Swimming pool repair service in St. Louis, MO

Pool Pump Repair & Installation in St. Louis

The pool pump is the heart of your entire circulation system. It pulls water from the pool, pushes it through the filter, and returns clean water back to the basin. When the pump fails, everything downstream stops working—your filter can’t clean, your chemicals can’t circulate, and algae can take hold in as little as 24 to 48 hours during a St. Louis summer.

Common Signs Your Pool Pump Needs Attention

• Unusual noise: A grinding or screeching sound typically indicates worn bearings inside the pump motor. In many cases, a pool motor replacement resolves this without needing an entirely new pump.
• Visible leaks: Water dripping from the pump housing or shaft seal means internal seals have failed—a common issue after years of use or a freeze event.
• Pump won’t start or trips the breaker: This often points to a failing motor capacitor, corroded wiring, or a motor that has reached end of life.
• Weak water flow: If water barely moves through your return jets, the impeller may be clogged or cracked, or the pump may be undersized for your plumbing.

What We Do

Our technicians diagnose the root cause before recommending a fix. If the motor bearings are shot but the pump housing and impeller are in good condition, a motor replacement is the most cost-effective path. If the entire unit is corroded or outdated, we install a new, energy-efficient pump sized correctly for your pool’s volume and plumbing. Variable-speed pumps, which are now required by the Department of Energy for most new installations, can reduce energy costs by up to 80% compared to single-speed models.

We service pool pumps across St. Louis, including neighborhoods like Central West End, Tower Grove, and Brentwood. Whether your pool is a compact plunge pool or a full-size inground installation, we carry the parts and have the expertise to get your water moving again quickly.

Pro Insight: If your pump is more than 8 to 10 years old and requires a major repair, upgrading to a variable-speed pump often pays for itself within two to three seasons through lower electricity bills. Ask us about the best fit for your setup.

Pool Filter Services in St. Louis

Your pool filter is the primary defense against cloudy, unsafe water. It captures debris, dirt, and microscopic particles that chemical treatment alone can’t address. St. Louis pools face particular challenges here: cottonwood fluff in late spring, pollen from the region’s dense tree canopy, and fine clay sediment that washes in during heavy Midwestern storms can all overload a filter quickly.

Types of Filters We Service

• Sand filters: Durable and low-maintenance, but the sand media needs replacing every 5 to 7 years as it loses its filtering ability.
• Cartridge filters: Popular for their energy efficiency and fine filtration. Cartridges should be deep-cleaned at least twice per season and replaced every 1 to 3 years, depending on use.
• DE (diatomaceous earth) filters: The finest filtration available, capable of capturing particles down to 2 to 5 microns. These require regular backwashing and annual grid inspections.

When to Call for Filter Repair

A filter pressure gauge reading 8 to 10 psi above its clean baseline is the standard signal that something is wrong. Other warning signs include cloudy water despite proper chemical balancing, visible debris returning to the pool through the jets, or water leaking from the filter tank. Cracked manifolds, torn cartridge fabric, and broken DE grids are all common issues we repair regularly.

We help homeowners in The Hill, Kirkwood, and throughout the metro area keep their pool water clean and safe. If your filter is beyond repair, we handle full filter installation—matching the right type and size to your pool’s gallon capacity and your maintenance preferences. Following CDC guidelines for pool maintenance is essential for ensuring water safety, and a properly functioning filter is the foundation of that effort.

Pro Insight: Don’t wait for cloudy water to inspect your filter. Check the pressure gauge weekly during swim season. A baseline reading taken when the filter is freshly cleaned gives you a reliable reference point for the rest of the year.

Pool Heater Repair & Installation in St. Louis

The St. Louis swim season naturally runs from late May through early September, but a pool heater can extend that window by six weeks or more on each end. Gas heaters, heat pumps, and electric heaters each have distinct advantages—and distinct failure modes that our technicians encounter regularly in this climate.

Common Heater Problems

• Heater won’t ignite: For gas units, this often means a failed igniter, clogged gas orifice, or a pressure switch issue. Spiders and insects nesting inside burner trays is a surprisingly frequent cause in the St. Louis area.
• Heater runs but doesn’t heat: Low gas pressure, a failing heat exchanger, or insufficient water flow from a dirty filter or weak pump can all prevent adequate heating.
• Error codes on the display: Modern heaters use diagnostic codes to flag specific problems. Our pool technicians are trained to interpret and resolve codes across major brands, including Hayward, Pentair, and Raypak.
• Heat pump underperforming: Heat pumps rely on ambient air temperature. On cooler spring and fall mornings in St. Louis, performance drops. If the unit isn’t producing heat even on warm days, the compressor, fan motor, or refrigerant charge may be at fault.

What We Do

We diagnose heater issues on-site and carry common replacement parts to minimize return visits. If your unit is repairable, we fix it. If the heat exchanger is corroded or the unit is 12+ years old and inefficient, we recommend replacement and handle the full heater installation—including gas line connections, electrical work, and plumbing integration with your existing equipment pad.

From Clayton to Chesterfield and across the greater St. Louis metro, we help pool owners get the most out of their swim season. A properly sized and maintained heater keeps water at a comfortable 78°F to 84°F range and makes your pool investment usable for months longer each year.

Salt System Services in St. Louis

Saltwater pools have surged in popularity over the past decade, and for good reason. A saltwater chlorine generator converts dissolved salt into chlorine through electrolysis, producing a consistent, low-level chlorine residual that keeps water sanitized without the harsh chemical feel of traditional chlorination. The result is water that feels softer and is gentler on skin, eyes, and swimsuits.

