That depends on a lot of factors, water chemistry, proper installation, and manufacturer to name a few. water chemistry however, is the leading cause to pump failure. corrosive water, water with a pH reading below 7, can deteriorate the pump seal, usually resulting in bearing failure, if the seal leak goes unnoticed for a long period of time.
A pool pump should only be replaced if and when it fails. A pool pump needs proper maintanance in order to function properly,and should last the life of the pool ith proper care.
5 hours
cheaper to re build but may not last as long
Yes
i don't know how long a water pump should last, but mine just went out on my 2005 TB at 47,000 miles. ugh.
Draining the water from the "pump" (I'm assuming you mean the filter) should only take a few minutes. How long it would take to drain the water in the pool down to the winterization level would depend on the size of your pool and the pump you are using.
Your pool builder has those answers as every pool builder has his specific rules and procedures. k
You should run the filter on your 18 x 4 pool for at least 6 hours per day or for as long as direct sunlight shines on the pool. In very warm climates, you will need to run the pump for at least 8 hours.
It should be changed every 60,000 miles
100,000 - 200,000 miles.
The amount of time the pump should run for any pool will depend on a few things. Hotter seaons will require your pump to run about 8 hours. Running your pump in hotter seaons also require that the pump runs during the hottest part of the day. You may cut the hours to about 6, or as low as 4 during winter. Please keep in mind "bather load" or heating the pool in the winter can effect the hours your pump should run. During winter pump should be ran at night to avoid freezing of pipes
Main reason for pump seal (mechanical seals) in a pool pump any pump for that matter is to contain liquid (water in this case) in the pump and hold prime and pressure. Other reasons, lower friction,reliability it can last for years.