I'm about at my wits end. Three weeks ago I purchased and installed a HayWard Ecostar 3400SVP pump. This is my third or fourth pump install, so it's not like I'm a stranger to this sort of task, but except for one time at the initial start-up, this pump simply will not prime.
I let all the PVC fittings sit for 24 hours before turning the pump on, so I am quite sure of their integrity.
I drained my pool, had it acid washed, and put a brand new cartridge in the filter.
I used a jet drain and even snaked the suction line to ensure there wasn't a blockage.
I used silicon lubricant on the o-rings of each coupling as well as on the pool filter and the basket lid o-rings.
There are no air bubbles coming out of the pool returns.
...and still this pump isn't drawing in enough water to prime itself and the filter basket is barely half full of water.
After running out of things to try, I suspect the pump is sucking air right at the basket lid, because I don't see how the o-ring can possibly be making a seal. I took some pictures so you can see what I'm talking about.
It's a little more obvious in the bottom picture, but if you look closely you can see the o-ring is sitting below the clear plastic outer rim of the lid, and given that, I suspect the clear plastic lid itself is what's making direct contact with the pump surface and the o-ring is actually not making contact with anything.
Short of getting a Hayward pump technician out here to look at it, do I have any other options?
I let all the PVC fittings sit for 24 hours before turning the pump on, so I am quite sure of their integrity.
I drained my pool, had it acid washed, and put a brand new cartridge in the filter.
I used a jet drain and even snaked the suction line to ensure there wasn't a blockage.
I used silicon lubricant on the o-rings of each coupling as well as on the pool filter and the basket lid o-rings.
There are no air bubbles coming out of the pool returns.
...and still this pump isn't drawing in enough water to prime itself and the filter basket is barely half full of water.
After running out of things to try, I suspect the pump is sucking air right at the basket lid, because I don't see how the o-ring can possibly be making a seal. I took some pictures so you can see what I'm talking about.
It's a little more obvious in the bottom picture, but if you look closely you can see the o-ring is sitting below the clear plastic outer rim of the lid, and given that, I suspect the clear plastic lid itself is what's making direct contact with the pump surface and the o-ring is actually not making contact with anything.
Short of getting a Hayward pump technician out here to look at it, do I have any other options?
