Installed a new Hayward Northstar 1.5HP pump. I am not getting to prime. The water in the basket generally only fills about 3/4" full and appears like a pot of boiling water without reaching the clear lid. It is wired for 230. I have had priming problems with my prior pump as well. When I turn off the pump, water/air gushes back out the suction line opposite flow. On occasion I have also seen bubbles come up from the skimmer when trying to set of the pool vac. The filter is an old stainless steel filter original to the pool when I bought the house 13 yrs ago. I had installed all new skimmer lines (suction lines) last year with rigid schedule 40 PVC. I am in the process of replacing the return lines (supplying the pool) now, again with PVC. There is/was a substantial leak at one of the supply inlets. I can't even think about the possibility that a joint failed at the suction lines I replaced last year. The new lines will be complete this weekend.