Building a good base for your pool pump
Updated : · Piscines VP
The pump and filter should sit on a solid, level, well-drained base: a small concrete pad or pavers on a compacted gravel bed. Avoid soil, grass and hollow wood decks. The base should be a bit larger than the equipment, and the pump should also be isolated from the base so it doesn't make it vibrate.
A good base is half of a quiet pump.
What makes a good base
- Solid: it doesn’t move, sink or heave with frost.
- Level: a tilting pump vibrates more and wears faster.
- Drained: water shouldn’t pool under the equipment.
- Solid rather than hollow: a hollow surface resonates.
The options
| Base | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|
| Small poured concrete pad | Very solid, durable | More work, transmits vibration if the pump isn’t isolated |
| Pavers on compacted gravel | Simple, easy to redo | Can heave with frost if the bed is thin |
| Precast equipment pad | Quick to set | Needs a well-compacted bed |
| Wood deck | Easy | Hollow, amplifies vibration, moves |
| Soil or grass | — | Avoid: the pump sinks and tilts |
Steps for a paver base
- Dig out the area a few inches deep.
- Spread crushed stone and compact it.
- Add a thin layer of stone dust and level it.
- Lay the pavers or pad and check level in both directions.
- Leave a slight slope so water drains away.
Don’t forget isolation
A solid pad transmits vibration very well. So the pump doesn’t make the base resonate, isolate it from the surface. See How vibration isolation works.
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Frequently asked questions
How big should the base be?
Big enough for the pump and filter, with room around them for maintenance and ventilation. Leave enough space to open the strainer and remove the pump easily.
Is a wood base OK?
A hollow wood deck tends to amplify vibration, like a drum, and wood moves with humidity. If you have no choice, isolate the pump well from the wood.
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