Pump Loses Prime

[chris732003]

Pentair Sand Filter
3/4 Hp Pump
IG Fiberglass
20,000g

Trying to vacum up dead algae. Vacum through skimmer w/ basket. Pump loses prime in every 2 min. Thinking something is clogged, placed garden hose in line to try to free debris. Didnt work any suggestions on how to free clog from skimmer to pump. (Dis. 20')

 

[dravenone]

Does the pump still lose prime if you run it without the vacum attached?

 

[chris732003]

No it doesnt but the basket does take a while to fill up.

 

[dravenone]

I doubt this is your problem but it wouldn't hurt to check. Some pump skimmers have drain plugs. You may want to see if yours does and if so make sure it is snug and the O ring is in good condition.

To check your intake line, you can try and run a snake through it and see if it gets hung up along the way just to be sure it is clogged.

 

[waste]

Welcome to TFP!!

A clog may be the issue but an easier thing to check is the connections on the vacuum hose. Often one cuff will swivel if you try to turn it, the other will not - you want the end that swivels on the vac head, the swivel on it will draw air and kill the prime if attached to the skimmer plate :-D

Switch the vac hose around and see if the problem disappears 8)

Also, do you prime the hose first? If not - you have to