Priming pump question

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HiddenRiver

HiddenRiver

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Jun 15, 2017
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East Coventry, PA
I came home from work today after family members were in the pool all afternoon with the pump gurgling and bubbles coming out of the jets along with some water. I noticed in the clear window of where we (really the pool guy opens and closes our pool so I have no clue) pour water to prime the pump was not full and obviously had too much air in it. So I fixed the flapper by the skimmer that appeared to be closed and shook down the DE filter and tried to start up the pump again—this has worked in the past but did not this time.

So I (probably foolishly) opened that priming chamber and found there was another basket to catch bugs and debris and there was some bugs and leaves in it. I cleaned this basket out and returned it. Then I started to pour water in a big bucket into the chamber and continued to gurgle but never stayed filled up especially when I took the time to return and screw on the cover. I tried to turn the pump on partially filled and the water did not fill the chamber. :weepingandnashingofteeth:

What am I doing wrong? Was I suppose to turn on or off any of the spigots? Am I suppose to run the pump as I pour the water in?

Help!!

I will photograph the set up
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That pump strainer basket lid has to be closed securely before it will prime. It can take an uncomfortably long time to get going well. I know-- I emptied my basket this morning and actually timed it: 33 seconds from the time I threw the switch until the basket was full and the pump primed and the motor sounded normal. You should hear a different pitch within about ten seconds and then it'll start making strange noises and churning a little and then it'll go ab out half, before it finally catches and takes off .
 
Hidden River:

Below, I am assuming you have shut off valves for main drain, and 2 skimmers. The skimmers do not have to be shut off from valves, only main drains.

Try this as it has worked well in the spring for me and the priming is very quick. Close off the valve for the main drain (if you have one). Then close off both skimmers with a black plug (or Gizzmo). Now open the basket and fill the lines up with water until the water comes pouring back to the basket and it water will overflow. Now close the lid of the pump (you can not fill and run at the same time as air will be sucked in). Keep main drain closed for now with valve. Go to the skimmer and if you have 2 of them, only remove black plug on one of the them. Now turn on the pump and the system should prime very quickly off the first skimmer. Once you are done, remove the second plug in the skimmer and this should prime as well, possibly loosing a little bit of pressure, but things should still be moving.

Now, with the main drain, open valve slowly and you will start loosing suction, then close again until back to normal pressure, then open slowly and repeat until you are primed again. You are purging most of the air in the system, but not all and helping the pump move quicker. Make sure that there is not shut off on the MPV or a valve on the return side. Sometimes it is something very simple.

Last, but not least you could have a suction side clog. The clog does not have to be much for the system not to prime. My friend had some leaves combined with hair that we removed by working backwards and blowing air on the suction side.
 
Thanks! Not sure I understand it all but it sounds like I need to shut off the drain and block the skimmer— (only one is working) fill the primer chamber with water and seal it then turn on the pump and unblock the skimmer then turn on the drain. I will try it—
 
HiddenRiver said:
Thanks! Not sure I understand it all but it sounds like I need to shut off the drain and block the skimmer— (only one is working) fill the primer chamber with water and seal it then turn on the pump and unblock the skimmer then turn on the drain. I will try it—
Click to expand...

DO NOT ! Turn on the pump unless you unblock the skimmer first as you have one skimmer only working. After removing the plug, then go back and turn on the skimmer.
 
It’s done. Broke one of the handles but previous owner left a spare. Cleaned o ring but did not silicon it. Successfully primed but still some bubbles coming out of jets and popcorn sound in the filter. Pool water has low chlorine and some combined chlorine! It is daytime and sunny at the moment. I added a half gallon of 12% chlorine and some pucks to hold it over until tonight. I might have a slam again. Ugh.
 
It’s been two hours and the jets are still pushing out water and some bubbles and the light popcorn noises are still coming from the filter. During this time we backwashed/changed the DE filter. Thoughts on how long to wait before going to the next step in figuring out where the air is coming from? Besides being a little annoying do these extra air bubbles damage the pump or anything else?
 

