Pool Pump Trips Breaker / GFCI

December 8, 2014

3 Minute Read

Electrical problems can be among the most mysterious and frustrating that pool owners experience. They are also dangerous to the untrained DIYer so great caution – or a licensed electrician – is required when attempting to diagnose. Here are the most common reasons we see when it comes to pool pumps tripping.

Moisture

GFCIs are quite sensitive to moisture so if your breaker trips after a storm, you might just need to let the sun do its thing for a day or two. If it’s not summer, you can probably just leave the pump off for a day and try again once everything has had a chance to dry. In the summertime, you can still get by with your pump not running for one or two days but it will require some extra chlorine (shock) and manual circulation with a pole or paddle a couple of times per day.

Keep in mind that rain isn’t the only possible source of water. A misdirected sprinkler, spray from power washing, even high humidity can affect a GFCI.

Bad or Wrong Breaker

Sometimes breakers just fail due to age or inferior quality. If the problem does not appear to be with your pump and/or motor, try replacing the breaker.

You could also have the wrong size breaker if you recently bought a new pump or motor that was not an exact match to the previous model. Confirm you have the correct breaker size by checking how many amps the new motor requires.

Short in Pump

You might be able to spot an obvious pump motor short by disconnecting power and taking off the motor end cap. Make sure all wiring is properly connected and nothing appears obstructed or burnt. Insects who decide your motor makes a really cozy home can create an electrical short by blocking contacts.

Wrong Voltage

Most complete pumps and replacement motors leave the factory set at 230v to prevent installers from accidentally running 230 volts to a motor that is set to 115v. This has saved many motors from premature frying but it also results in many confused homeowners. Typically in this scenario, the pump will initially come on, then shut down, repeat. Check to see which voltage your motor is set to and what voltage you have running to it.

A Quick Fix

One quick thing to check is if the “reset” button on the GFCI simply needs to be pressed back in. If the GFCI trips, then you will need to press the reset button to restore electricity back to your equipment. Watch this helpful GFCI outlet video for more details.

Always remember that addressing electrical issues requires proper knowledge and safety precautions. If you are in any doubt, enlist the help of a qualified pool professional.

Matthew Simmons Technical Writer & Pool Product Expert

Swimming pool expert at InyoPools and host of Poolside Chat, brings over a decade of experience in the pool industry.

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163 responses to “Pool Pump Trips Breaker / GFCI”

Lori

August 30, 2017

We live in Cypress, just outside of Houston. Before Harvey hit, my husband turned of the main breaker to the pool because everytime we have a storm the breaker trips anyway. Now when we turn the main breaker on, then turn the breaker on at the pool pumps, it pops immediately. It almost gave me a heart attack this morning. We did not flood here at our house. Any tips for me that doesn’t require spending money on an electrician?

Reply
Fernando

August 25, 2017

This is the 3rd pool pump that I have had my warranty replace. I was told that it is because the motor is flat on the ground and water is causing it to short circuit. I was told I need to raise my pool pump but it doesn’t seem like an easy task. The whole unit seems to be attached together. Is it possible for me to purchase some pvc pipes and add an upward extension for it, so the motor doesn’t sit directly on the ground.

Reply
1. Matthew Simmons
  
  August 28, 2017
  
  it would take some simple re-plumbing to raise your pump off the ground. It would require basic PVC pipe, glue, and unions.
  
  Reply
Robert

July 14, 2017

Hello, Hoping you can help. When We first opened our in ground pool in late May, the pool pump wouldn’t turn on. The circuit breaker switch was bad. I replaced it & the pump turned on immediately. Now all of a sudden , 1.5 months later, when I turn on the breaker switch for the pump, it runs for about 2 seconds then trips. This just started happening recently. The first time it did it, I had to flip the switch about 3 times and it eventually turned on and ran fine but now, about a week later after that first incident, it wont stay running, it keeps tripping the breaker switch. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks

Reply
1. Robert
  
  July 14, 2017
  
  Just an update: I unplugged the pump and the circuit breaker switch still trips
  
  Reply
  1. Matthew Simmons
    
    July 20, 2017
    
    There is a likelihood of two things that could be wrong, the wires from the breaker to the motor are shot or are wet. Or the motor has gone kerplunk and you need to replace it.
    
    The wires are the cheapest fix, either test the voltage at the motor leads or just run new wires. If that fixes the problem then, YAAAY. If the problem persists, the motor may be the issue. How old is the motor?
    
