Why Won’t My Pool Pump Prime?

A pool pump is part of your pool’s maintenance and cleaning system and keeps your pool habitable and safe all year round. If your pump won’t prime, it’s frustrating and time-consuming. A pool pump won’t prime mainly because of air leaks, low water levels, or blockages in the skimmer or pump basket. Knowing the common faults will help you fix them quickly and give you a base of knowledge to refer to for future problems.

Here, we’ll examine the common causes of pool pump failure and discuss how to maintain your pool so you can enjoy it worry-free.

Key Takeaways

• How knowing the causes of priming issues helps us fix them.
• How maintenance prevents future pool pump problems.
• How to fix it and get your pump up and running.

Priming Your Pool Pump

Most modern pool pumps are built to be self-priming, allowing them to remove air from the system and pull water in automatically. However, when the pump doesn’t start itself there may be a problem. While pouring water into the pump pot might provide a temporary solution its essential to identify the true source of the problem. Air leaks are frequently responsible—be it, through cracked unions, damaged o rings, or loose fittings. So, while manually priming the pump might help momentarily, it’s critical to address the source of the problem for a lasting solution.

Let’s go into priming in more detail, how it happens and why it’s important for overall pool maintenance.

What does priming really do?

Priming is basically filling the pump with water to remove the air that stops it from working. A primed pump has strong suction that will pull water from the pool, and a poorly primed pump has poor circulation and damage. To prime the strainer properly, the lid should be tight and debris-free; a loose or dirty lid can let air in.

How do I prime a pool pump exactly?

To prime a pump, fill the strainer pot with water, tighten the lid, and turn on the pump. Open the air relief valves on the filter to let the air out. Adjust the valves for the best water flow. If the pump has a spa, switch it to the spa areas for a consistent water supply and a good prime.

Why is priming important?

Proper priming is crucial for our pump’s health and efficiency for smooth operation and a clean pool. Poor priming can cause overheating, damage, and poor water circulation. Check the skimmer and pump basket regularly to keep the pool primed and those areas debris-free for proper pump function.

Causes of Typical Priming Problems and How To Fix Them

There are a few things that can stop your pool pump from priming. Let’s look at a few of the most common to get to the bottom of it.

Air Entering Your Suction Line

Air leaks can affect performance and stop the pump from creating a vacuum. They can be as simple as loose fittings, pipe cracks, or damaged seals. Even small leaks can affect performance, so get them fixed ASAP.

Fix it by:

• Check your pump for air leaks.
• Check for a loose lid or damaged o-ring, which can let air in.
• Inspect the pump’s unions regularly, and replace any cracked or worn-out unions to keep your system airtight.
• Make sure the lid is tight to prevent air leaks.
• Inspect the o-ring for damage or wear and tear and replace it.
• Check the suction lines from the pool to the pump for damaged or loose fittings.

Clogged Strainer Basket

A clogged strainer basket will restrict water flow and priming. It catches debris and won’t let the pump pull water. Regular basket cleaning is key to proper water circulation and to prevent future clogs. In our experience, a cleaning schedule helps to stay on top of this, avoid future problems, and get optimal pump performance and water flow.

Fix it by:

• Cleaning the basket will help prevent clogs that can cause erratic water flow.
• Turn off the pump before opening the lid to access the basket.
• Remove the basket and check for debris that has accumulated over time.
• Finally, rinse it out with water, and you should notice an improvement.

Faulty Check Valve

A faulty check valve can disrupt water flow in the plumbing system and prevent backflow and priming. If it sticks or fails, water won’t enter the pump properly. The valve needs to be checked for damage or improper operation. Cleaning may fix it, but if not, it may need to be replaced. The valve needs to work properly for the pump to prime.

Fix it by:

• Visually inspect the check valve for damage or wear and tear.
• Open the valve and physically check for debris that may be blocking it.
• Clean the valve with water if necessary.
• If the valve is broken or not operating freely, replace it to get water flowing.

Low Water Level

Low water levels in your pool will cause the pump to suck in air instead of water. This happens when the water falls below the skimmer line. To prevent this, check the pool water level and add water if necessary. Water level protection prevents pump dryness and is key to efficiency, so check regularly to avoid this.

Fix it by:

• Check the skimmer water level—this should be halfway up the skimmer.
• Add water to prime the pump if the water level is low.
• Install an autofill system to maintain the correct water level automatically. If you don’t have an autofill, consider adding an overground autofill system like the Rola-Chem M-3000 Pool Sentry. This can save you the hassle of constantly monitoring water levels.
• Check the water level regularly, especially during dry periods or after heavy use.

Faulty Impeller

A bad impeller will prevent water movement in the pump and reduce performance. Inspect and replace the impeller if the pump won’t prime. Clearing blockages or replacing damaged impellers will fix the problem. Regular maintenance and check-ups will give you smooth pump operation and water flow so the impeller is always worth checking.

Fix it by:

• Turn off the power and remove the pump cover to access the impeller.
• Visually inspect the impeller for debris like leaves or sand.
• Gently remove any blockages with your hands or a soft tool.
• If the impeller is damaged, replace it to get water circulation.

Exploring Electrical Issues

Electrical issues will cause priming problems and reduce pump performance. Check the power supply, and circuit breaker and check for loose or damaged wires. If electrical issues are suspected, consult a professional to avoid safety risks. Good electrical components support the pool system and efficiency.

Fix it by:

• Make sure the pump is plugged in.
• Check the circuit breaker and reset if it tripped.
• Use a multimeter to test the voltage at the motor; if no voltage is detected there may be wiring or pump issues.
• If electrical issues persist, call a professional.

To keep our pool pump running smoothly and avoid priming issues we need to focus on regular maintenance, proper winterization, and temperature changes. These simple steps will give us pump efficiency and extend the life of the pump.

Inspect and Clean On A Schedule

Inspect your entire system including the pool pump on a schedule. This should include checking the lid is sealed and replacing the o-ring when damaged. You can also clear debris from the skimmer and pump baskets for best performance. Check the water level to make sure it’s not too low, should be at mid-skimmer level or higher for proper operation.

Pool pump failures are often caused by simple things like skimmer blockages, low water levels, air leaks, and dirty filters. Fix these as soon as you can to avoid further damage and costly repairs. If basic troubleshooting doesn’t work don’t be afraid to call a pro. They can diagnose and fix the problem so you can have a clean pool for yourself and your family.

Here are some common questions about pool pump priming and circulation. These will help you troubleshoot any issues and get back to normal.

How do I prime a pool pump with a sand filter?

To prime a pool pump with a sand filter, we first need to make sure the pump strainer lid is sealed. Then, we fill the pump strainer pot with water until it’s full. Then, we turn on the pump, open the air relief valve until water comes out, and then close it.

Why does my pump lose its prime when I turn it off?

When you turn it off, your pump loses prime because air gets in. This can happen if the lid isn’t sealed or if there are leaks in the suction line. Low water in the pool can also affect this.

How do I prime a pool pump above the water line?

If you’re priming above the water line, it’s best to fill the pump with water until it’s almost full before turning on the system. It may take a few minutes to prime fully so monitor the process closely.

What are the main reasons that a pool pump runs but doesn’t circulate water?

If my pump runs but doesn’t circulate water there could be several reasons. A clogged skimmer or pump basket might be blocking the flow. We should also check for air leaks, low water levels, or closed valves in the system that can prevent circulation.