Priming Your Pump and Why You Shoudn’t Have To 

Good info! I'm a 60 year old newbie with pool systems. Retired to FL and have taken on pool duties. :) I ordered the pool pump o-ring lube you recommended and also got a new lid and seal for my elderly Hayward 1600-D pump.

This helped me out a lot with my pump. Was able to fix it and run again. Thank you Sir

Thank you Thank you Thank you so much!!! I can't believe I managed to do this all on my own with your video! I no nothing of how to care for a pool, but I'm learning so much from your videos!! Ty Ty Ty!!

I know this video is old but it really helped me out thank for the info. I just need patience as you instructed as my pump was up hill a bit and 27 feet away.

Very nice video and explanation. I've seen some pumps get so hot it actually warps the wet end and had to be completely replaced. Dig the channel brother.👍🏼

I know you live in Arizona and there aren't these things called hills there, but in other places (Austin) many systems are put on pads that are elevated from the pool. So if you don't close off the valve before the pump, or the check valves are bad, as soon as you open the pump lid, all of the water is going to drain back into the pool, and the entire suction side of the pump will be filled with air until you reach the pools elevation. This will cause most pumps to not be able to prime properly without help. Most take too long for it to be safe for the pump, due to heat buildup in the motor. If you have an elevated pad, make sure you close your suction lines before opening the pump lid or the filter.

Thank you Pool School. Straight forward, no bull, no pricey equipment. Exactly what I needed and how. You sure do beat Leslie's ass. Oh yeah, did I say Kudos? You deserve it!

Hello, thanks for tour videos, they are great. My pool has some issues and I can't seem to find the cause. There are lots of bubbles in the pump. My pool is on a timer. It will turn off once a day. Whenever it turns off, the water from the pump will go back to the pool and when it runs back on, it will prime all over again. I have checked everything and can't fine the cause. Getting very frustrating.

Thank you, just needed to see that pump lid closing differently than my own to finally close the system. And be walked through everything that can be happening. It’s not complicated but it’s frustrating to be stuck wondering wtf is messing you up.

Thank you so much, My pump got no pressure, I used your recommendation, put hose with pressure for 5 min and ........ AMAZING, it’s WORK WONDERFUL! BEST VIDEO AND ADVICE ! GOD BLESS YOU !!!

As usual another great video, could you please whenever you have time just post a video regarding how to program Pentair VS pump? I really watched couple of videos from different sources but still I'm interested to seen how you explain things as I love your super easy with high expertise and talent you had. thanks

Hello everyone. I am new to pools also and find this place helpful. Learned how to prime a pool pump today. Thank you Kennypoolschool. I live in state where I need to winterize it so any help will be appreciated. Around here contractors are charging $450 for closing a pool (and you need to buy the chemicals!) so I would like to do it myself. Is there a way of uploading some photos or share them with someone willing to help? Thank you.

So towards the end of the video u stated to close the suction valve so that no water is being pulled from the Vaccuum and only by the skimmer. Once the water gets going, u said to move the valve back so that it pulls water from the Vaccuum line too. So do u need to shut the pump off before moving the valve? Or can u move the valve while the pump is running? Sorry, I’ve been confused bc I saw as RU-vid video that says u cant move any valves in the suction or return side while the pump is running…

Thank you so much -I did it! I primed my pool even though I wasn’t sure what I was doing! Just followed your steps so Giant Thank you!

Even if the water level looks right, check the skimmer basket for objects. My pump wasn't priming itself w appropriate water level, turned out there was a giant water gun in the skimmer basket. Thank you for the helpful video.

Great video Thanks

Thx for a great video and which sunglasses is that? it has green and purple at the same time

Great Info thanks for the tips!! 👍🏻

I tried running a hose to fill the pump bucket (Jandy FloPro), but the water just drains back through the skimmer line back into the pool. My water level is now up to the top of the skimmer in the pool. I've checked the Oring, I checked the lid, Ive checked the connections...all seem to be in good order. I did notice that my filter now has zero pressure... but I cant find the relief valve on my system (jandy sftm-mpv)... could that have something to do with it? It was working fine for a day until I took the lid off the pump basket to clean it out (turned the power off first), then the water just drained and now it wont self prime, or even take a prime. Local pool people cant figure it out, and just want to sell me a new pump... but it worked yesterday ... Any tips / advice would be appreciated

Hi Kenny, I have been watching all of your videos because I just bought a 5000 gal 52” play pool which will be sunken Inground 26” as per manufacture installation. I also bought a Aqua pro 190 sq ft cartridge filter 2hp 2speed pump. Since the pool will be sunken Inground some how will this effect the filter and it’s functions. The filter has to be below the skimmer water line correct....since the pool is sunken a bit the water line will not be that high,will I get good suction?

Helped me solve my problem!!! Thank you!

Hi Kenny thanks for the videos. I just had my pool replastered, but I doubt it has anything to do with my problem. Since the pool has been refilled I keep losing prime in my pump. It’s fine when I just have the valve turned so I’m just using the skimmer, but when I turn the valve so the sweep can start, the water level in the basket goes down a few inches and bubbles start coming out the return inlets. When I take the sweep out of the pool along with the inlet that attaches it the the pool wall so the water is suck in from the wall and the skimmer it doesn’t lose prime. I’ve check the pump lid and replaced seals in the jandy valve on the inlet, but still does it and I haven’t found any air leaks. I’ve even check the hose attached to the sweep and didn’t fine any cracks. Have you ever come across this before? Thanks for any help you have.

