Get this sucker to suck?

[pcmacd]

I drained my pool a couple years back. It was fairly easy to get suction on the pump.

Not this time.

I have tried opening the strainer and pouring water in a couple of times, but it discapears before I can get the lid back on.

I'm pulling me hair out and don't want to pay the pool guy to something that has got to be pretty simple.

~~~~~
My old California pool, I would put this "pipe cleaning" balloon into the skimmer drain @bottom, turn on the water, and when the water flowed over the pump/strainer, I would cap it and we were good to go.

This pool has a much more complex skimmer, and it does not appear possible to repeat that trick.

Suggestions, if y'all please?

tanks

mac

 

[ajw22]

Check the condition of the O ring on the pump lid.

Do you put Pool Lube on the pump lid O ring before putting the lid on?

Pool Lube - Further Reading

www.troublefreepool.com

It should not be necessary to "prime" an in-ground pump.

What model pump do you have?

 

[pcmacd]

Yeppers. The O-Ring was my next victim...

 

[MITBeta]

Are you trying to drain your pool using your main pump? If so, it's going to be hard or impossible to keep primed. Buy or rent a sump pump.

 

[pcmacd]

Yeppers. The O-Ring was my next victim...

still no joy - new o ring and lube

 

[pcmacd]

Poured several five gallon buckets of water down the pump. Turned off main drain and pool sweep leaving just skimmer on.

Ba-da-bing.