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Intex Recreation

Intex Recreation review: impeller 58

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9:53 am EDT
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I bought an 18' by 48" pool for my kids last year, by the end of the summer, the pump had started making noise, but still pumped. This year I set the pool up and the pump would run, but not pump, so I took the cover off to find all the blades had broke off of the impeller. When I called intex, they told me I could not replace the 5 cent plastic defective impeller, but had to buy a new pump. So, I went online and found hundreds of other people, with the same problem. I think it is time for intex to step up and make this right with all of us, especially for our kids.

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Jody
Jun 19, 2008 6:14 am EDT

I have the same pool, with the same problem. And the pump is out of stock. I looked elsewhere for it and every website has an expected ship date of JULY 5th! I've already filled the pool, don't know what we're going to do now.

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Kelly Bailey
Jul 02, 2008 8:43 am EDT

I have a 18 x 4 pool that we have had going on our second summer. First year it was wonderful, we cleaned and stored it properly. Cleaned out the pump, and stored it in a plastic bin inside the house for the winter. This summer, I set the pool up according to the directions, and the filter pumps runs good for about 1 month. Our warranty had expired by one day of the pump breaking down. The propeller fans had broken off. I called Intex, several times, they had a back order of two weeks, well anyone knows two weeks is a nightmare for pool water without a pump running. I called back again and one of the nicest people I have talked to there yet told me to go to Amazon.com and order one, they are cheaper and they are Intex filters. I got one within 5 days, and guess what I followed directions, bled out the air, turned the pump on and the blades broke within 5 min. I called Intex again, and after faxing purchase order, and going back and forth with these people, I am due for a new pump on the 5th of July. I am so afraid that this new pump will be bad too. One of the ladies that I talked to at Intex told me that this year they have had major problems with the 1500 gph pump Model 635. Anyone else had this happen to them

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jose
Jul 03, 2008 3:42 pm EDT

I have the same problem with the impeler and no help from the company

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ely ramos
Jul 14, 2008 2:29 pm EDT

i got the same problem with this guys on the pump model 635 the inpeller blade broke and can pump what is the remedy for this problem?

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Gladys Byrne
Jul 15, 2008 1:16 pm EDT

I have the same problem, after only a month old pump the inpeller blades are broken, what should we do? any lawyer around? because it is a clear fraud what this company is doing.

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Paige Lowe
Jul 16, 2008 5:17 pm EDT

I am going on my third pump. Intex said they would replace the pump(first time they sent me one free), but I would have to pay to send it back! What a headache! Why don't they sell impellers since there are so many problems?

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chad
Jul 20, 2008 6:30 pm EDT

just happind to mine as well.. has anyone found a solution yet?

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Lori Jones
Jul 21, 2008 8:19 am EDT

Had the same problem within 30 days of purchasing pool. They replaced the first pump but I had to pay to send the other one back to them. Reset the pool up again for the summer and within three weeks, the impeller is destroyed. Seems the lifespan for the impeller is less than a month. They need to make and sell the replacement part if they're going to sell faulty pumps. Might as well include a few extra in the package!

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wanda
Jul 22, 2008 3:40 pm EDT

We are also having problems. First pump quit after 1 month. Was sent a new pump and it worked exactly 7 weeks. We took ours apart to find the magnet on the impeller completely worn away on them both. Intex implied we are USING it too much! Imagine that. We only wanted clean and healthy water to swim in. Customer service is rude. They didnt like it much when I told them I have 3 filters running on with impellers just like theirs on my aquarium. Has been running 24/7 for 4 years now and still in perfect shape.. I am thinking of going to local aquarium shop and trying to modify an aquarium impeller to run our filters. At least it will last.

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David Haley
Jul 26, 2008 11:07 am EDT

We also have a broken impeller on our motor. We were told we had to buy a new motor/pump. They said at Intex that the did not replace the parts on these motors...

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jay p.
Jul 29, 2008 2:36 pm EDT

I think that all of us should start a boycott! I used my pump maybe 2 or 3 months last summer and after one time this summer the blades broke in my pump. After talking to someone about a warranty that only lasts a year on something i didn't even use for nine months of the time, he told me the only thing I could do was buy a new $130 pump. I think thats crap and we need to do something about it...

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Dana Fleisig
Aug 03, 2008 7:33 am EDT

Going to a boat supply store tomorrow to see if I can find something that will fit in the pump.

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Tammi
Aug 03, 2008 10:13 am EDT

I have the problem. I had trouble with first pump so they sent me a new one last year. I am out of warranty now & need to replace impeller. Please let me know if you find a suitable replacement part, since Intex is uncooperative! They are selling JUNK.

