PUMP-MOTOR REPAIR |
There are Profits in
Pump-Motor Repairs
Almost every pool and spa
pump-motor made since 1985, and even
most made before, has been driven by
an electric motor. From time to time,
these electric motors and the wet ends
of the pump-motors fail and need to
be repaired. These repairs can be per-
formed with replacement parts and a
few hours of time.
For the last 25 years or so there has
been a big misunderstanding about
electric motors. The general public,
along with many pool store owners
and pool and spa technicians, have
no idea that these electric motors can
38 www.nespapool.org
by Joseph Tamargo
be rebuilt for a fraction of the price of
replacing the pump-motor or the motor
on the pool.
While sometimes the only choice is
to replace them, in at least 70 percent of
the cases of failed pump-motors, repairs
can be made to revive and restore service
for less than $50 in parts.
Repairing electric motors is not only
a great source of income for the average
pool service tech and pool company, but
it’s also a less expensive option to offer
your customers. An additional revenue
stream for every pool or spa technician
is selling and maintaining a stock of
electric motor bearings, pump shaft
seals, capacitors and switches.
HOW TO LAUNCH A PUMP-MOTOR
REPAIR BUSINESS
Let’s begin with the special tools
you’ll need.
• The bearing puller. One of the most
important tools used in rebuilding an
electric motor is the bearing puller,
which is the most effective way to
remove the motor bearings from an
electric motor. There are three types
of bearing pullers: traditional hand-
powered; hydraulic hand-powered;
 and air-powered hydraulic. Bearing
pullers can either have two or three
“jaws.” When working on pool or
spa pump-motors, use a three-jaw/
leg puller for optimal and efficient
removal of the bearings from the
pump armature shaft. If a two-jaw
puller is used instead, the threaded
end of the armature shaft could get
damaged.
• The strap wrench. The strap wrench
is another tool that is commonly
used to rebuild pool and spa pump-
motors. It is used to remove impel-
lers. In some cases, when the pump
mechanic works on larger, dual out-
put pumps as sometimes seen in hot
tubs more than one strap wrench may
be needed to hold back on the oppo-
site impeller.
• The snap ring pliers. On many pool and
spa pump-motors, the mechanic will
find something called a “snap ring.”
This ring is used to hold everything
in place on the unit being repaired.
BECOMING A PUMP-MOTOR MECHANIC
There are two ways the pump-motor
mechanic trainee gains the experience
necessary to become a master pump
mechanic journeyman. The first part
of the training comes from basic elec-
tricity courses and shop classes, which
will develop proficiency in using basic
hand tools. These are courses that could
be taken in high school or after. Taking
college-level courses in electrical engi-
neering could be helpful, but they are
not a requirement and will not handicap
the pump-motor mechanic or trainee if
he does not have them.
The second part of training is hands-
on experience. In the old days, there
were few manufacturers of electrical
motors, and the motors and pumps
did not differ appreciably. Today, even
though the basics are the same, there is
a learning curve needed to get accus-
tomed to repairing a new brand of
pump-motor. This will add a few man-
hours to the repair time until you learn
the new pump-motor inside and out,
but the knowledge cannot be gained in
a classroom.
SUPPLY & DEMAND
About 110 years ago, electric motor
and pump repair was actually more
popular than it is today. In the last few
years, however, repair parts and supplies
have become more abundant. As of now,
the market and resources available to
the pool and spa pump-motor mechanic
are more than sufficient to successfully
repair, recycle and rebuild almost all
electric pump-motors.
The amount of space needed will
depend on how many pumps will be
repaired. Another consideration is
how much stock to keep. For example,
the mechanic may want to stock hun-
dreds of bearings, seals, capacitors,
used pumps, etc. That would obviously
require more space than a few bearings
for you customers in your pool or spa
cleaning route.
If you already own a pool company
and have a brick and mortar store, con-
sider hiring and training a few pump-
motor mechanics who could repair
electric motors and pumps at your
existing location. Already having a pool
business with a building will give you an
edge in the pump-motor repair market.
Before visualizing all of the money
you will make, consider just how spe-
cialized the business of pump-motor
and motor repair really it. The pump-
motor mechanic or company will need
to take into account all the start-up costs
associated with running a successful
pool and spa motor repair shop. Once
the start-up costs have been established,
there is plenty of money to be made as
long as the work is done in a quality
manner on a timely basis. If each pump-
motor you rebuilt had an average of $70
profit and you repaired one pump-motor
a day, 200 days a year, you could make
$14,000 from just repairing one pump
a day.
Quality repairs are essential, and
through quality workmanship and
years of experience, the mechanic will
develop a knack for knowing when parts
are installed correctly. One way is to do
a “wet test” before returning the pool or
spa pump to the customer. A wet test is
when you fill the pump with water and
run it for a few minutes to ensure that
the pump-motor is running correctly.
This will provide both the pump-motor
mechanic and the customer with peace
of mind. The pump-motor mechanic or
company should offer at least a one-year
or more warranty to their customers.
Start your business small and grow
it. Electric motor and pump repair takes
time. Not every pump is the same when
Joseph Tamargo is presenting a
seminar at the 2013 Atlantic City
Pool & Spa Show. To learn more
about his seminar and to see the full
education schedule for the Show,
visit ACPoolSpaShow.com
The Edge 39
 it comes in for a repair. Once the pump-
motor mechanic gains hands-on experi-
ence, he or she will be able to better scale
the business to a larger size.
Some pump-motor repair shops hire
multiple helpers and journeyman so that
they can take on several jobs at once.
If you have the budget to hire multiple
employees and there is strong demand
in your area, you have every reason to
starting a larger size pump-motor and
electric motor repair shop.

FINDING CUSTOMERS & KEEPING

SALES UP
Just like any business, create a mar-
keting plan. Work that plan; do not let
it work you. Before you can even think
about opening a pump-motor shop,
spend some time on a business plan that
will include your marketing strategy.
In the old days, traditional market-
ing such as direct mail, radio ads and
television commercials used to be the
normal way to advertise. Today, with the
high degree of technology being infused
into our everyday lives, the approach to
sales and marketing have also changed.
Today’s pool and spa pump-motor
mechanic must understand, harness and
use the power of social media to fully
understand the customer’s needs. Each
pump-motor repair customer will need
service, but the degree of that service
will change from pump to pump.
Using the power of Facebook to build
the pump-motor repair company’s page
can help you earn trust and gain busi-
ness. The pump-motor mechanic could
also offer a free pump-motor repair
troubleshooting diagnosis on the pump-
motor company’s Facebook page.
The power of technology is help-
603387_Cleardeck.indd 1 28/11/12 11:12 PMing the pump-motor repair business.
The pump-motor mechanic can now
NESPA & AXA Advisors
tell their customers that days of wait-
Because it’s Not Safe ing for diagnosis and troubleshooting
to Swim Alone are over. The mechanic can also quote
a price for repair over the internet and
www.AXA-Advisors-forNESPA.com then the customer can simply drop off
(212) 408-9016 the pump-motor at the location of the
business for repair.  |

Joseph Tamargo, owns WeT HeaD Pump

Plan for Your Personal Financial Security Repair, Rochester, New York and has been
Securities and investment advisory services offered through AXA Advisors, LLC (NY, NY 212-314-4600), member FINRA, SIPC. working with pools, spas and pumps for
Annuity and insurance products offered through AXA Network, LLC and its subsidiaries. AGE 59379(11/10)
more than 22 years.

40 www.nespapool.org
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