Strange Cover Pump Issue

[kevinanton7]

So I have a little giant pump on my pool cover. The outlet for the hose is way lower than the level of the pump. The pump will never start pumping unless I lower the hose end (continually lower every time the pump starts).

Any ideas? Can the pump be failing after 8 months?

 

[wireform]

Pump isn't failing but has an air pocket in the hose that the small pump can't overcome. I have this same scenario at may pools. What I do to start the water flow is the following. After the pump is in the water I raise the hose a few feet from the pump as I walk towards the discharge end I raise the hose but lower the portion that was raised before it. After a couple of feet it basically pushed the water which was in the hose towards the end and allows the water to continue flowing from that point.

 

[kevinanton7]

Ok, that is going to be an issue since I am leaving the pool unattended for 6-8 weeks.

 

[wireform]

By keeping the pump more to the center of the pool it'll have plenty of straight, same level as pump for a good few feet before the hose needs to go up to pass over the coping. That also helps alot not needing what I described earlier.

 

[kevinanton7]

By keeping the pump more to the center of the pool it'll have plenty of straight, same level as pump for a good few feet before the hose needs to go up to pass over the coping. That also helps alot not needing what I described earlier.

Update, Little Giant said the same thing, they also recommended leaving the hose connection loose to allow air to escape.