Ok, new and kind of random problem.

[A.O.]

So on my pool, went out the other day to start the pump and it seemed like it had lost prime, took forever to get it going, ended up opening my vacuum port to allow more water to enter the system to get it going. But here over the last few days it seems to randomly lose prime (?) will quit flowing water then start up again. I can turn the pump off after everyone gets out of the pool, start it the next day and it all seems normal, and then it stops/starts again while running.
Thought maybe I had a crack or something in my plumbing and sucking in air, but if it had a crack in it, I'm sure I would be losing water which I am not! (And that's good cause all the plumbing is below the concrete deck around my pool!)
Pump seems to be working fine so I don't think that's the problem. The whole pool and system is about 8 years old, fiberglass.
Any thoughts?

 

[TinFoilHat]

If the pump doesn't prime properly because it's lost it's water from the basket when the pump was off then check the pump basket o-ring. Make sure you clean it and the mating surfaces of the basket then lube it with silicone pool lube. You may also have a fine line crack in the basket lid. That happened to me before. Those can be real hard to see.

 

[A.O.]

If the pump doesn't prime properly because it's lost it's water from the basket when the pump was off then check the pump basket o-ring. Make sure you clean it and the mating surfaces of the basket then lube it with silicone pool lube. You may also have a fine line crack in the basket lid. That happened to me before. Those can be real hard to see.

Good idea, but it loses prime even while it is running, not just when its off. And some of the time the pump basket stays full when off.

 

[TinFoilHat]

Then check the skimmer for water 1/2 way up the opening, a weir door, a clean basket and nothing clogging the suction tube.

 

[PoolStored]

Good idea, but it loses prime even while it is running, not just when its off. And some of the time the pump basket stays full when off.

Clean the mating surfaces and o-ring. Re-lube and reinstall. Pump can lose prime while it is running if the o-ring seal fails.

Inspect the o-ring for cracking. If ANY cracks, replace the o-ring.

 

[A.O.]

Then check the skimmer for water 1/2 way up the opening, a weir door, a clean basket and nothing clogging the suction tube.

Yes, skimmer was the first place I checked, and everything was good.

 

[1poolman1]

Its been mentioned twice, "Clean the mating surfaces and O-ring. Re-lube and reinstall." If the O-ring is cracked, get a new one. Solves that issue 90% of the time.