Landscaping - Irrigation System Pump

I have a 15 zone irrigation system that uses an A.O. Smith 3/4 hp pump to boost the water pressure. The whole system is about 12 years old. Lately I notice when it gets somewhere around zone 10-13, the pump stops working. I also notice the pump is hot - almost too hot to touch after it stops working.

I've heard that it possible for someone who is relatively handy to disconnect the pump and take it to a place to have it rebuilt. I wanted to check here before I take a run at this to see if given my circumstances, if this is the next thing to do or if there are other troubleshooting/diagnosis steps I should take first.

Let it cool down overnight. Turn the system on, having the pump run, then hold your hand near the slits on the sides of the pump, near the back end (you will see a cap on this end that is held in with probably 2 screws). See if you feel a light breeze from the fan cooling the motor.

Also check to see if your pump is running with water going nowhere. Turn on each zone and make sure that the zone is actually popping up. If its not then your pump is running but water is not flowing. This will overheat the pump, too, and means you have some sort of a problem with a particular zone.

If all your zones work and there is nothing blocking the pump's ability to cool itself, then having a checkup might be a good idea.


I am assuming you are using city water and the pump just help it flow faster and at a higher pressure.