How To: Prime a Pool Pump

How To Prime A Pool Pump - bit.ly/36mZDpf
How To Determine Why a Pool Pump Won't Prime - bit.ly/30JyqvO
How To Clean Out a Pool Pump Impeller - bit.ly/37keHFI
How to Find Suction Side Air Leaks In A Pool - bit.ly/2GhFN4d
SUBSCRIBE for FREE pool care and maintenance videos
every week: bit.ly/Subscrib... ****
VISIT our blog for weekly swimming pool tips, tricks, and more! www.inyopools.c...
SHOP at our online store! bit.ly/InyoPools
Listen to the Poolside Chat podcast!
iTunes:bit.ly/Poolside...
SoundCloud: / inyopools-com
LIKE us on FACEBOOK! / inyopools
FOLLOW us on TWITTER! / inyopools
FOLLOW us on INSTAGRAM! / inyopools
JOIN our circle on GOOGLE+ plus.google.co...
When a system is fully primed, the system components, pipes, pump, filter etc., are filled with water and the pool pump is able to suck water from the pool and push it back into the pool through pool returns. Priming a pool pump involves purging air from the pumping system and filling the water lines and pump with water. The number of steps required to prime your pool pump depends on the amount on water in the suction side of the lines - water coming from the pool to the pump. If you are installing a new pool system, there is no water in the lines, and you may have to repeat these steps several times. If you are adding or replacing components into the pumping system (like a heater), there will still be some water in the lines and priming will be simpler. The following procedure assumes that you have no or little water in the system. Visible indications of low water are no or little water in the pump strainer box, and a low pressure reading on the pool filter pressure gage.
f the pool pump is running, your first step is to turn off the power to the pool pump. For maximum safety turn off the power at the circuit breaker to the motor.
The suction diverter valve allows you to shut off the water from the skimmers or from the main drain. Generally, you cannot shut off both. To prime, the system in steps, move the diverter valve so that the offside of the lever is pointing to the main drain side. Now water can only flow from the pool skimmer lines. Note: if you are only adding a component to an existing system, water will still be in the lines and you can probably re-prime the system by opening the skimmer and main drain lines at the same time (lever is halfway between skimmers and main drains).
Next, you will have to relieve any pressure that remains in the pool pump and water lines. To relieve pressure turn the air relief valve on top of the pool filter counterclockwise. You will hear air releasing as you see the pressure on the pressure gauge go to 0 psi. Leave this relief valve open. READ MORE bit.ly/36mZDpf

[@ashell2040]

Couldn't get my system to prime and finally gave up and went in the house and pulled you up on KZbin. Worked 1st time. Saved me an expensive visit from my pool guy. Thanks you guys you're the best.

[@huntbbq5058]

Its 2020 & this vid is still saving pool pumps around theworld. Thank you from New Zealand 🇳🇿. Saved me a call out charge as well.

[@huntbbq5058]

Also found a release valve I didn't know existed haha

[@roonei84]

A major cause for this priming problem is that in the States, pool constructors, tend to always install the pump and the filter above ground.The best practice - plumbing wise - is to install the pump and the filter below the water level of the pool.Another thing is that these diverter valves seem to be a bit gimmicky.It is better to install a suction collector with dedicated pvc ball valves and a separate (collector) for the return lines (if more than one).This practice reduces the priming problems by 90% because water comes freely to the pump basket and the system is always full of water.But the underground technical is a bit impractical in terms of access for the owner.If an above ground installation is mandatory then a pvc non-return valve installed in the inlet side of the pump can help a lot.Other than that a great video from a fellow pool technician from Greece!

[@BojaneBugami]

Absofuckinglultely. There is no possible way whatsoever that you can fill the strainer can. All you are doing is filling the pool.

[@cirriusbonner2757]

@@maxattherisethefall rhjjuh

[@stunner211]

God bless you for this vid. i dont have extra money to get the pool people to come prime my pump. this got me going in like 2 mins. thank you.

[@Inyopools]

Thank you for the feedback. We're glad to hear you got the pump up and running again.

[@muriloninja]

Good stuff, saved me a lot of money I suspect. I had to clean my DE filter screens, reintroduce DE. I thought I was done but noticed I had little water running, got it primed using this video despite slight differences with my system. My Zodiac Barracuda G3 is working continually now and unfortunately has a lot of work ahead because the pool is filthy from my system running subpar for a few weeks.

[@msc2802]

W

[@hewer1953]

I was having trouble with priming my pump after changing the sand. Excellent video. Thanks !

[@Inyopools]

Thank you for the feedback, Hershel!

[@TheCreativeComposer]

This is a great information for someone who just built the pool. One question: It asks to shuf off main drain before priming. How about skimmer drains and spa drain (if there is one). Do they all need to be shut off before priming?

[@Inyopools]

You'd want to keep the skimmer line open so the pump can get water. As the pump primes, you can slowly open the main drain. Note: Not all pumps need the main drain line closed to prime. It may prime with both open. Just make sure the lines are filled with water.

[@jorgecarrasco9482]

How do you know when water is freely flowing? What does that look like inside the basket?

[@DebraCrossmanMedium]

Thanks it worked!

[@frederickweissbach6187]

You turn off the supply side diverter valve completely, then let the pump run? My supply side is either spa drain or pool skimmer, do I turn both off or just one?

[@stephaniewarrington4980]

Great video ! I'm going to try it ,wish me luck 😉

[@AndrewHall917]

Excellent! Thank you for your professional video!

