How to Prime Your Pool Pump

Your pool pump is meant to function only with water inside it. If it’s not full of water, your pump can possibly become damaged, leading to a costly repair. The pump is like the heart of your pool’s circulation system, and the water is its lifeblood. Without water moving through it at all times, the pump’s motor will begin building friction, which creates heat.

Sometimes, air will manage to make it into your pool pump without your having done anything to invite it. For example, if you live in an area that sees freezing temperatures during the winter, you’ll want to blow the water out of the plumbing lines before you close your pool. This will keep the water from freezing in the pipes, which can damage them. When you blow the water out of the plumbing system, you’re replacing it with air.

Come spring, when it’s time to open your pool, if you just start the pump while it still only has air in it, you can run into all those overheating problems. You need to get water flowing into and through the pump before fully turning the system on. And you do that by priming the pump.

How to Prime a Pool Pump:

1. Turn the Multiport Valve to Recirculate

This will direct the water into the filter head, and then right back out to the pool.

2. Remove Pool Plugs

You’ll need water to be able to flow into the pump, so remove any plugs you may have in the skimmer(s) or return jets before you turn any equipment on.

3. Fill The Pump With Water

Remove the pump’s lid and check the inside. If it’s dry, you’ll need to add some water before you turn it on. Make sure all the drain plugs are in place, then use a garden hose to pre-fill the pump housing.

Allow water to run into the pump housing for at least two minutes. This will allow some water to seep into the pipes that extend from the skimmer to the pump so there’ll be enough water to create suction in the pump.

4. Turn the Pump On

Replace the lid, and turn the pump on. It may gurgle and sputter a little, and it may take a little time, but eventually, you should see water filling the pump housing.

Once the housing is full of water, the pump is primed, and you’re ready to go!

How to Prime Your Pool Pump

Your pool pump is the central piece of equipment that allows the function of your pool filtration system. It keeps the water moving so that dirt and debris can be filtered out and so that your pool chemicals can do their job effectively.

Without a functioning pool pump, your pool water can quickly become stagnant. Keeping your pool pump functioning is essential to maintaining a clean and healthy swimming pool. By extension, knowing how to take care of your pool pump is also crucial so that you can avoid costly repairs and replacements.

We are often asked, “my pump isn’t priming, what do I do?” A pool pump often gets pockets of air trapped inside. Anytime that it is not operating full of water such as when the pool is closed down or re-opened for the season, there is a potential to get air inside the pump. Before you can operate a pool pump that has air in it, you will need to blow out the lines with water to get rid of any air and replace it with water. This process is priming the pump.

It is important that a pool owner should learn to prime their pump as operating a dry pump can lead to possible damage to surrounding fixtures. These devices are only to run when they are full of water.

Steps to Priming Your Pump

A precautionary first step may be to check your water levels, empty out your skimmer basket of debris, backwash (if you have a sand filter) or clean your filters (if cartridge).

1. Turn off the pump. Although your pump is probably already off if you need to prime it, make sure that the power button is truly in the off position or that power has been disconnected to the unit. Anytime that you are working with water and electricity, heed additional safety precautions before beginning your task.

2. Switch to recirculate. The multiport valve on your filter can be set to recirculate (or whirlpool on some filters) the water. This will bring water directly into the pump and then recirculate it back out into the pool. In the recirculate setting, the water bypasses the filter and goes directly into the pump to ensure that there is in fact, water in the pump.

3. Release air. Relieve excess air pressure in the lines by opening up the air relief valve located on top of the filter (if sand filter)

4. Clean out the pump basket. Remove any debris that has collected in the basket and rinse with a hose. Inspect for wear and tear and replace parts like o-rings as needed.

5. Fill the pump basket. Use a garden hose to slowly fill the pump basket and put the lid back in place.

6. Once the pump basket is filled and tightened, make sure the air release valve is open and turn the power to the pump on.

7. Check the water flow to your pump. Water should be consistently flowing within thirty seconds. If you do not have a consistent flow, turn the pump back off and repeat the previous steps. Thoroughly re-check all of your hardware for wear and tear.

Once the water is constantly flowing, close the air pressure release gauge (most commonly found with sand filters- other filter styles generally have a pressure release valve).