This is a spa and pool combination system. Pump is above the pool/spa by about 6′. Pump has lost prime. Is there a way to reprime this pump. The original installation had a check valve just before the pump suction inlet but it has probably failed so when the pump shut off all the water drained back into the pool/spa. Suction side of pump uses a three-way Jandy valve so no way to shut off suction from both spa and pool at the same time to attempt priming. It will be several weeks before someone can replace the bad check valve but I would like to use the pool/spa in the mean time. I will just keep the pump running 24/7 once I can figure out a method to get it primed.
Thanks
There are several things you can do to prime a difficult pump. Fill the pump with water and flood some water down the pipes coming from the pool. Close the valve quickly (skimmer) may be easier to do. Get the garden hose running into the skimmer to flood the line and push water, for additional push you can use a hose bladder to put into the skimmer pipe and force water through – amazon link to drain bladder here.
Turn the pump on and quickly open the skimmer valve – allow many minutes to prime a stubborn pump especially when it is above water level. The drain bladder will really help you in this case.
If you have a sand filter you can also turn the multiport handle to “recirculate” this will bypass the filter allowing the water to flow more easily – thought the system bypassing the filter and back into the pool. Less resistance in the filter will allow water to flow more easily and could help you with priming.