[@Inyopools]

Thank you for watching! - MGS

[@billgaines7367]

great video on priming the pump, but the background track steals the show!

[@Inyopools]

lol. We've come a long way since this video.

[@doughamilton203]

Awesome video. Really great job, I'm an idiot and after watching this. just primed our pump after it blocked.

[@bethrosemartin]

Thanks! You saved me too from an expensive pool service call. Pool is back and running great.

[@mollyshumaker7325]

THANKS to you, I was able to get my pool pump up & running again, after sitting turned off for over a week (while our pool guy was a no-show). After emptying the clogged filter basket we didn't know how to prime our pump. Although our system is slightly different from yours, thanks to your step by step video, we got it up & running again. Thanks so much. The pool guy is fired! lol

[@Inyopools]

Awesome, Molly! Sometimes you just have to take the bull by the horns and get the job done. Let us know if you have any ideas for more videos to help pool beginners.

[@grognackthegrognardianbarb7883]

I really wish this wasn’t the first thing that g gf ones up for Hayward pro series as this is garbar

[@arthurvin2937]

Is it OK if I disable auto priming before each startup on Pentair IntelliFlo VST 2 pump? Priming feature makes it undetectable by smart home energy monitoring system like Sense. I usually run it at 2 speeds: 3450RPM for best skimming when needed, and 2000RPM for routine circulation and filtration. At these speeds do I get any benefits from priming?

[@janhamman4191]

The basket in the wear was full of leafs after I cieaned it out then i clean the basket at the pump then after i put the basket back i filled it with water istarted the pump now the pipe from the wear keepon running empty what can be the reason for that

[@arthurvin2937]

@@janhamman4191 that's what the priming is for. The pump has to run at full speed for few secs to create enough air pressure difference in the inlet pipe so that water from your pool is not blocked by the air pockets. I learned that the priming is important whenever you clean the basket, or if you have an air leak in the system.

[@brettmiller1491]

This (and the written instructions) saved me!

[@timtoni123]

Thank you for your help

[@14sgs]

Pool acting up... This still works ~ thx

[@lxsmith2]

do all filters have a pressure relief?

[@Inyopools]

No, not all filters have a pressure relief valve, sand filters some times do not. Top mount sand filters do not usually have air reliefs because the air works its way out eventually. - MGS

[@BojaneBugami]

I can't fill up the basket container thing cos the water just goes out to the drain/jets. It's impossible to fill this up. The filter basket thing is higher elevating than the pool. I will fill the pool overflowing before I will ever fill this thing.

[@topdog250]

Diverter valve? Main Drain? Where is off? Maybe I got that. Very unsure. Air relief? Nope. Pool return? No clue. When I fill the basket with a hose no matter how long I let it run, when the hose is removed the basket drains, unless all exits (skimmer and main?) are off. Can't get it to prime.

[@Inyopools]

In the video we do show what most of those plumbing and pool features look like. You do not see anything on your pool that looks like any of these? Is your water level at least halfway up your skimmer? If it isn't then your water level is too low. If your pool water level is correct and the leak only stops when you close the skimmer, you may have a leak in an underground pipe.

[@erexous7]

I've been trying to prime my pool cause I'm getting bubbles in the pool,but it's not been going well. I followed all the steps in this video but as soon as I open that filter cap,water pours out of it. wondering what I could be doing wrong. are there any more valves other than the main drain to shut off before this?

[@Inyopools]

Are you talking about the pump strainer lid or the filter's air relief valve that has water pouring out of it? Either way, it sounds like the pump is primed, but the issue causing the air bubbles is a suction side air leak. Below is a link to a guide on how to find an air leak on the suction side of your pump. Also, plumbing for a pool can be configured in countless ways; you will need to follow the lines feeding your pump to determine if there is an extra valve. www.inyopools.com/HowToPage/how_to_identify_and_correct_air_leaks.aspx

[@susanlee8533]

Mine is running backwards the water is coming out Works be coming in and coming in which should be going out what is the problem

[@roywhittle1]

main drain, skimmers, pool return. I assume the pool return is one or the other. If you close main main drain does that mean you have opened the skimmers only?

[@andrewvera3449]

I did all of this and nothing! The only way I can prime is pouring water in the basket. Please help!

[@vegasmaori6621]

i know my air release valve on top of my filter cartridge...but i don't know which is my deverter valve and which way to turn them for these steps as there is no writing to let me know...if i turn the one that is furthest away from my skimer basket it spews out water and the other one closet to the basket just drops the wayer in the basket please help

[@Inyopools]

The diverter valves are 2-way and/or 3-way valves in front of your pool pump. Since every pool is different, you'll have to test them to see what they control.

[@vegasmaori6621]

Inyo Pools thanks i fixed it i just moved them around and it started going again

[@sabrilisham6765]

my pool doesnt have a diverter valve so how?

[@Inyopools]

You can still prime the pump without a diverter valve. Skip that step. - MGS

[@kdmag8858]

Intro music was taken from Kerbal Space Program.

[@Avianca-rr3rf]

have you ever thought kerbal space program took the music from somewhere and then they took the music from the same place

[@kdmag8858]

@@Avianca-rr3rf You know, I did not think about that. That is a possibility.

[@telefunkenyou47]

Inyo Pools better stay Ottama Wife.

[@Croaton1986]

Don't listen to this guy, he doesn't explain basic fundamentals of flow and understanding!!!!!!

[@RoseveltColbert]

You have to be an engineer to follow this video....

[@Inyopools]

Rosevelt, which parts were difficult to understand? We will gladly remake the video to make it easier.