Replace your pool pump motor when it starts screaming.

When your pump sounds like a dying blender and won’t hold prime, it’s past time to replace it.

There are a few clear signs your motor is done. Loud humming with no spin usually means a dead start capacitor, but if it’s screeching or grinding, the bearings are shot. A leaking seal (water dripping from the shaft) will kill the motor eventually, and if your breaker trips every time the pump kicks on, you’ve got a winding short. Any one of these is a good reason to swap it.

When to replace vs. repair? If the motor is more than five years old, just swap it. Repairing an old motor is throwing money at something that’s already worn out. A new motor costs $150–$300; a seal kit is $20 but takes an hour if you’re handy. If the motor itself is dying, don’t bother fixing it.

Same goes for the whole pump: if the housing is cracked or the impeller’s chewed up, buy a new pump rather than piecing together a Franken-pump.

A new pump will save you headaches and maybe even a few bucks on your electric bill.