Inground pool losing it's prime

[amynj33]

I have a fiberglass pool, and last year we relocated our pumps, and they are now at least 1 foot above the pool level. Last year when we had to change the filters out of the filter housing, we had to blast the pipes with water to get it primed again. This year, we just opened the pool less than a week ago and we cannot keep the pool primed. A friend of our stopped by yesterday to look at it and suggested that we close the valves going into the filter before opening the chlorinator, filter housing or pump box. We ran the pool for a couple of hours and then shut it off. When I went to turn the pump on again today (nothing was opened since running the pool yesterday: ie: filter housing, chlorinator or pump box), and the pump was not primed again. I closed the valves and blasted the water into everything again, and it's running ok.
Does anyone have any suggestions? I have a 1hp Hayward Superpump.

 

[Isaac-1]

It sounds like you have a suction side air leak, the most common place to find them is the big pump basket O-ring, try lubricating it with silicone lube and see if that helps.

 

[Bama Rambler]

Since you just opened it and it's not priming you may want to check the pump drain plugs to make sure they're sealed along with the pump basket lid o-ring that Isaac mentioned.