how do i prime my well pump

Step-by-Step instructions for How to Prime A Well Pump

1. Turn on the water and let the pump casing fill up with water. You’ll see the casing start to overflow from the prime plug hole and the release valves when it is full.
2. Place the prime plug back to where it was, and re-connect the pump to the power. If the cycle runs normally and starts and stops as it should, you’ve succeeded!

Full Answer

How do you raise up a well pump?

Pull the pump up and out of the casing.

• This can take a long time, and it takes a lot of work. Feel free to switch out with your friend so you can take turns pulling the pump.
• Focus on keeping the pipe untwisted as you pull upwards so you don’t rip or tear it.
• Once you have the pump completely out of the ground, you can take a look at the mechanism itself and diagnose it.

How to Prime a well pump through the pump body?

• Find the water prime opening at the top of the mechanical pump body (this is not the electric motor) where you can pour water into the pump assembly. ...
• Remove the water pump priming opening plug discussed just above. ...
• Pour water into the pump prime opening until the pump housing is filled. ...

More items...

How to reprime well pump?

• Find the water pump and water pump electrical switch
• Turn off electrical powe r to the pump
• Release any remaining water or air pressure in the system by opening a nearby faucet or drain, then close it again.
• Obtain a gallon or two of water to use for re-priming the water pump. ...

How to properly prime a pool pump quickly?

Steps to Prime Your Pool Pump

• Turn off the pump. ...
• Switch to recirculate. ...
• Release air. ...
• Clean out the pump basket. ...
• Fill the pump basket. ...
• Once the pump basket is filled and tightened, make sure the air release valve is open and turn the power to the pump on.
• Check the water flow to your pump. ...
• Once the water is constantly flowing, close the air pressure release valve.

Does a well pump need to be primed?

Simply put, your well pump will need to be primed in order to function correctly. Priming well pumps is the process of manually creating a pressure vacuum through which water can be pulled from the well and directed through your water lines.

How do I prime my submersible well pump?

0:323:13How to Prime a Well Pump - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipIf you have a convertible jet pump where you have two pipes coming into the into. The into the frontMoreIf you have a convertible jet pump where you have two pipes coming into the into. The into the front of the pump. You have to keep pouring water into that until it fills the housing.

What happens when a well pump loses its prime?

Where a one line or two line jet pump is installed, you may have lost prime at the pump. The pump motor will run but no water is delivered. If this happens it is possible to re-prime the pump with water from another source.

How much water does it take to prime a well pump?

Ideally, you want about a gallon or two for priming your water pump. This can depend on how deep or shallow the well is and if there is any existing water pressure in the lines. Keep in mind if you are planning to drink from this well, you will need a gallon or two of clean drinking water for the priming process.

How do you prime a deep well?

How to Prime a Deep Well PumpRemove the rubber or plastic prime plug from the top side of the pump. Run a water hose to the exposed hole on the top of the pump.Run water through the water hose and into the pump casing. ... Remove the water hose from the pump. ... Remove the plug and fill the casing with water once more.

Why is my well pump not building pressure?

The water pump may have suffered internal damage to a seal, bearing, or impeller. The motor will keep running but the pump is unable to develop normal pressures. "Damage" may include a broken impeller blade, scale or debris clogging the impeller or other pump components, or a failing pump seal or bearing.

How long does it take to prime a well pump?

Let the pump run for approximately one minute. If you opened any relief valves, wait until water begins to run from them before closing them again. If the pump turns off naturally, it's primed. If not, you may need to repeat the process.

Why would a water well lose prime?

Causes of Pump Losing Prime If there's no water in the line, air gaps cause suction to stop. Your well pump begins cycling air instead of water. Well pumps can lose their prime for several reasons. If your well water level is too low, you may have pulled too much water from the system.

Why is my well pump running but not pumping water?

If your well pump runs but doesn't pump water, there could be air in the pump house (especially if you have a submersible pump), a clogged water filter, faulty valves, a damaged pump, a leak in your piping or a broken water line.

How do you reset a well water pump?

Hold the reset lever in the start position until the pressure builds up and the gauge reads over 40 PSI; then let it return to the AUTO position. The pump should now run on its own and continue until the pressure reaches the cut out setting, (usually between 50 - 60 PSI), and then shut off.

How do you bleed a well pump?

1:414:47How to Prime a Well Pump - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipFirst is tightening the drain plug if you haven't. Already then remove the prime plug at the top ofMoreFirst is tightening the drain plug if you haven't. Already then remove the prime plug at the top of the pump. I already have a hose hooked up and you'll see that in a moment.

How do you prime a well pump after a power outage?

To do this, follow these three steps: Open the priming port on top of the pump and fill it with water. Slowly open the suction isolation valve and the air vents on both the suction and discharge pipes. Wait for the pumped water to flow out of the vents, and then close both the air vents and suction isolation valve.

How do you prime well pump after power outage?

To do this, follow these three steps: Open the priming port on top of the pump and fill it with water. Slowly open the suction isolation valve and the air vents on both the suction and discharge pipes. Wait for the pumped water to flow out of the vents, and then close both the air vents and suction isolation valve.

How do you bleed a well pump?

1:414:47How to Prime a Well Pump - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipFirst is tightening the drain plug if you haven't. Already then remove the prime plug at the top ofMoreFirst is tightening the drain plug if you haven't. Already then remove the prime plug at the top of the pump. I already have a hose hooked up and you'll see that in a moment.

How do you reset a well water pump?

Hold the reset lever in the start position until the pressure builds up and the gauge reads over 40 PSI; then let it return to the AUTO position. The pump should now run on its own and continue until the pressure reaches the cut out setting, (usually between 50 - 60 PSI), and then shut off.

How do you prime a pump with a check valve?