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robert summers
Aug 11, 2008 6:45 pm EDT

I have been dealing with Intexcorp for about a month and a half over missing parts for a 18' above ground metal frame pool. The valves and filter strainers needed to hook up the pump to the pool were missing, I called Intexcorp and was advised I needed to submit a claim form to get the missing parts. Ok thats fair so I faxed it to the number that they gave us and called back a week later to check on my claim. I was told that my fax did not come through and was given a second number to fax it to, sent it to both numbers this time and again called to check on the missing parts. I was told that they had received my claim but the parts were on back order and that they would be sent ASAP. Two weeks later called again and was told that my claim was not received and wanted to know what number I had faxed it to. The customer service rep. was reading from my claim form so I know that they have it, again more run around and stalling from Intexcorp. So what to do what to do? Decided to call every retailer of their products and ask them to get involved. I figured if everyone that has had a problem with Intexcorp customer service could start complaining to the major retailers, ie. Walmart, Target, Home Depot then they might stop selling Intexcorp products and put them out of business. If nothing else they might have to fix their Com.Ser.Dept. I hope that everyone that knows someone who has had a problem with INTEXCORP passes this idea on and start hitting INTEXCORP in their wallet. FYI Intexcorp has a "F" rating with BBB

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Cynthia Gordon
Aug 16, 2008 11:55 am EDT

I have had the same problem with the impeller blades breaking off. I called Intex yesterday and they told me I would have to purchase a new pump. This is the second pump I have purchased and the second year my pool has been set up. I should not have to purchase a new pump every year. I was lucky I found someone whom had same pump and it was not working. I just switched the impellers out, a 5 minute job. I also found out why other pump wasn't working. The plastic shaft that impeller goes over, end of it had broke off. If any thing, Intex should make these replaceable parts available or replace them with something other than plastic parts. Next year I plan on replaceing my filter with a sand filter from my local pool & spa dealer. That shouldlast me for quite some time since Intex doesn't care about their customers or customer complaints. I will never buy another Intex product.

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matt1
Aug 17, 2008 2:25 pm EDT

Same problems - broken impeller !

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NoSpam
Pompano Beach, US
Aug 17, 2008 11:14 pm EDT

Same here! At first the pump was noisy & then stopped running. I opened it up & found that small things can get past the skimmer & into the pump. The skimmer design is really bad & allows stuff to get to the pump. The pump's armature & motor are in plastic & very tiny debris can get between these two & mess up the plastic to where the pump won't run. I cleaned it up & lightly sanded the rough part in the plastic & it ran again... for awhile...till the fins broke off.

I kind of felt that there'd be a problem when I noticed that one week Wal-Mart had a whole skid stacked high with new Intex 1500 pumps & then a week later they were all gone.

These things are junk.

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glen
Aug 18, 2008 8:03 pm EDT

i agree guys! i had to get a new pump from them it took about 2 weeks but we got one. it seems to be holding on pretty good. so far

the problem i have is all the stuff i bought with the pool is falling apart, the 2 tube bottoms tore out the chair tore and fell apart. the pool cover started to tear and we don't abuse anything.

i don't know but maybe they should use real material.

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Sue
Aug 18, 2008 8:27 pm EDT

These things are junk junk junk! I wish I could have put my foot into the phone line and kicked the ### that I talked to from Intex in the ###. I am going to Wal-Mart tomorrow with signs to put on the pools, just to let other people know what kind of company makes these pumps. My husban works in a machine shop and he said he can make a impeller out of aluminum that will work.

Thanks Intex for all your help that you would not give on this pice of ### Pump.

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Tammi
Aug 23, 2008 8:33 am EDT

If your husband is able to make a replacement impeller, I would love to buy one from you. Please email me if you have success. Thank you! tgif63@yahoo.com

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kim miller
Aug 24, 2008 8:25 pm EDT

yet another unhappy customer. We have bought 3 pumps in the 3 years of owning our wonderful intex pool and all three of them do not work due to a problem with the impeller. I am truely tired of spending countless hours trying to get help with this problem. Like everyone else, my complaint to the company is nothing more than a major pain in the ### to them. this is absolutley ridiculous that there are so many people with the same problem and no where to turn. I really would'nt mind spending the money on a new pump if the damn thing would last more than 3 months. Step up to the plate Intex or do us all a favor and go out of business, your heading there now anyways!

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Judy
Sep 13, 2008 4:33 pm EDT

Taking the pool down for the season since the motor had stopped. Guess what. Broken impellor. Does any one have an idea of a part that can be purchased that would replace the broken piece?

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Debbie Weland
Bonners Ferry, US
May 28, 2009 4:29 pm EDT

If anyone can come up with a new type of impeller, please let me know! I would gladly buy one from you and pay for shipping! I can't believe how cheap these things are made! Any suggestions on mine? I want to use my pool!

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ScottR
McKinney, US
May 28, 2009 9:31 pm EDT

Wow - I wish I had read this a year ago. This definitely sounds like a class action lawsuit waiting to happen.

