Pump Primming help, please.

[monica]

When pump comes on (de) it seems to take awhile to prime-lots of bubbles and on and off primming then it stays on; is this common :?

 

[JasonLion]

It is common for the pump to take a while to prime, as you describe, after you have had the pump strainer basket open. However, in normal day to day use the pump should remain primed even when it is off. Losing prime suggests that you have a small leak somewhere that is letting air in, allowing the pump and filter to drain down.

 

[monica]

any suggestions on how i should check to see if a leak?

 

[JohnT]

any suggestions on how i should check to see if a leak?

Look to see if you have any spots where water squirts out when the pump shuts off.

If you don't see anything, try relubing your strainer basket lid O-ring and making sure it's tight. Then check any unions or valve-unions in your plumbing for tightness.

 

[Bama Rambler]

There are several common place to check.
1) Is the water level as high as it should be in the skimmer? In low water conditions, they will create a vortex and suck air in that way.
2) Is the skimmer weir (flapper) operating freely? (see 1 above)
3) Clean and lube the pump strainer basket lid.
4) Look for drips on the suction piping. However it can suck in air but not leak out water.
5) The shaft seal is a common place. Are there any drips between the motor and pump wet end?
6) Check the drain plug on the pump strainer basket. That's a common place too.

Since you're sucking in air it's going to be a suction side leak.

JT and I were typing at the same time, He's such a quickdraw!