Installation for New or Existing Pools

Saltwater system installation involves mounting a control unit, plumbing a salt cell into the return line after the filter and heater, and dissolving the appropriate amount of pool-grade salt into the water—typically 3,000 to 4,000 ppm depending on the manufacturer’s specifications. We size the system to your pool’s volume and plumb it into your existing equipment setup with minimal disruption.

Salt Cell Maintenance & Replacement

Salt cells have a finite lifespan, usually 3 to 7 years depending on usage and water chemistry. Calcium buildup on the cell plates is the most common maintenance issue and reduces chlorine output over time. Regular salt cell cleaning with a mild acid solution extends cell life significantly. When a cell is truly spent—evidenced by consistently low chlorine production despite proper salt levels—we provide salt cell replacement with the correct model for your generator.

Our team provides expert saltwater system setups and troubleshooting across the St. Louis area. Whether you’re converting an existing chlorine pool or maintaining a system that’s already in place, we ensure your salt generator runs at peak efficiency so your water chemistry stays balanced with minimal effort on your part.

Pro Insight: St. Louis’s hard water can accelerate calcium scaling on salt cells. Testing your water’s calcium hardness monthly and keeping it within the 200 to 400 ppm range will protect your cell and extend its working life.

Pool Automation Services in St. Louis

Pool automation systems give you centralized control over your pump, heater, lights, water features, and chemical feeders—all from a wall-mounted panel, wireless remote, or smartphone app. For pool owners managing multiple pieces of equipment, automation eliminates the guesswork of manual timers and disconnected controls.

What Automation Can Do

• Schedule pump run times to optimize filtration while minimizing energy costs
• Control heater temperature remotely so the pool is warm when you arrive home
• Manage lighting scenes for evening swims or entertaining
• Integrate with salt systems and chemical feeders for hands-off water chemistry management
• Set freeze protection protocols that automatically activate equipment when temperatures drop—critical during unpredictable St. Louis winters

Installation & Troubleshooting

We install automation systems from leading manufacturers and configure them to work with your specific equipment combination. For homeowners with existing automation that has gone offline, is displaying errors, or has lost connectivity, our pool automation repair and troubleshooting service identifies whether the issue is a faulty relay, a communication board failure, or a software configuration problem. Timer installation and programming is included as part of any automation setup, ensuring every piece of equipment runs on the optimal schedule.

We help homeowners in Soulard, Webster Groves, and throughout St. Louis simplify their pool care with automation. Once installed, most owners find they spend significantly less time managing their pool and more time enjoying it.

Pro Insight: If full automation isn’t in your budget right now, a standalone digital timer for your pump is the single most impactful first step. Proper pump scheduling ensures adequate filtration, protects against freeze damage, and reduces energy waste—all for a fraction of the cost of a full system.

Pool Safety Cover Installation in St. Louis

A pool safety cover is one of the most important investments a pool owner can make, particularly families with young children or pets. Unlike standard winter covers that simply block debris, a true safety cover is anchored into the deck and engineered to support significant weight—meeting or exceeding the ASTM F1346-91 standard, which requires covers to hold a minimum of 485 pounds.

Why Safety Covers Matter in St. Louis

St. Louis pools typically close in October and don’t reopen until late April or May. That’s roughly six months of offseason exposure to snow, ice, wind, and debris. A properly installed safety cover protects your pool from contamination, reduces spring opening costs by keeping the water cleaner, and—most importantly—prevents accidental drowning.

How Installation Works

Every safety cover installation starts with precise measurements of your pool’s shape, size, and deck material. Anchors are drilled into the concrete or stone deck at specific intervals, and the cover is custom-fitted with stainless steel springs that pull it taut across the water surface. Mesh covers allow rainwater to drain through while blocking debris. Solid covers keep virtually all water and debris out but require a submersible pump to remove standing water on top.

We expertly measure and fit pool safety covers for any pool shape in St. Louis County and the surrounding area—whether you have a standard rectangle, freeform design, or a pool with raised walls, water features, or attached spas that require custom panel configurations.

Pro Insight: Replace worn or stretched springs and straps annually. A cover is only as safe as its anchoring system. During your spring opening, inspect every anchor point and contact us if any feel loose or show signs of corrosion.

Why St. Louis Pool Owners Trust R&S Pool & Spa

Since 1971, R&S Pool & Spa has been the go-to resource for swimming pool equipment repair and installation across the St. Louis metro. Our longevity isn’t an accident—it’s the result of consistent, honest service and a commitment to stocking the parts our customers actually need. With the largest selection of pool and spa parts in the area, we minimize wait times and get your pool back in working order faster than competitors who have to special-order components.

Our team understands the specific demands that St. Louis weather places on pool equipment. From the freeze-thaw cycles that crack pump housings and filter tanks to the extreme summer heat that pushes heaters and salt cells to their limits, we’ve diagnosed and repaired every issue this climate produces. That experience means faster, more accurate diagnoses and repairs that hold up season after season.

Get Your Pool Running Right

A malfunctioning pool isn’t just an inconvenience in St. Louis—it’s lost time during a swim season that’s already too short. Whether you’re dealing with a pump that won’t start, a filter that can’t keep up, a heater that’s gone cold, or an automation system that’s offline, the right repair service makes the difference between weeks of frustration and a quick return to clear, comfortable water.

Every service we’ve outlined on this page—from pump repair and filter maintenance to salt system troubleshooting and safety cover installation—reflects the real-world needs of St. Louis pool owners. If you’re experiencing an issue or planning an upgrade, contact R&S Pool & Spa. With over five decades of local expertise and the parts inventory to back it up, we’re ready to help you get the most out of your pool.