The Simple Way To Prime Your Pool Pump Fast
If your pool pump isn’t primed properly, it simply can’t do its job. No water flow means no filtration, no sanitising, and before long- no clear water. The good news is that priming a pool pump is usually straightforward once you know what to look for. In this guide, we’ll walk you through how to tell if your pump is primed, how to fix it if it’s not, and a few simple tricks to get things moving again.
What Does ‘Primed’ Actually Mean?
Simply put a pool pump needs to be full of water to work effectively. This is what we mean by ‘primed’.
The pump comprises three main parts: a motor, an impeller and housing. Astral Pools states, “The motor provides the force to spin the impeller and circulate water, the impellers create suction, and the housing holds it all together. Other parts include the diffuser, which amplifies suction; the strainer basket, which captures excess debris; and gaskets or O-rings, which keep air and water out of the pump”.
One important fact to understand is that pumps do not suck water, they create a vacuum by sucking air out of the pipe and the atmospheric pressure acting on the pool water pushes the water up the pipe filling the vacuum with water. This flows into the pump where it is pushed out by the impellor and through your filtration system. The reason this is important is to understand that air is the enemy to priming a pump, if air is leaking in via a pinched o’ring for example, it will be harder to prime the pump. Therefore checking the basics first is important.
Having said that, pool pumps rely on having water inside them to initially create suction and continue to circulate it through your system. If there’s air in the pump instead of water, it won’t be able to create the vacuum and push the water through your filter and equipment.
Astral’s Ultimate Guide to Maintaining Your Pool Pump
How to Check If Your Pool Pump Is Primed
Before you start pulling things apart, it’s worth taking a few moments to confirm whether your pump is actually the issue.
Start with the pump itself. Look through the clear lid while the pump is running. If the housing is completely full of water, that’s a good sign. If it’s empty or only partially filled, the pump isn’t primed. Sometimes it can be a little tricky to tell, so look closely for movement in the pump basket. If debris is moving around, water is flowing.
Still not sure? There are a few other quick checks you can do.
- Take a look at your chlorinator cell. If it’s full of water, that’s another strong indicator that your system is primed and circulating properly.
- Check your filter’s pressure gauge. If there’s pressure showing, it usually means water is moving through the system.
- Head back to the pool and check the return jets. If you can feel water coming back into the pool, your pump is doing its job.
Keep in mind, the pump doesn’t always need to be completely full right to the top, but the water level should sit at least around the top of the basket.
How to Prime Your Pool Pump
If you’ve confirmed your pump isn’t primed, don’t worry. This is something most pool owners can handle themselves.
- Start by turning the pool pump off. This is important for safety and to prevent damage to the system.
- Remove the pump lid carefully and make sure you don’t lose the O-ring. This small rubber seal is critical for maintaining suction. If it’s damaged, dry or missing, your pump will struggle to prime properly.
- Take out the pump basket and empty any leaves or debris. A blocked basket can restrict water flow and make priming much harder. Once it’s clean, place it back into position.
Next comes the actual priming:
- Using a bucket or hose, slowly fill the pump housing with water. Pour steadily and allow the water to settle. You’ll often hear a gurgling sound as air is displaced. Keep filling until the water level stabilises around the bottom of the inlet pipe.
- Once full, replace the lid securely, ensuring the O-ring is seated correctly, and turn the pump back on.
In many cases, this is enough to get water flowing again.
What If It Doesn’t Work Straight Away?
Sometimes priming doesn’t take on the first attempt, and that’s completely normal. If you don’t see water flowing within 30 to 60 seconds, turn the pool pump off and repeat the process. It can take a couple of tries to fully remove the air from the system.
There are also a few extra steps you can take to help things along:
- If you have a suction cleaner connected, try disconnecting it temporarily and removing the vacuum plate. This can improve water flow and make it easier for the pump to catch prime.
- If you’re still having trouble, you can try adjusting your filter settings. With the pump turned off, move your multiport valve to the ‘recirculate’ position and attempt priming again. This bypasses the filter and reduces resistance, which can help get things moving.
When It’s Time to Call in Help
If you’ve worked through these steps and your pump still won’t prime, there may be a bigger issue at play. This could include air leaks in the suction line, worn O-rings, or problems with the pump itself. At this point, it’s best to turn the pump off to avoid damage. As a short-term measure, you can give your pool a shock dose of chlorine to maintain water quality while circulation is down. From there, it’s time to bring in a professional.
Final Thoughts
Priming your pool pump might seem like a small task, but it plays a big role in keeping your pool clean, safe and easy to manage. Understanding how your system works and knowing what to look for can save you time, money and frustration. If you ever get stuck or just want the peace of mind that everything is running as it should, contact My Pool Shop Melbourne to book a professional service, “Because everybody deserves a safe and healthy pool”.
