
Leaking shaft seal
A drip at the motor joint often points to a worn seal, which is usually a repair on a young pump.
Nationally, pool pump replacement cost runs $700 to $4,000 installed, about $1,300 on average, per Angi and HomeAdvisor. California has required variable-speed replacement motors of 0.5 hp and up since July 2021. So plan around the national $800 to $2,500 variable-speed range, and use the 50% rule for pool pump repair in Long Beach.
Replacing a pool pump costs $700 to $4,000 installed in 2026, with a $1,300 national average. Angi's 2026 pool pump data gives those figures, and HomeAdvisor lists the same range. Use the national $800 to $2,500 variable-speed range as a starting budget, since no published guide prices Long Beach separately.
HomeGuide puts a typical job lower, at $300 to $1,600 for the pump and labor, because its range includes above-ground pumps. The two guides measure different jobs.
One Google reviewer wrote "My swimming pools pump stopped working" and found Adam. Adam "figured out and corrected the issue" in minutes, per the review, and individual results vary.
These are installed prices, pump and labor, from national cost guides and one Orange County pool company. None of them is an Adams price, and we quote your pool by phone.
| Pump type | Installed range | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Single-speed | $250 to $1,000 | HomeAdvisor (Jun 2026), Angi (Sep 2026) |
| Dual-speed | $300 to $1,600 | HomeAdvisor (Jun 2026), Angi (Sep 2026) |
| Variable-speed | $800 to $2,500 | HomeAdvisor (Jun 2026), Angi (Sep 2026) |
| Variable-speed, lower estimate | $800 to $2,000 | HomeGuide (Jul 2025) |
| Variable-speed, higher estimate | $1,500 to $2,500 | Swimply (Jul 2026) |
| Variable-speed, Orange County | Up to $2,600 | ACE Pool Repair & Remodel (undated) |
| Medium-head, common for basic pools | $400 to $2,500 | HomeAdvisor (Jun 2026), Angi (Sep 2026) |
| High-head | $1,250 to $4,000+ | HomeAdvisor (Jun 2026), Angi (Sep 2026) |
HomeGuide says covered single-speed pumps stopped being manufactured in 2021, so use the variable-speed rows for an inground pool in California.
California has required variable-speed replacement pool pump motors of 0.5 hp and up since July 2021, per the California Energy Commission. Check your pump's horsepower before you compare quotes.
The federal variable-speed rule for replacement pool pump motors covers standard-size motors (1.15 to 5 total horsepower), per the Department of Energy. It applies to motors made on or after September 29, 2025, not to a working pump you own. California's rule is stricter, because it starts at 0.5 hp and began in 2021.
California's average residential electricity price was 33.6 cents per kWh in July 2026, against 18.3 cents for the U.S., per EIA. By our math, that is about 84% higher, so a pump's running cost matters more here.
A fair quote lists each line below, with published ranges from HomeAdvisor and others. Use them to spot a missing or padded line.
| Quote line | Market range | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Pump unit, variable-speed | $700 to $1,600 | HomeGuide (Jul 2025) |
| Installation labor | $100 to $400 | HomeAdvisor (Jun 2026), HomeGuide (Jul 2025) |
| Different brand with rewiring or new pipes | $280 to $500 | Angi (Sep 2026) |
| Underground excavation | $100 to $200 | Angi (Sep 2026), HomeAdvisor (Jun 2026) |
| Timer | $50 to $100 | Angi (Sep 2026), HomeAdvisor (Jun 2026) |
| General contractor markup | Add 13% to 22% | Homewyse (May 2026) |
| Pool pro labor per hour, Los Angeles | $110 to $230, against $75 to $150 nationally | Angi (Mar 2026 and Aug 2026) |
| Haul-away of the old pump | Not sourced | Ask for it on the quote |
The Los Angeles row is a general pool-pro rate, by our math about 51% above national, not a pump price. One Google reviewer called the service "definitely worth the extra cost," so compare scope as well as totals.
The quote should name the failed part, so you can weigh it against a repair.
California requires variable-speed replacement motors of 0.5 hp and up, so the quote should name the model and horsepower.
Labor runs $100 to $400, per HomeAdvisor and HomeGuide, so look for rewiring and old-pump removal.
Adams Pool & Spa's complete equipment packages carry a 5-year manufacturer warranty.
Compare line by line, and note who explains the work, and the total.
A pool pump motor replacement costs $200 to $800 with labor, about $500 on average, per HomeAdvisor and Angi. California is the catch, since replacement motors of 0.5 hp and up must be variable-speed. Beltway Pools, a Washington DC-area company, lists motor-only jobs at $700 to $1,500 in 2026.
By our math, that range overlaps the $800 to $2,500 variable-speed pump range, so the gap to a whole new pump narrows. Replace only the motor when the housing and impeller are sound and the pump is young.
If a repair costs more than 50% of a new pump, replace the pump, per Angi and HomeAdvisor. By our math, 50% of the $800 to $2,500 variable-speed range is $400 to $1,250. Measure your repair quote against half of your own replacement quote.
Angi says a pump older than eight years is likely due for replacement. HomeGuide says to replace a pump past 10 years. A pump lasts 8 to 15 years, per HomeAdvisor and HomeGuide.
Repair first when the pump is worth saving, and get the diagnosis before any replacement price.
Compare your repair quote with these published ranges before you decide.
| Repair or replacement | Market range | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Minor repair such as a worn seal or damaged impeller, pump under 8 years | $150 to $500 | HomeAdvisor (Jun 2026) |
| Shaft seal replacement | $350 to $450 | ACE Pool Repair & Remodel (undated) |
| Bearing replacement | $65 to $300 | Angi (Sep 2026) |
| Capacitor replacement | Not sourced | Ask for it on the quote |
| Motor replacement with labor | $200 to $800, average $500 | HomeAdvisor (Jun 2026), Angi (Sep 2026) |
| Whole variable-speed pump installed | $800 to $2,500 | HomeAdvisor (Jun 2026), Angi (Sep 2026) |
Most figures are national, and the shaft seal row is one Orange County company. See our pool repair cost guide for other repairs.

