almost catching prime

[jrguzmanr]

I have a leak in my pump, which I bought the kit http://www.poolcenter.com/gokit3.jpg to hopefully replace.....well that's another issue, but thought you should know in case it's related to the problem below.

Every night I have to prime the pump, and I'm noticing strange behavior which I cannot explain. I close all the returns except for my closest skimmer, fill up the pump basket and turn on the pump. All is working fine, and the pump reaches about 90-95% capacity and then it just loses prime. It doesn't start to lose it, it just loses it.

If I do the same process with the main drain, it works fine (it just takes me longer). Once it gets primed, I can then open my skimmers without any problems. Can somebody explain why I lose prime with the closest skimmer. BTW, once the pump is working fine, the closest skimmer's suction is good.

thanks

 

[Bama Rambler]

Sounds like the skimmer is sucking air when you're trying to prime the pump.

 

[jrguzmanr]

but the water level is half-way up the skimmer which, from what I understand, is the correct level. Of course, I'm a newbie, so I could be wrong...probably am too.

I guess I will try it again, with the skimmer cover off and see what's going on there.

 

[Bama Rambler]

Sometimes even with the water level half way the water will form a vortex when you're drawing a lot of water through it and suck air in. Sometimes it's caused by the weir sticking so check that as well.

 

[Richard320]

but the water level is half-way up the skimmer which, from what I understand, is the correct level. Of course, I'm a newbie, so I could be wrong...probably am too.

I guess I will try it again, with the skimmer cover off and see what's going on there.

That sounds like a good plan. Check that the weir on that skimmer (the flapper) isn't binding. If I hold the weir closed, I can empty my strainer and be sucking air in about 4 seconds!

 

[jrguzmanr]

sounds like a plan!

thanks