A pool pump can overheat in two ways: because of an electrical problem or friction. While electrically related failures are by far the most common cause for pump overheating, as we will discuss at length, there is also the potential for a friction fire to develop if a pump is starved for water.
Keeping this in consideration, why is my water pump getting hot?
If the pump loses prime, then the water inside of the pump casing can get extremely hot (due to the friction of the impeller) and eventually turn to steam. When this happens, the high temperature can damage seals, the impeller, and even plastic piping connected to the pump.
In this regard, how hot should my Hayward pool pump get? How Hot Can a Pool Pump Motor Get? Anything above 115 degrees Fahrenheit is going to register as hot to the human touch. Motors can reach up to 200 degrees before bearings can begin to breakdown, so 115-200 degrees is a safe “hot” temperature for your motor.