Im house sitting. I dont know much about pools but we had a lot of rain to the point where the skimmer was completely covered with water. I noticed that the jets were kind of bubbly. Not big bubbles like a rolling boil but very fine bubbles that created a bit of a foamy surface. Anyway i drained the pool a bit to get the level at half way up the skimmer. Now the pump runs but wont prime. Dont know if the water level caused the problem somehow or if the problem was unrelated to water level. Also there is no vacuum at the bottom of this pool.

My pump is on and water is circulating but the flow into the pool is weak unless I block off 2 of the inlet jets. Why is this happening? How do I remedy this situation? Is it harmful to block off the 2 jets? Thanks for your help.

What if you have a filter you take out to clean do you have to prime pump or will it still prime itself and just close the air valve when water comes out ?

What do I need to do when the pressure is 27-30psi? I already cleaned the filters and noticed the level was down so refilled my pool and psi still high. What would you recommend me to do next?

My pool guy just installed a new motor and a filter and it was running with half water in it the PVC pipes were well over 118° coming off the pump and with water in it and the pump itself was 138° and I turned it off and I’ve been running like that for at least a day or two. Still have an issue priming the pool and have for sometime also there’s a leak somewhere I think on the JetsTo the hot tub

When I turn my pump off, I get a huge geyser up from my basket, mostly air. What do u think the issue is?

Don't go to a pool shop for any thing. The mark up is around 1000%. here in Australia. Silicon lubricant is what you use on o rings, buy it a lot cheaper on eBay.

Thank you we have a very old pump and the o ring was worn out

my pump is much higher than the pool. just got a new filter. How long can the pump run before it burns out. It takes a long time to prime. I am just nervous when I start it up I will burn out the pump

That's a pro video just moved to Yuma new to pools

Thank you so, so much!

My pool technician replaced my pump with a slightly larger one. It only fills two thirds and has a large airpocket in the top. I have a lot of pool experience with 2 pools (20 years) and I know there should never be an air pocket but my pool guy says that is common with a slightly larger pump. Of course the pump keeps depressurizing and shuts down my water cooled air conditioners. It is common sense that a larger pump will just give me higher pressure and higher psi. My skimmers barely pull and there is very low circulation. I can get it to 4/5 full by backwashing every second day but that is a ridiculous solution. Any ideas?

I recently bought a home with a pool and this whole process is pretty new to me. When my system runs, my pump basket is only filled with water about 50%. I changed the o-ring and put lube, didn't make much difference. My pool is about 6-8 feet above my pump system. I plan to try the flushing / diatom recharge for the filter system but I'm not sure it will change anything. The pool cleaner runs fairly sluggish because I guess there's too much air in the system? It get's stuck in corners and doesn't climb walls..What else can I look for?

Keep in mind that pumps usually prime to 9 ft or so. So some people with a big difference between heights you may have to prime it the first time. For there customers i usually install a clear check valve.

Are those lights really hung across the pool?

my gets are not having enough pressure, what does this mean

Where are you located?

Mine would not prime. It was the o rings on the jandy valve. Just in case someone else can’t figure out what’s going on.

What size Union Wrench fits like that on the Hayward Motor covers? We have such a difficult time unscrewing ours.

My pump basket is empty and I can’t get the lid off even after spraying it with WD40.

question on manual priming when theres some air in pipes. If my suction lines have only skimmer line and main floor drain line. Is it still using 100% suction on skimmer line and do priming?

Are you in phoenix Az How much your service cost

Omgosh thanks!!!

On my hayward the cover says full with water first

This helped me so much. I just putt the hose in the pool pump skimmer and let it run until i the water level stayed up and screwed on the top to the skimmer then turn on my pump and now i have pressure. Pressure in my pool is not very good at all in the first place. See i have only one inlet from both my top end skimmer and my bottom end main drain only one inlet with no union valve at all just straight pipe to my pool pump skimmer. It a bad design and i can't even have a vacuum at all. Once and awhile the main drain will stop draining coz of leaf debris and i have to naturally reverse the drain and pool side skimmer to release the clog i use a small hose and a high pressure hose valve to shoot out the debris. It's a pain because i don't have a pool cage and the pool is right underneath a live oak tree so it dumps lots of leaves and pollen and since i have no vacuum side i cant suck up the crap unless i use an automatic vacuum like barracuda. Keeping my pool going is a nightmare

I just cleaned my pool filter but when I prime it the pump doesn’t suction water. Please help

Kenny are you in southern az by chance?

Lost prime when trying to vacuum pool, so bad vacuum technique is another reason

How come you say you don't have to prime and then you told how to prime it. You did say running the pump with no water will heat up the motor. So, prime the damn pump to prolong the life of the pump. Duh

Just one question, where do you get those hats? Or at least what are they called so I can look them up on Amazon

Excuse me. I have a swimming pool . but few month ago i can not clean it . it is no power to pump ( i mean no water pump out when i turn the clean botton on ) thank in advance for ur reply.thank you