A drip at the motor joint often points to a worn seal, which is usually a repair on a young pump.

A bad capacitor can cause this. Have a technician test it before you price a new pump.

A cracked lid or worn o-ring lets in air and weakens flow. Both are small parts.

A cracked pump body has no reliable patch, so this one points to replacement.

Screeching or grinding on a pump past eight years often means replacement under the 50% rule.

A burning smell or repeated breaker trips need a diagnosis first. Burned windings point to replacement.
A variable-speed pump can cut your electric bill after a replacement. HomeGuide says it saves 50% to 80% of the energy a single-speed pump uses.
| Measure | Single-speed | Variable-speed | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly running cost at 8 hours a day | $75 to $150 | $30 to $50 (dual or variable) | HomeGuide (Jul 2025) |
| Energy saved against single-speed | Baseline | 50% to 80% | HomeGuide (Jul 2025) |
| Operating cost saved, energy-efficient models | Baseline | Up to 70% | HomeAdvisor (Jun 2026) |
| Energy saved per year, 2014 estimate | Baseline | 2,800 kWh | ENERGY STAR (2014) |
ENERGY STAR's 2,800 kWh estimate comes from a 2014 fact sheet. At California's 33.6 cents, our math puts it near $940 a year. That is an illustration, not a promise.
HomeAdvisor says energy-efficient models often pay for themselves within two to three years. Read our variable vs single speed pool pump comparison and are variable speed pumps worth it post for the savings math. Check the SCE Marketplace for current pool pump offers before you buy.

Adam leads the diagnostic on specific-issue repair calls, so you hear what is wrong before you hear a replacement price.

We commit to returning your call within 24 hours.

Adam is Jandy Certified and a Pentair Expert Installer.

Every new client gets a 30 to 40 minute Pool School on how the equipment works.

Complete equipment packages carry a 5-year manufacturer warranty.

Construction, maintenance and repair come from the same team, so nobody passes the blame.
"His pricing is fair and transparent for the quality of service he provides."
Google Review, February 2026, pool service
"Adams Pool and Spa was extremely helpful in upgrading our pool pump. They helped us source the best price and they were readily available to do the install."
Google Review, March 2024, pump upgrade
"Adam explained every piece of equipment and how to maintain it in a way that I could understand, which I appreciated."
Google Review, February 2026, equipment install Individual results vary.
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Nationally, expect $700 to $4,000 installed, with a $1,300 average, per Angi's 2026 data. HomeGuide's lower $300 to $1,600 range includes above-ground pumps. Use the national $800 to $2,500 variable-speed range for a Long Beach inground pool.
Installation labor runs $100 to $400, per HomeAdvisor and HomeGuide. Angi lists $200 to $500, and general pool-pro labor in Los Angeles runs $110 to $230 an hour, per Angi. Ask which lines your quote includes.
Replace only the motor when the housing and impeller are sound and the pump is young. A motor costs $200 to $800 with labor, per HomeAdvisor and Angi. Ask your technician to inspect the housing first.
Yes, when the repair costs under 50% of a new pump and the pump is under eight years old. Angi and HomeAdvisor both use the 50% rule. Get the diagnosis in writing before you approve a replacement.
HomeGuide and HomeAdvisor put pool pump life at 8 to 15 years. HomeAdvisor gives 8 to 12 years for a well-maintained, correctly sized pump. Check the pump's age before you pay for a major repair.
Installed variable-speed pumps run $800 to $2,500, per HomeAdvisor and Angi. California requires variable-speed replacement motors of 0.5 hp and up, so the single-speed rows do not apply. Use the full range as your starting budget, then get a written quote.
They can. HomeGuide says variable-speed pumps save 50% to 80% of the energy a single-speed pump uses. Check your electric bill and run hours, because savings depend on both.
Replace when the housing is cracked, the motor is burned, or repairs top 50% of a new pump. Angi and HomeAdvisor give that 50% rule. Call for a diagnosis if you hear grinding or humming.
Call Adam's Pool and Spa Service at (562) 522-2203 for a diagnosis and a written quote, or schedule service online. See our pool pump repair page, pool repair cost guide and pool service cost guide.
Adam Aguirre founded Adams Pool & Spa in 2013 after a two-year apprenticeship in pool equipment repair. He is Jandy Certified and a Pentair Expert Installer, with about 15 years of hands-on pool work in Long Beach. He personally leads the diagnostic on every specific-issue repair call.
When pumps cross the 50% rule, replacement is the right call.
A pool pump with a permanent-magnet motor that runs at adjustable speeds. Cuts pool electrical bills by 60 to 80 percent versus single-speed pumps and is required by California Title 24 on new builds.