Cleaning skimmer pumps?

[tent boy]

I have a SWC skimmer that has 2 pumps. It has been running for over a year. Do these pumps ever need to be cleaned out? They dont seem to be as effective as when new.

 

[wetbehindears]

Regular cleaning is always good that way u can keep check on propeller condition and on seals.

 

[Henry Colf]

Soak them in distilled vinegar for a couple of hours if their is any scale build up. Cleaning them once every six months wont hurt em and will probably help extend the pumps life.

 

[tmz]

I take out the impeller assembly and clean it and the cavity it fits in with some vinegar to remove mulm and precipitant every six months or so. if you have lot's of precipitant in your system more frequent cleaning may be needed.

 

[Johnsy85]

Do you dilute the vinegar at all w/ water, or just soak w/ straight vinegar?

Thanks

 

[cardiffgiant]

I use straight distilled vinegar. I also find that cleaning the pump for my my SWC NW150 every 6 months gets me the best performance. I basically do exactly what TMZ suggests.

 

[tmz]

Straight is ok . It's a mild acid only 5% acetic acid. I go 1:1 with water though and it works fine. Long soaks can age the plastic or with some pumps erode the seals so I just clean the impeller assemblies with it . If I need to soak a pump for some reason , I'll dilute the vinegar and limit the soak to an hour or so or a short a period as possible while still dissolving precipitants.