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You have a suction side air leak.

First place to look is in the skimmer. Is that weir sticking again? Is the pool water level low? Either can cause a vortex in the skimmer -- the toilet flushing cyclone effect -- that will introduce air.

Then you get to start serious leak detection. Pool School - Leak Detection is a generic article that gives some background. You'll be going from the pump basket lid to and through the valves dribbling water to try and stop the bubbles.
 
Rich, water level is good. It is about two to three inches above the bottom of the skimmer and I put a puck in the skimmer to keep the flap up. I don’t see that vortex at all just swirling. I guess that pump chamber O ring could be getting old (do I order from Amazon.? What do I search for?) but when I opened the chamber yesterday I could hear the suction release—impressive. I will read the He article. Thanks so much!! Jane
 
Hidden River:

How did you get the system primed? Also, as Richard stated, there is a suction side air leak. Try to keep the water at least 1/2 way up on the skimmers. I know my system works best with a little lower, but this could rule out air at the skimmer level. Also look for air or water dripping from the plumbing at the equipment pad, and around the gasket of the pump lid.

My system has 2 main drains, 2 skimmers and 2 shut off valves for 8 returns. If I pull too much from one skimmer and slow or shut down the main drain, there is a lot of air in the system. Is it possible that with one skimmer not working, the system could be slightly off causing this type of issue. I by no means understand this 100%, but again just a thought.

You have unions on the suction side. If leaking, add a little bit of Teflon lube, put back together and also add Teflon lube on the gasket of the lid as well. Mine was fine until the 4th year and then started leaking. A little lube stopped the leak, but then afterwards I swapped out the whole pump.
 
Catanzaro

The pump is primed but after a day of multiple swimmers and my lack of attention there was algae in my pool! Yuck!! So the pump is running through my SLAM (only took one night because I over poured the chlorine) and the air is still mixed in but needed to continue to circulate. I think you are correct about the suction side leak. I just watched a video about running water on the suction side equipment. I will try this to see if I can find the location of the leak. Stand by....
 
HiddenRiver said:
Catanzaro

The pump is primed but after a day of multiple swimmers and my lack of attention there was algae in my pool! Yuck!! So the pump is running through my SLAM (only took one night because I over poured the chlorine) and the air is still mixed in but needed to continue to circulate. I think you are correct about the suction side leak. I just watched a video about running water on the suction side equipment. I will try this to see if I can find the location of the leak. Stand by....
Click to expand...

Unfortunately running water on the piping at the suction sid did not change the amount of air mixed in that chamber. I guess there is something wrong with the section from the skimmer to the pump—do you think a blockage?
 
Multiple swimmers, one day and the lack of attention does not = algae. The air in the system is one issue, but given that your pool is quite large and deep, one of your other issues may be the lack of circulation. Perform a SLAM and keep your FC a little higher than normal. You will need to brush the pool a little more often if this is the case. Water goes from crystal clear to cloudy to algae not in one day. The tell tale signs are there.

How many returns do you have in your pool and are they evenly spaced out? How much chlorine are you consuming daily and have you performed an overnight test?
 
Performed the overnight SLAM test last night. After an hour of adding Cl last night my FC was 19 and CC 1. This morning the FC was 23–higher since I poured in the deep end and ran the pump all night I guess , I added too much chlorine and CC.5, (it was a big container of 12.5% from pool store and thought I estimated 500 oz properly but maybe I am not estimating any of the additions properly..)this afternoon the FC was 12 and no CC. So I think that was enough for the slam? Brushed the pool last night and this morning. We have not had a problem with mixing in the past (this year three with the pool).
 
My husband tells me the previous owner blocked off the non working skimmer. Bu I will try blowing air out the working skimmer. I assume, using a compressor? I wonder if there is a way to isolate the skimmer, remove strainer basket and and suck water (and clog) out at the pool end of the skimmer pipe like with a toilet bowl plunger? I guess I would have to reprime... ugh. Maybe use a snake?
 
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