Slow Priming Pump

[Jmbontrager]

My pump is slow to prime. What would be a good way to check for a leak?

 

[bobodaclown]

Are you seeing air bubbles in the basket once it's primed and running? If not, then it's pretty minor air leak. One way to check if you're getting air is when the pump is running/water flowing, is to run a steady stream of water over all the fittings, and see if the air in the basket goes away (it will suck in the water/not the air) and will narrow down which fitting. You can also use foaming type shaving cream.

 

[basod]

How high is the pump above the skimmer?
Do you have a check valve before the pump suction? or an isolation valve?

Any leak down stream of the pump will show as a water drip and allow the pump to drain back to water level when turned off.
Suction side leaks can be a number of things and will cause bubbles in you suction basket.
Make sure the suction basket oring is in good shape, make sure none of the pump drain plugs drip when the pump is off, also check that mechanical seal is not leaking(in between motor and pump) when turned off.
Running your pump for extended periods without prime is a bad idea