Operation
8
PRIMING THE PUMP
NOTICE:
The term ‘priming’ refers to the process of pumping all the air out
of the system, filling the pump and suction piping with water, and begin-
ning to move water through the pump and out into the system. A ‘self-
priming’ pump generally will repeat this process without attention once the
pump and system are full of water. If the water drains out of the pump
(back into the well, for example), then the whole priming process must be
repeated before operating the pump again.
To make sure that the pump will ‘retain its prime’ (that is, that the pump
and its piping will stay full of water), BE SURE to install a check valve in
the pump inlet port with the flow arrow pointing towards the pump. The
check valve will prevent water from siphoning out of the pump body and
back down into the well, which will keep the pump full and allow it to
restart on its own.
DO NOT
remove the recirculation valve cover (there are spring-loaded
parts inside the recirculation valve – see Figure 16, Page 9) when priming
or draining the pump. The drain is a hex-head pipe plug underneath the
pump body. To drain the pump, remove the hex plug (Key No. 17, Page
12). Do not disturb the recirculation valve (Key No. 19, Page 12).
• If the pump or the suction pipe have been drained for any reason, BE
SURE to reprime the pump before starting it.
NOTICE: NEVER run the pump dry.
Running the pump without water in it
will damage the seals, can melt the impellers and diffusers, and voids the
warranty. To prevent damage,
fill the pump with water before starting.
1. Remove priming plug (Figure 13).
2. Make sure suction and discharge valves and any hoses on discharge
side of pump are open.
3. Fill pump and suction pipe with water.
4. Replace priming plug, using Teflon tape on thread; tighten plug.
NOTICE:
If a priming tee and plug have been provided for a long hori-
zontal run, be sure to fill suction pipe through this tee and replace plug.
(Don’t forget to Teflon tape the plug.)
5. Start pump: water should be produced in 5 minutes or less, the time
depending on depth to water (not more than 20') and length of horizon-
tal run (10' of horizontal suction pipe = 1' of vertical lift due to friction
losses in the pipe).
If no water is produced within 5 minutes, stop pump, release all pres-
sure, remove priming plug, refill and try again.
Hazardous pressure and risk of explosion and scalding. If
pump is run continuously at no flow (that is, with discharge shut off or
without priming), water may boil in pump and piping system. Under
steam pressure, pipes may rupture, blow off of fittings or blow out of
pump ports and scald anyone near.
To prevent explosion, do the following:
A. Be sure discharge (valve, pistol grip hose nozzle, etc.) is open whenever
pump is running.
B. If pump fails to produce water when attempting to prime, release all pres-
sure, drain pump and refill with cold water after every two attempts.
C. When priming, monitor pump and piping temperature. If pump or pip-
ing begin to feel warm to the touch, shut off pump and allow system to
cool off. Release all pressure in system and refill pump and piping with
cold water.
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Figure 13 – Remove Priming Plugs
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Figure 14 – Fill Pump Before Starting
1117 0993
Figure 15 – Do Not Run Pump with
Discharge Shut-off.