Pump not priming

[CircaSurvivalist]

The deep freeze might have got us...my pump does not seem to be priming and I think I can see where a small amount of water is leaking. I have tightened the bolts that attach the motor to the basket housing but there is still a small amount of water leaking. Could this be a bad o-ring and is this something I could DIY to replace or should I call a pro? Also, should I continue to run my pump? Water is filling the basket about 3/4 of the way so there is some air in the system but mostly water...I don't want to burn my pump up but also don't want pipes to freeze.

 

[ajw22]

Check that your weir door in your skimmer is moving freely.

If you cannot get water flowing with the pump then open the pump basket, remove the two drain plugs in the pump, remove the drain plug in your filter, and drain a heater or SWG if you have it. Put some half full water bottles or cut up pool noodles in your skimmer(s).

 

[CircaSurvivalist]

Water is flowing, there is just some air in the system. I believe it is something with the pump. When I shut it down and restart it water flows into the pump basket just fine but it never fully primes. I can see a tiny amount of water leaking from that seal point between the motor and the pump basket housing (sorry I don't know the technical names).

 

[ajw22]

What RPM are you running the pump at?

 

[CircaSurvivalist]

2,500 during the day and 1,500 at night

 

[CircaSurvivalist]

Wanted to give an update...I kept the pump running again throughout the night and woke up this morning to the pump running fully primed with no air bubbles coming out of the return jets. I'm not sure if it was just the warming temperatures or what, but everything seems to running as normal again!

 

[ajw22]

Sounds like you had some ice blockage causing the priming problems.

 

[JJ_Tex]

My neighbor also had an issue with their pump sucking air during the cold and he called me in a panic on Christmas Eve night. We lubed up the o-ring and that fixed it. I'm guessing the cold caused the o-ring to shrink and not get a proper seal.

 

[CircaSurvivalist]

My neighbor also had an issue with their pump sucking air during the cold and he called me in a panic on Christmas Eve night. We lubed up the o-ring and that fixed it. I'm guessing the cold caused the o-ring to shrink and not get a proper seal.

Thanks for the tip, I will try that if it happens again! Just to confirm, you mean the o-ring on the pump lid correct?

 

[JJ_Tex]

Just to confirm, you mean the o-ring on the pump lid correct?

Yes, the o-ring on the pump lid.