/Scott

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sugarplumharry
Anywhere, CA
Jun 12, 2009 6:58 pm EDT

One more happy Intex customer. Not really! Don't buy Intex products! Intex sucks!

I bought the Intex set at Costco last year. We are 5 days past our year of warranty so guess whos out of luck. I could probably take this back to Costco and they would give me my money back but it means taking down a pool that is already up and running (the kids love it). That sounds like alot of extra work.

I just called the warranty support line. I had to call twice to finally get a supervisor to call me back. There is a twist to this story. The supervisor said that the Intex impeller has an industrial strength magnet that is dangerous and that is why they will not sell me a new one.

He said that only factory trained technicians (probably 5 year old kids in some developing country that they are paying 10 cents a day) are capable of putting these impellers into the pump properly. He said that they were dangerous magnets because they could wreck a number of electronic devices and that they were dangerous to the person installing them (what a pile of ...).

After I explained how frusterated I was that they sold me a faulty product in the first place he then added that installing the impeller improperly may cause electric shock to the people in the pool (unlikely story).

So, my final thoughts are that Intex wants you to buy a new pump for $200 Canadian (good for thier pocket books) and doesnt give a rip about how many pumps will end up in the landfill because of shoddy workmanship and thier lack of support to provide parts for thier products.

I think this is probably the first I heard of the safety issue so I thought I would add to the conversation.

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Ruined Pool Party
Mangham, US
Jun 18, 2009 5:29 pm EDT

Another disatisfied customer! No parts... and I refuse to buy another peice of junk.

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John2009
jackson, US
Jun 22, 2009 6:00 pm EDT
Verified customer This complaint was posted by a verified customer. Learn more

I think we should all report intex to the "Bad Business Bureau" and complain about the impeller.. Last year I brought a brand new Krystal Clear model 635 to replace the old one because the blades on the impeller were broken and today I just started to set it back up and found out the pump is not pumping right after plugging it back up so I unhooked it from the hoses and found out the blades on the impeller were broken again... F***. Something has to be done about this problem, these are defects. They should make them order a "RECALL" if they are not willing to sell you a $3.00 part to repair the simple problem.

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jen_morrison
Marshall, US
Jun 27, 2009 1:53 pm EDT

We are having the same problem with our pump. We set i up last year and had no problems. Now this year it wont work, tried to exchange the the pump with Wal-Mart, but they dont sell this size pool this year and its a different pump. Wal-Mart was very willing to exchange if you can find a store that has the same size pool. But I have had no luck with that. Intex changed the sizes of the pools this year. If anyone finds a place to order parts please let me know. email me at jen_sewell@yahoo.com

You can buy a pump for cheaper on ebay, but sounds as if will have same prob next year?

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orcapod
Campbell River, CA
Jul 17, 2009 5:49 pm EDT

I think we should do a CLASS ACTION SUIT AGAINST INTEX POOLS! They are selling a faulty product. I have seen this impeller, we were able to get it out of the pump, it was chewed up. Funny enough, Is that there were no rocks that went through my pump. Small particles of sand, and grass will kill your pump...1 year warranty...okay? Who in God's name has their pool up year round? Unless you live in a warm climate where it doesn't rain or snow, I would say 95% of us don't. My replacement pump only worked for 3 months of the calendar year. I for the life of me can NOT understand why INTEX A. doesn't sell the impellers, or B. backs their product. Why if we all had to spend well over a few hundred dollars whether it was Canadian or American to buy these "great" pools, why the heck do we have to turn around and buy a new pump from 67.00 to 300.00 one friggen year later? And what makes anyone think that we would turn around and buy another Intex product after being burned? You know what they say folks, 1 person tells at least 7 people about a bad experience or product, and those 7 people tell 7 more people. Before you know it 340 people know about your terrible experience. Let's start talking folks! Perhaps by just word of mouth, we can bring these pool scammers down! I spoke with my local pool and spa place, and they said, INTEX was notorious for scamming for the dollar. They do not care about customer relations, they only care about the buck. I've learned my lesson. I won't even buy Intex pool floaties...I with all of you, are so peeved at them. If this was a restaurant selling bad food, they would be shut down in a heartbeat. let's Get em!

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Barry
US
Aug 01, 2009 9:07 pm EDT

We have two worthless 635 pumps now. The impeller is broke on both of them. What are we supposed to do. If your husband can make one that works I'd be interested in buying one from him.

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John2009
jackson, US
Aug 04, 2009 12:02 am EDT
Verified customer This complaint was posted by a verified customer. Learn more

I too am trying to think of a way in making an impeller for these... I have not thrown away neither of the pumps i have. Looking at boat impellers, lol I'm going to figure something out before next year. I have a feeling it will happen again and I'm not planning on buying another pump.

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djskipper
Marysville, US
Aug 16, 2009 5:39 pm EDT

I've went through 2 pumps in two years. What a rip. I need two impellers.

