Furthermore, letting the pump run “dry” for an overly long period of time can cause it to overheat, which will shrink the pump gaskets, damage the seals and impellers, burn up the motor, and generate a substantial amount of steam that could melt the plumbing. And there are four (4) common pool pump issues you could watch out for. They appear in the forms of a clogged impeller, broken pot basket, burned-out motor, or loss of prime.