How to Prime a Pool Pump and Maximize Your Pool’s Efficiency
Published April 29, 2023
Most swimming pools have at least one pool pump. Its purpose is to pull water from the pool through the skimmer and then push it through the filtration system, i.e., filter, heater, and other components. This process removes debris and other contaminants from the water so it returns to the pool clean.
Though it’s a powerful component, it still has limits. In particular, the pool pump may not work properly, or at least as efficiently as it should, if you haven’t primed the pool component yet.
The Importance of Priming Your Pool Pump: Why It Matters
Priming is the process of filling the pump with water, all the while removing the air inside the device. The idea behind it is to generate the flow of water the pool pump needs to start working properly.
There are a couple of benefits to priming a pool pump. Here’s a look at each one of them:
Increased Efficiency
Priming is similar to pushing a ball into a slide to let it roll down and reach top speed.
Without that push, the ball may not reach its top speed or even roll down the slide. In the same way, if you don’t prime your pool pump, it may not reach its maximum efficiency or be efficient at all.
As a result, the water won’t become as clean as it can be, and some contaminants will remain.
Shorter Waiting Time
It’s generally recommended to wait for a while after turning on your pool pump before you jump into the pool. That’s because there’s likely a lot of contaminants still in the pool that you don’t want swimming with you. This waiting time can range from minutes to hours, depending on the pump.
Priming your pool pump can shorten this waiting time slightly since, by doing so, the pump will be able to circulate water more efficiently and quickly than if you hadn’t primed the component.
Lower Operating Costs
The shorter waiting time also means the pool pump will need to be turned on for a shorter time. This results in lower operating costs. In addition, you also have to take into account the fact that the pool pump will have to work less and therefore spend less energy, further saving you money.
Reduced Likelihood of Damage
If you don’t prime your pool pump whenever you turn it on, there’s a good chance the pump is often overworked. This results in damage, which may cause you to spend money on expensive repairs.
By priming your pool pump every time you use it, you minimize the chances of the device overworking itself, and as a result, you reduce the likelihood of damage.
Needless to say, priming offers several benefits to pool pump maintenance or pool maintenance in general. So, it’s only fitting that you learn how to prime a pool pump so you can reap these benefits.
Step-by-Step Guide to Priming Your Pool Pump
Although priming is essential to pool pump maintenance, improper priming can lead to more harm than good. To ensure you’re doing it properly, here’s a step-by-step guide to priming your pool pump.
1. Turn Off the Pool Pump’s Power Supply
Just like with most electronics, you need to turn off the power supply of your pool pump before you work on it, in the same way you would turn off the power supply of a lightbulb before replacing it.
This is mostly so you can prevent avoidable accidents.
2. Close the Main Drain Valves and Skimmer
The main drain valves and skimmer are all connected and can serve as entry points to the pump.
Since your goal is to not only fill the pump with water but also get rid of the air inside it, you wouldn’t want these entry points to remain open as you prime the pump. So, make sure you close them.
You also want to make sure you’re only pulling water from a specific direction. If these entry points remain open, that step can become a bit more tricky.
3. Fill the Pump Pot With Water
Next, remove the lid from the pump and fill the pot with water, creating the necessary suction or flow of water to essentially jump-start the pool pump.
4. Secure the Lid
To ensure no air enters the pump, quickly close the lid and secure it tightly.
5. Open the Air Relief Valve
Though you’ve put effort into preventing air from entering the pump, it’s highly likely that there will be air inside it anyway. For that, open the air relief valve. That should cause any trapped air to escape.
6. Turn On the Pool Pump’s Power Supply
At this point, you should have already successfully primed your pool pump. However, you still need to double-check. For that, you must turn on the power supply of the pool pump.
Make sure the air relief valve is still turned on.
7. Monitor the Pool Pump
Monitor the pool pump for a few minutes and check if there are air bubbles coming out of the return jets. If there is, that means there’s still trapped air inside the pool, and you must wait longer. If it’s been several minutes since the last air bubbles came out, that means there’s no longer air inside.
8. Open the Skimmer and Main Drain Valve
After completing the priming process and confirming that the pump is now free of air, open the skimmer valve and main drain valve slowly. In doing so, you’re allowing water to flow freely in the circulating system, and if it isn’t obvious, the free flow of water is a good thing for pool pumps.
9. Close the Air Relief Valve and Turn Off the Pool Pump’s Power Supply
Finally, check the pool pump again to see if it’s working properly, and if it is, close the air relief valve and turn off the power supply of your pool pump.
Takeaways
It can be intimidating learning how to manually prime a pool pump, but it’s an essential skill you’ll eventually need to learn if you want to maximize your pool’s efficiency. Not only will this make your pool experience more hygienic, but it’ll also result in more enjoyable pool sessions for the family.
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About The Author
Lenard Arceo is an experienced writer and digital marketing expert. He loves to code and spending time outdoors. He has helped many reputable websites grow over the years.