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Daferf
US
Aug 24, 2009 5:18 pm EDT

All of my blades on my impeller for the 635 literally fell off today. Nice! I heard this awful noise. turned off the filter, dumped out the water and out come all these little plastic pieces. I bought the pool last year when it was on sale at Target, but only ran it for a few months this summer so far. My "warranty" is expired by a mere 16 days, and they refuse to help me. They know it's defective (he actually said that's why they will replace it in the year time frame.) If you KNOW something is defective shouldn't there be a recall? What if a piece of the cheap plastic had gotten stuck in the motor and caused a fire? I filed a complaint with BBB requesting that they do a recall, but I doubt it will get us anywhere. I'll keep an eye on this board, and update if I actually get anywhere with these people. Hopefully I can find a way around buying anything intex again in the future to get my pool up and running again!

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Tony Da Silva
ZA
Mar 01, 2010 12:03 pm EST

I have also just recently had problems with my pump, and think that it is very unfair for us to have to buy a complete pump, every time something that is easily replaceable, breaks. This is clearly a design / manufacture problem. I think this is a way of them making money out of us

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joebob is pissed
Fayetteville, US
May 15, 2010 6:31 am EDT

I have a model 635 pump and like everyone else, my damn impeller blew apart. it worked fine last year and today, ... nothing. I have not been able to find a replacement, Intex said 'your sol, need to buy new pump.' To me, this is unacceptable. I tried superglueing the fins back on but they broke off again in less than 15 minutes. I contacted 3 different Chinese companies and one American plastic company to see if I can have them made from Injection moulding. I would need to order something like 10, 000 to make the price per piece economical. Sorry, but no.
I found out that I can cast them with a poly resin in a rubber mould. so far, it set me back about the cost of a new pump, but I sucessfully made a mould, cast the part, cleaned up the new part and have it in the pump. It has been sucessfully running now for 3 days straight. If it is still working at the end of the week, I will offer the upper piece (part with the fins) for sale for the cost of material, shipping and $4.00 labor. right now looking like about 10 or 11.oo.
If you want more info, email me at call_me_dude_ok@yahoo
I might be persuaded to do other pump impellers if someone sends me the broken piece with all its parts.

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Foxcroft
Surrey, CA
Jul 29, 2010 11:56 pm EDT
Verified customer This complaint was posted by a verified customer. Learn more

I personally did not have a problem with the 'fins' breaking off. my problem was the little pcv-ish stick that holds the impeller centered broke, which caused some of the plastic covering the magnet to wear off. i tried many things to replace the stick, but now that stupid magnet is stronger where it worn, so it wont spin evenly! i just need that stupid little stick and a whole new impeller :(

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John Young
US
Jun 24, 2019 4:15 am EDT
Replying to comment of Foxcroft

One post I read said to replace the broken stick with a 4mm knitting needle made out of aluminum...if yours is the same size there are many sizes of knitting needles remember this for next time.

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JVonR
US
Sep 05, 2010 10:46 pm EDT

I went to a pool store and they said it can happen to any impeller made of plastic if the inside of the pump is not drained and pump stored in above-freezing conditions always.

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T Rock
Lake City, US
Apr 15, 2011 7:38 pm EDT

I have a model 633 pump- The impeller blades are fine but the bearing(bushing) is bad. I'm going to try and lubricate it and see what happens. That is wrong of Intex to not supply replacement parts-many of us cannot afford to buy a new pump every year!

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JVonR
US
May 21, 2011 4:25 am EDT

Wish I had found this message board before buying POS Intex. I drained my pump and disconnected the tubes, covered the pool, but same results... filled the pool, hooked everything up, and within five minutes an awful sound - pulled everything apart and found mysterious little white pieces, and after getting the impeller out, noticed the little plastic pieces were the impeller fins. All of them. Seems like they designed this out of a basement with no engineer. Intex call me and make it right, or I swear to God you'll lose at least twenty future pool sales when I spread the word... [protected].

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Buddy A
Macclenny, US
May 29, 2011 3:34 pm EDT

I have to agree with most of you about the Intex Pool pump/s. I'm on my 2nd pump and it too has now self distructed it's impeller. Using everything to catch bugs etc... it still breaks. And no where to find a replacement impeller. So I'll end up either trashing the entire pool, or making adapted changes to make another mfg. pump work, or buying a 3rd pump and have it last only one season also. ( But I will have two spare working pump motors with no impellers --sigh--) Intex hose's don't hold up either all have worn holes in the tops of the hose right at the couplings, and no one local sells hoses that fit Intex. I find it really mind boggling that Intex has been able to keep their pump parts off the American market. This is the same as being held hostage, either buy a new pump from ? or trash it and start over with a new pool set. And Intex is NO help at all they just want to sell you a new one.

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