0:533:43How to Easily Prime A Portable Clean-Up Pump: Installing a Check ...YouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipI'm going to apply the pool heavy. I'm going to cert into the check valve. Now. Shows all the way inMoreI'm going to apply the pool heavy. I'm going to cert into the check valve. Now. Shows all the way in give it a nice twist.

Do you have to prime a well pump?

Yes, priming a well pump is essential. Your pump simply won’t be able to function properly without being primed. When you prime the pump, it manual...

How much water is needed to prime a well pump?

Your water requirements depend on the type of pump you’re dealing with and the number of times you need to repeat the process. There’s no definite...

How long does it take to prime a well pump?

Again, this depends on the problem your system is facing and how many times you need to repeat the process. The majority of shallow and deep well p...

Are well pumps self priming?

You might not even need to prime the pump of your well at all if it’s self-priming. Not all pumps are self-priming, however, so it’s important to b...

Why is my well pump not priming?

There are a number of reasons why your well pump won’t prime. If you’re having an issue with the pump itself, check that none of the components hav...

What can I do if I’m still uncertain?

Priming a well pump can seem like a daunting prospect. The process itself is actually relatively straightforward, but doing it the first time may b...

Why Do You Need to Prime a Well Pump?

A well pump needs to be primed in order to create the internal pressure necessary to draw water from your well or other water source and pump it to where you need it to go.

Why is a primed well pump important?

Check valves and foot valves are extremely important fittings in a well-pump system because they prevent water from flowing back into the well.

What to do if your well pump is not drawing water?

If your pump is abnormally cycling or isn't drawing water at the pressure or volume you need, the first step is to check and see if the pump is fully primed (filled to the top with water). Although it's not likely, it's possible that non-submersible well pumps can lose their prime as a result of other issues.

What is the process of priming a jet pump?

Priming a convertible jet pump follows the same basic process as priming a shallow-well pump as detailed above with the exception that BOTH suction pipes must be filled with water as well as the pump housing .

What is a well pump?

When referring to a well-pump, we simply mean any pump that brings water to your home that is drawn from a well, cistern, or another body of water. This can be a shallow-well pump, convertible jet pump, or a deep-well (submersible) well pump.

How does a shallow well pump work?

When a shallow well pump (pictured right) is primed, water is flushed through the pump and the attached piping until every chamber and tube is filled flush with water. This is what creates the pressure needed to pump the water through your well pump system to wherever you need it in your home.

How deep can a jet pump be used?

Convertible jet pumps operate similarly to shallow-well pumps, with the exception that they can be used to draw water from wells up to 90+ feet deep using a siphoning process known as the venturi effect. A convertible jet pump usually has 2 pipes: one used for water suction, ...

How long does it take to prime a well pump?

A typical well pump only takes between five to 15 minutes to prime. Even then, 15 minutes is usually a major stretch. In most cases, you may have to prime your pump a second time or take extra time to fill your pump casing with water. Aside from that, you shouldn’t need much help.

What to do if your well pump isn't priming?

If you notice that your well pump isn’t priming and that no vacuum is established after several attempts, you have to take a closer look at your pump. Is the overall plumbing crack-free and free of holes? Are the seals plugged up? What about the plumbing inside? If your pump refuses to be primed, there is something wrong with your setup—most often, a break you may not have noticed.

What Does Priming A Well Pump Accomplish?

Priming a well is a fancy way of saying that you’re establishing the vacuum required to make it possible to suck up water and deliver it to you. Without priming your pump, you won’t have the suction to make your well useful. With that said, most pumps are not going to require regular priming to work.

How to check if a well pump is working?

Plug your well pump back in and run it through a cycle. You should be able to see it working well. If it isn’t acting up, close the relief valves and assume that you’re done. Otherwise, you may have to re-prime your pump and go through a diagnostic.

Why do deep well pumps work?

The reason deals with the water level depths that deep well pumps work on. There’s already a natural vacuum that occurs in deep wells, and adding more water to the mix is just plain redundant.

What to do if your well vacuum is broken?

If the vacuum is broken, you have to prime that pump. You notice a crack in the pump or jets of your well. While cracks may seem innocuous, they wreak havoc on water vacuums. Along with replacing the cracked pump, you’ll need to prime any pumps associated with the well.

What to do if your well pump is dried out?

Your well dried out. If there is ever a situation that involves a dried-out well, then you will need to repair the well and also prime the pump once water’s reintroduced .

When do you have to prime a well pump?

Usually, you will only have to prime your well pump when the pump is first installed; once primed, the pressure remains in the lines. You will only need to re-prime your well pump if something malfunctions or breaks.

What to check before priming a well pump?

Before you begin priming, check for cracks, leaks, and damage to your well pump. This helps you catch any obvious problems and avoid causing damage to your pump.

What Does Priming Mean?

In the simplest terms, the word priming means preparing something for operation. Priming your well pump is the process of creating a vacuum-like pressure that sucks the water up from the well to all of your water source lines.

How to know when a pump is full?

Allow the pump casing to fill up with water; you will know when it is full when the casing begins to overflow from the priming plug and release valves.

Why does my well pump lose its prime?

Another common reason that your well pump might lose its prime is from a blockage or obstruction in the pipes. Debris can build up in the suction strainer or foot valve, which can affect the water pressure; this is the most common reason why a well pump system could possibly lose its prime.

Where is the priming plug on a pump?

Next, remove the priming plug. You can usually find the priming plug at the top of the pump in a hexagon or square shape. If the plug is not on top, try checking your pump’s manual; these can almost always be found online. After removing the priming plug, locate and open the release valves.

How much water do you need to prim a well?

Keep in mind if you are planning to drink from this well, you will need a gallon or two of clean drinking water for the priming process.