Hello pool community, very excited to be here. We just bought a house from bank and recently found out that the pool has a leak in the main drain. We are trying to run pump without it and it's not priming. The pool tech came and blocked the main drain from the bottom with a plug so that water does leak. We have just installed a Pentair Ineliflow pump with self priming capacity. Very new to pool so I will appreciate any help. In the mean time I will start reading all the great posts to understand the pool functioning. Thank you for your help.
Running pool pump without a main drain
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If you had a pool tech there I'm sure he made sure that your water level was high enough (half way up the skimmer box frame)....right???
Start reading Pool School - Pool School too! Lots to learn there as well as the posts in the forum section.
Start reading Pool School - Pool School too! Lots to learn there as well as the posts in the forum section.
Check out the link in my signature: Fake Main Drain. 
Short answer: Yes, you can run a fully functioning pool just fine on Skimmer suction only.
However, you may want some kind of automated pool cleaner to pick up debris that the MD might normally get.
Short answer: Yes, you can run a fully functioning pool just fine on Skimmer suction only.
However, you may want some kind of automated pool cleaner to pick up debris that the MD might normally get.
Put a hose in the pump basket and run it until water overflows the basket, put the lid on and start the pump. Give it at least a minute to prime. Look at your watch, a minute is eternity when waiting.