Pool Pump Not Working — what it means + real repair cost in Florida 2026
Typical Florida installed cost for pool pump replacement (variable-speed): $1,200–$2,800 — a curated 2026 planning range, not a bid. The most accurate figure for your home comes from a verified local pro (free, below). In Lee County, pool-adjacent permit activity over the last 90 days was in the 50+ band among records we track — public-record aggregates, not a national guess.
What it usually means
A dead pool pump is a water-quality clock — without circulation, even a clean pool starts turning within days, so the priority is finding whether it's power, prime, or the motor.
Handle it soon — these get more expensive with time. If the pump is hot, humming without spinning, or tripping its breaker, cut its power and don't keep resetting — a seized motor or electrical fault can overheat. A pool pump runs on real voltage; leave repairs to a pro.
Common causes:
• A tripped breaker or protected outlet, or a power problem at the pump — the first and cheapest thing to check
• A lost prime or an air leak on the suction side, so the pump spins but moves no water
• A failed capacitor or motor, common as pumps age in Florida's heat and humidity
• A clogged impeller or basket choking flow until the pump overheats and shuts down
Red flags when hiring
• A full replacement quoted before prime, power, and the impeller basket have been checked
• A single-speed pump pushed where Florida efficiency rules point to variable-speed
• No state license number for the equipment and electrical work
• No permit where the repair ties into pool plumbing or wiring
Quick answers
Why is my pool pump running but not pumping water?
That's usually a prime or suction-side air leak — the motor spins but can't pull water. Check the pump basket, lid seal, and water level first; a persistent loss of prime points to an air leak a pro should trace.
Should I repair or replace a pool pump?
A newer pump with a bad capacitor or seal is worth repairing; an old, inefficient single-speed motor that fails is often better replaced with a variable-speed pump that pays back on energy over Florida's long season.
What this usually costs in Florida
Pool pump replacement (variable-speed): $1,200–$2,800 (typical ~$1,900)
Local permit records we track for Lee County lean toward the "mid-high" cost tier for pool work nearby.
Curated Florida 2026 estimate — installed cost for a typical FL single-family home, not a bid.
Licensing & permits in Florida
Florida licenses this trade at the STATE level (DBPR / CILB (CPC)). Hiring unlicensed for this work is illegal for the contractor — and risky for you: no permit rights, no insurance backing, no recourse.
Work like this often requires a county permit — a legitimate pro pulls it, not you.
Basis: FL Stat. 489 (DBPR state licensing).
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Covered: Lee · Pinellas · Sarasota · Charlotte · Hillsborough · Manatee | As of 2026-08-05 | Local numbers appear only when the sample is large enough to protect privacy.