In what must be a right of passage for new pool owners, I have to admit that I can't seem to prime my pump (Intelliflo vs3050). I've read through the many other posts on TFP and followed the various tips as best I can, but it still fills up with air immediately when I turn it on. Unfortunately, I don't know enough yet about how the various valves work to know if everything is open properly. Hopefully all you wise pool owners can help...
Here's what's going on: When I turn on the pump, with the lid on tight, all the water in the pump it is immediately sucked out, but no water comes from the intake. I've taken the lid off, put a hose in and filled it up, and tried again -- but same issue.
And the back story: The pump appeared to be running fine yesterday but was filled with debris. The pool guy came out this morning for weekly service, and I'm almost certain he cleaned out the basket because it was empty when I went out in the afternoon and noticed that the basket area was full of air. (Unfortunately I haven't yet been able to get in touch with him yet to verify this.) I imagine he didn't prime it afterward, or didn't seal the lid properly.
So I took the lid off, put a hose in the basket and filled it back up with water. Only, it seemed to take forever because the water kept draining down past the first pipe (what I think is the intake.) I even stuck the hose in the intake pipe and tried filling that up but it drains down quickly.
So first question: Should I be worried about a leak or is this just the water draining back to the pool? The pump is about 2 feet higher than the water line in the pool.
Eventually I filled the whole thing up, got the lid back on real tight with the o-ring, and turned the pump back on -- only to have the water sucked out of the basket immediately, but no water from the intake.
And so my second question: Do the position of the valves in the attached photos provide any clues as to what's going? Is there some arrangement that will allow me to prime the pump more easily?
Thanks! I'm going to have the pool guy come back out tomorrow, but I'd like to be armed with some knowledge when he does.
Here's what's going on: When I turn on the pump, with the lid on tight, all the water in the pump it is immediately sucked out, but no water comes from the intake. I've taken the lid off, put a hose in and filled it up, and tried again -- but same issue.
And the back story: The pump appeared to be running fine yesterday but was filled with debris. The pool guy came out this morning for weekly service, and I'm almost certain he cleaned out the basket because it was empty when I went out in the afternoon and noticed that the basket area was full of air. (Unfortunately I haven't yet been able to get in touch with him yet to verify this.) I imagine he didn't prime it afterward, or didn't seal the lid properly.
So I took the lid off, put a hose in the basket and filled it back up with water. Only, it seemed to take forever because the water kept draining down past the first pipe (what I think is the intake.) I even stuck the hose in the intake pipe and tried filling that up but it drains down quickly.
So first question: Should I be worried about a leak or is this just the water draining back to the pool? The pump is about 2 feet higher than the water line in the pool.
Eventually I filled the whole thing up, got the lid back on real tight with the o-ring, and turned the pump back on -- only to have the water sucked out of the basket immediately, but no water from the intake.
And so my second question: Do the position of the valves in the attached photos provide any clues as to what's going? Is there some arrangement that will allow me to prime the pump more easily?
Thanks! I'm going to have the pool guy come back out tomorrow, but I'd like to be armed with some knowledge when he does.