Hayward Northstar Troubleshooting - Pump Running with Little or No Water Flow

A common problem with the Hayward Northstar pool pump is a pump strainer housing that doesn't completely fill with water. The result of this problem will be at minimum a cloudy swimming pool, and in the worst case a full algae bloom with big headaches to follow. The following troubleshooting tips should help identify why the Hayward Northstar isn't moving enough water.

Water Level Too Low - first make sure the water level is high enough to provide sufficient water to the pump. The water level should be half way up the skimmer intake. If not, fill the pool and see if this solves the problem.

Skimmer Weir Stuck - check the skimmer weir to make sure it isn't stuck in the closed position. Sometimes a stick or leaf will get stuck in the weir, holding it in the closed position and not allowing enough water to supply the pump.

Clogged Baskets - check both the skimmer basket and pump strainer basket for heavy debris. If either basket is clogged with debris, water flow can be restricted leading to the problem.

Dirty Filter - the problem could be as simple as a dirty main filter that is restricting the water flow. If this is the case, the filter pressure gauge will be showing a high pressure reading.

Pump Impeller Clogged - a very common problem with the Hayward Northstar pool pump is a clogged impeller. This is usually caused when the pump basket develops a crack and allows larger debris to make it into the pump impeller. When this problem happens, the pump will seem to be working normally, but will never pull a full basket of water, leading to water clarity issues. To clean out the impeller, turn off all equipment and flush the impeller out with water from a garden hose through the strainer basket housing. If this doesn't work, it may be necessary to use your finger or a screwdriver to remove the debris by reaching in through the strainer basket housing. (WITH THIS APPROACH DOUBLE CHECK TO MAKE SURE THE POWER IS OFF DURING CLEANING)

When working efficiently the Hayward Northstar swimming pool pump will pull enough pool water to completely fill the pump's strainer basket with water. When this isn't happening, it is important to troubleshoot the problem right away to restore normal water flow. If this problem is not solved in a timely manner, trouble with the swimming pool will follow.

More Articles on Pool Pumps