how to test for a broken impeller?

[dtaranath]

I have a Sedra 5000 pump attached to my skimmer which is not filling the chamber of the skimmer. What are the symptoms of a broken impeller? How can I diagnose if the problem is the pump vs. the impeller?

any insight would be greatly appreciated!

[Ron Reefman]

Can you take the pump out and take it apart? That would be my first step.

[kissman]

Do you have the skimmer in the correct level of water? I have had that happen before and effect the amount in skimmer. If you think it might be the pump or impleler I would be impeler. Try taking the pump apart, after inspecting it clean the pump and impeler in a vinegar bath. Could do the entire skimmer. I try to to clean mine in a vinegar bath about every 6 months.

[dtaranath]

The water level in the sump where the skimmer sits in is constant. I have a second sump that it drains into which fluctuates. I already took the skimmer apart, and cleaned out the magnet shaft and the internal housing. In the past, that has solved my problem. This time, it did not.

[sirreal63]

Check the hole on the venturi, they tend to calcify with time and vinegar won't clean it very well. I run a drill bit through mine at least once a year to clean it out and it always has some build up in it.

[leveldrummer]

if the magnet spins freely while the impellar end is fixed, then it is broken, the magnet and the impeller should be locked together. (there might be a slight bit of rotation, but it should come to a full stop at some point)

if the impellar isnt broken, then its likely an issue with cleaning something. either the air intake, the water intake. etc. or the pump itself is frozen and will no longer turn inside the case.

[dtaranath]

When an impeller "breaks" what actually breaks?

[kissman]

I have never had one realy break mine was always the little rubber pieces on each end wore out. I have seen pics of the swelling and splitting

[wildman926]

Originally Posted by leveldrummer

if the magnet spins freely while the impellar end is fixed, then it is broken, the magnet and the impeller should be locked together. (there might be a slight bit of rotation, but it should come to a full stop at some point)

Originally Posted by dtaranath

When an impeller "breaks" what actually breaks?

There is a stop tab on the magnet housing and impeller, that locks them together at a point when they spin. Either one can break to make the impeller spin freely, and not process any water through.

[kissman]

Originally Posted by wildman926

There is a stop tab on the magnet housing and impeller, that locks them together at a point when they spin. Either one can break to make the impeller spin freely, and not process any water through.

Nice! Glad a posted on the thread I learned something! Thanks