How to Prime Your Pump

We show you how to prime your pool's pump.

[LetsDoMath]

My pump has been off for ages (LONG winter in Canada this year). I have been fighting the pump all day and didn't think of recirculate mode. With your advice, I tried this and sure enough got a prime inside 30 seconds. My son hit the controller off and I moved the multiport lever round to filter and got it going. Thanks so much. You really helped me. 

[mercedesmalek]

THANK YOU!!! you saved my pool!!! Ur explanation was the best and easiest to understand!!!!

[eytitrud]

Great visuals and easy to understand! Thank you.

[hawaiiguykailua]

The pump sounds more powerful, builds to that sweet hum after circulating the air out while in (Re-Circulate mode). It does not build to that sound when in filter mode though, but the pump strainer w/ clear plastic view lid stays full for the most part, it did collect some air overnight, but pumped out when i started it this morning. Thanks for any help in troubleshooting!

[hawaiiguykailua]

Don't know if this is a troubleshooting place but here goes. I have an 18, 000 gal DE poll with AO Smith 1 hp pump. The issue is... pressure keeps dropping, but only while in "filter" mode and after about 5-20 minutes. It starts out with good pressure, DE guage reads 10lb with a clean grid and starter amount of DE about 1.5 lbs slurried into filter reservoir, not pool basket. Mind you the pressure reads same, but the circulation drops dramatically. continued...

[Guchy]

Hey guys. I finally found out what the problem was. I had vacuumed my pool while forgetting to place the filter tub into the skimmer. Hence, I had a blockage in the pipe. It is working 100% now. I feel stupid now.

[thelalakers]

where can i buy that device that was on the top of the filter. its the clear thing that i can see water through.

[noneyajdub]

Will a dirty sand filter make the pump stop working? Because I have no suction on either of my skimmers. I'm pretty sure there is no suction on my main drain when I try to waste.

[hawaiiguykailua]

I replaced the grid, grid manifold, DE gaskets, (main and manifold), new 5 port hayward vari-flow valve, new plumbing hookups to it, new pump strainer basket, new pump strainer gasket, new pump strainer compression lid. If my pressure and circulation are optimal while in re-circulate, the problem must be at the DE filter correct? I just don't have a clue at this point other than if the 3yr old pump (switchless 220v) is losing power when adding the work of filtering?...

[Guchy]

my pump is just priming at half the power. And what do you do if you don't have a air relief valve on your filter.

[noneyajdub]

what does it mean if this does not work!?