    Reply
Ed

July 11, 2017

Hello … recently I went a week without running the pool … when I went to turn the pool on finally breaker tripped. Troubleshot everything had electrician come over switch breaker now the breaker don’t trip with motor not plugged in. Once I plug the motor in and flip the switch it automatically trips no noise or anything. Do I need a new motor or is there something else I can check first?

Reply
1. Matthew Simmons
  
  July 12, 2017
  
  Did the electrician change the breaker-to-motor circuit wires? It could be that circuit wires have a short, causing the GFI to trip.
  
  If the breaker and wires have been changed, you can try taking the motor to a motor shop for an inspection. Before you buy a new motor, I would at least the wires from the breaker have been checked for continuity, and/or changed.
  
  Reply
  1. Ed
    
    July 12, 2017
    
    The wires were check asking as the motor wasn’t plugged in the breaker didn’t trip … so it’s motor to outlet.
    
    Reply
    1. Matthew Simmons
      
      July 13, 2017
      
      I do not completely understand that last reply.But if the motor is still flipping after the breaker and wires were changed and respectively, I would have a motor shop inspect the motor or just have it replaced.
      
      Reply
Lottie

June 28, 2017

My pool pump runs on a timer. almost every time it kicks on it triggers the GFI. If I plug directly into outlet it is fine. Whats the problem. Changed timers and same thing happens. tried plugging into diff outlet and it did the same thing

Reply
Al

June 24, 2017

Hello Matthew,
We have one of those economical blue blow-up pools that has a pump with a gfci built in. I have had this and other pumps of the same type on a timer and when the timer turns on the gfci always trips. This has happened on 4 other timers as well. Is there any kind of special prog. timer I can buy to prevent the gfci from tripping?

Reply
1. Matthew Simmons
  
  June 27, 2017
  
  A GFCI is meant to interpret slight changes to the circuit as a sign of possible danger, causing it to flip the circuit. The blow-up pools are not known for the study engineering, so the GFCI may be interpreting the timer’s on/off as something nefarious. This is my guess on the subject, I wouldn’t know how to fix it. You might want to get a handyman to come take a look at the circuit.
  
  Reply
Vince

June 21, 2017

Great thread! Thx for sharing! I think I have moisture issues, but will change the breaker as you duggest. When I use an extension cord to another outlet all is good! Already swapped out new receptacles and both looked fried.

Reply
Kerri

May 30, 2017

Hi, we just had our Hayward pump for unground pool replaced with a Hayward 1.5 hp by our pool guy, since replacing the pump it keeps tripping the fuse and therefore cannot turn pool on. Our pool guy reassured us that the hp and voltage are all the same as our old pump. Do you know what could be causing this?

Reply
1. Matthew Simmons
  
  May 30, 2017
  
  Could be a bad breaker. Could be he is not telling the truth and he overloaded the current breaker. Or the motor could be a dud. The only way to know for sure is to either follows the steps we list or have him troubleshoot it on-site.
  
  Reply
Tyrone

May 23, 2017

Hey there, I just replaced my Hayward super pump 1hp motor. The new motor makes a clicking sound then eventually gets super hot and turns off…any thoughts

Reply
1. Matthew Simmons
  
  May 23, 2017
  
  What voltage do you have wired to the pump? And is the motor set to the cotrrect corresponding voltage?
  
  The clicking sound may be the centrifugal switch that is opening and closing repeatedly because the motor is no getting to the full 3450 RPMS. A major reason for that in new motors is the motor is pre-wired for 230 voltage, but you only have 115 volts wired to it. The motor is not able to get enough juice to fully open the switch. This may also cause overheating because the motor is trying to pull too many amps in the single hotline.
  
  Reply
Rob

May 13, 2017

So it hasn’t rained in over a day; today very sunny so good day to open the pool. Everything went fine until I flipped the switch for the pump. Heard a pop, nothing happened. Found the breaker (a 20) and it was tripped, so I reset it. Tried again and same thing. Worked fine all last year, rarely tripped the breaker if at all, even during heavy rains. Now just nothing. I’ll let it sit in the sun, reset breaker, and try again. Not sure what else to do but call in an electrician….sigh.

Reply
1. Matthew Simmons
  
  May 14, 2017
  
  As I have said in a few other comments, it is all about eliminating suspects. start at the breaker and work your down the circuit to the pool pump.
  
  Switch the pump’s power to another breaker to determine it’s not a faulty breaker. Then use a voltmeter to test the voltage of the wires on the pump end of the circuit, and so on.
  
  Reply