Help-Pool Guy Is A No Show

[Dafreak]

I tried priming the pump but I cant get any suction from the pool. What am I doing wrong?

[mwsmith2]

Hard to tell. Are your valves set right? How long did you wait for the pump to prime? It can take 2 mins or longer for some pumps to self-prime.

Also, I can understand your frustration, but profanity is not really necessary here.

Michael

[Dafreak]

Thanks for the response and I apologize for the profanity. Maybe I am not priming the pump correctly. Is there somewhere where I can find out that process?

[Poconos]

For a start some info would be helpful:
--Above or in-ground pool? Defines the equipment location as being above or below water level.
--Filter type? Model would be nice as it may define the valving positions.
--Pump model?

If you have any blockages the pump won't prime. As Michael said could be just valving.

If you do get the thing going check for leaks all around.

Post the info and we'll go from there.
Al

[Dafreak]

It is an inground pool. I am at work now so I can not tell you what brand the pump or filter is. I was worried about running it too long without water flowing through it so the longest I let it run was maybe 15 seconds. Do I need to let it run longer? I placed a hose directly in the pump filter and I did notice a pinkish liquid coming out of one of the skimmers in the pool. I assume it was antifreeze. Are all lines to and from the pump supposed to be open while priming?

[mwsmith2]

Yes. It can take up to 2 minutes for a pump to prime. Opening the skimmer basket and filling it with water will help the pump prime. The water probably won't stay in there, as it will try to drain back into the pool.

The pink juice is antifreeze.

Yes, all lines to and from the pump should be open.

Michael

[docsobeck]

in case the "valve" talk didn't make sense to you, many inground pools will have shutoff valves for one or both of the return lines - the one from the main drain, and the one from the skimmer. the valves would probably be close to the pump entrance. make sure that both valve handles are turned parallel to the pipe.

i just opened my pool yesterday, and i would say the pump ran for close to a minute before there was any water at all running into it, and a good two minutes until it was totally primed.

what you're looking for is the point where you can't see any air bubles at all inside the pump - it should be completely filled with water. if that doesn't happen after a couple of minutes, report back.

also, make sure that the returns into the pool are unblocked. they may have had something put on them for winterization.