck in the impeller and clog it. This will cause your pump not to run right. Also, If you have any cracks in your pump strainer basket you will want to replace it as soon as possible before the loose debris that are traveling through the cracks in the basket destroy the impeller.
How To Unfreeze The Power Flo Pump Motor
After a long winter or sometimes when you don’t use the pool motor for an extended amount of time and with the right moisture conditions the armature of the motor can form surface rust and cause the motor to “freeze up”. Now, this isn’t the temperature kind of freeze, its more like a “humming sound” that will be coming from your Hayward power flo motor. You will usually hear this humming or jamming sound when you first plug in the pump, if in fact the motor is seized or jammed. Sometimes the frozen up pool pump motor will cause the circuit breaker to also blow.
Most of the time people think that they will have to replace the Hayward Power Flo Pump at this point but you actually can try a small repair technique that sometimes will un-freeze your humming motor. What you will want to do is to get a rubber mallet or small hammer and tap the motor casing all around. This will “free up” the surface rust enough so that next time you plug it in the motor will be able to spin.
If you have tapped the motor a few times and the pump still does not start you will want to have the pump looked at by a service shop to see if the motor can be replaced or you could just buy a new motor for the pump. This method will not make every Hayward Power Flo pump that is frozen up work again but it will work for some pumps. You also could tap the pump a tad harder or if you are handy could take the pump apart and look into the rebuilding of it.
Hayward Power Flo Troubleshooting And Common Problems
Problem: “I can’t get my Hayward Power Flo to pump water”
Solution: Your pump may have something called “hydro-lock”. If this is the case you will need to release the air from the filter system.
Problem: “I plug my power flo pump in but it just hums”
Solution: When the pump hums it could mean that you have some surface rust that has built up on the motor. Try tapping the motor forcefully a few times to “free up” the motor armature.
Problem: “I think the eye of my impeller on my power flo may be clogged, what do I do?”
Solution: You will need to remove the volute and the pump housing cover and will have to clean the eye of the impeller out.
Problem: “I can not find the on / off switch on my pool pump”
Solution: You may not have an on or off switch on your power flo, some models just had the pigtail cord that would just get plugged into the wall or the timer.
If you have any more questions please ask below:
@Sharon,
Do you have a Hayward PowerFlo or Super Pump?
Please let me know,
Joseph
@alex
Have you inspected the tube sheets to make sure there is no cracks? That is a common problem with Hayward EC filters, People “bump” the handle to hard and then the shaft breaks the tubes sheets, or actually creates small spider cracks. Inspect the tube sheets near the shaft center, you probably will see hairline spider cracks. If you do you will have to replace the tubesheets.
Please let me know of you need more help.
Joseph
Hello:
I have a haywood Power Flow SP1510. When I try to run the motor with no water (only for a few seconds) the motor runs fine. When I add water to the pump, the pump will not run. I have worked on motors before and this sounds like a classic case of the capacitor going bad. I dismantled the pump and found out that these motors do NOT have capacitors. My first question is: What could possibly be wrong with the motor (even tapping the motor when trying to start it with water in the pump did not work). My second question is more technical, if these motors do not use a starting capacitor, how does it start? I do hear a centrifugal switch when the pump starts and stops, what is it used for?
Thanks in advance!
@Alfonzo.
They are magnet driven motors, most of them these days anyhow, so you’re correct there are no caps in them.
Hence the name “MagTek” on most pool pumps these days.
If you are handy, in which it sounds like you are, I would suggest unplugging and disconnecting the pump from the pool. Then I would suggest taking the motor apart by removing the 4 motor “though bolts” and cleaning the motor armature and I would inspect the pool motor windings.
Sometimes rust gets “caught up” in there and this will prevent the motor from running(down magnet),
You also should make sure the windings are clean as well.
Let me know if you have any more questions and I hope this helps you,
Joseph
Thanks for the RAPID reply, I will work on it in the morning. Thanks for the answers, now I know I was looking for the wrong answers. Any ways, I do hear a centrifugal switch on ramp up and ramp down, what is it for.
Thanks again.
@Alfonzo,
@Alfonzo and everyone else: I have also just added a PDF above,
The switch could need adjustment:
Motor Shuts OFF – Check For:
1. Undersized wiring; loose connections; etc.
2. Low voltage at motor or power drop (frequently caused by undersized wiring or extension cord use).
3. Mechanical binding and electrical overload.
NOTE: Your Hayward pump motor is equipped with an “automatic thermal overload protector.†The motor will
automatically shut off if power supply drops before heat damage can build up causing windings to burn out. The
“thermal overload protector†will allow the motor to automatically restart once the motor has cooled, provided the
power source is again up to proper levels. It will continue to cut On/Off until the problem is corrected. Be sure to
correct cause of overheating.
Motor Hums, But Does NOT Start – Check For:
1. Centrifugal switch stuck in OPEN position.
2. Binding of motor shaft.
Hope that helps as well.
I have the sam problem that Sergey mention above
“I am trying to clean the strainer busket in my hayward pump,I turned the pump off, closed main port, all valves leading to the pump,but water is still gushing from the pump.What should I do? Thank you ”
any idea what is the solution?
‘Hi Imad,
Plug up the skimmer and the return with plugs and then open the pump,
Let me know if you have any more questions,
Joseph
YOU HIT THE NAIL ON THE HEAD! Thanks again. It was a low voltage problem. The connections had degraded over the years and needed to be replaced!
Alfonso
@Alfonzo,
Glad to hear you got it working,
Joseph
We have a Hayward power-flo 1.5 hp. It was fine last week now it seems to be making a lot of noise from the motor, and the outside of the motor gets very hot very quickly, it is 9 years old.
Any ideas?
thanks.
Hi Nicole.
Have you backwashed the pool filter? What is your pressure at?
Try those things first,
Joseph
My brother and I both have above ground hayward pumps 4 years old we both have the same problem it starded the end of summer last year the moter works for one hour shuts off and restart about 45 minutes later its a powerflow.
Hi Mark,
Do you have these pumps hard wired or are they being feed by extension cords?
I would need to know that first, Please let me know,
Joseph
Hello,
I have a Hayward Power-Flo 1 HP pool water pump like the one above and sudenly it became very noisy. I think it is related to the fact that it ran without water for ~ 1 hr because the pool lost the water.
How can I fix it?
Thanks!
Adrian.
Hi Adrian,
It sounds like your motor bearings need to be replaced, I would bring the pump down to a local pump rebuild shop. Do you have one around there, If your handy you could change the bearings yourself, but its not an easy task,
Let me know if you have any more questions,
Joseph
I have a problem with loosing prime when I attach the vaccuum. Normal PSI durning filtering is 15-18. when I connect the vac it will drop to 10 and start loosing prime and make the water bubbly.it doesn’t loose all water in the pump but will loose all pressure, gauge will drop to 0
I have check for cracks or leaks. I found a small crack in the vac line I replaced it and still is doing the same thing.
you can see air bubbles coming from the return and sometime it like burbs? the pump is a 1 1/2 year old.
any ideas?
Hi Patti,
Is this an above ground or in ground swimming pool?
Please let me know and I can help you further,
Joseph
Joseph
Yes it is . 24ft round above ground. the water level is in the normal range. or should I say a tad higher then normal we just had a ton of rain in N.Ill