Quote Originally Posted by Poconos
I pondered your statement in your original post on this thread about filling the pipes wondering how you could do that. Then it hit me...the obvious...you must have valves in the skimmer and MD lines just at the ground surface but still about 4' below the pump. Close them and fill the 4' height of pipe however long it is. Otherwise the water would just flow back into the pool. Is this true? If so the check valve mentioned would have to go at about the same level as your manual valves. I also assume you fill the pipes with a hose in the pump basket? One comment, you have some kind of air leak somewhere if the water eventually drains out of the pump and lines. Didn't say what kind of filter you have but one source of an air leak could be a multi-port valve on a sand filter. A tiny leak (for air) to the waste line under a slight vacuum. If applicable, try capping that line and see if the water still drains out. Simple fix if true, ball valve in the waste line out of the filter. Could even be a tiny leak in the pump strainer cover. When the pump is running the cover is pulled tightly by the suction, when off you lose a lot of that suction and may have a slight leak.
Hope this helps.
Al
Hi, mizzou,

I have almost the exact setup. before I respond, read Al's post carefully. He's saying that without valves in the skimmer and MD lines AT THE WATER LEVEL the water you put into the strainer basket with the hose is simply running back into the pool....doing you no good.......... I agree.

Do you have those valves?

The second part of his post sort of assumes you can't hold prime with the pump off....that your prime eventually leaks back out...i.e. air in the strainer basket. I am assuming something else....that you only lose prime when you open the strainer basket to empty it. Tell us which is the case.

Help us clarify those two things.....I might have an answer for you that works reasonably well.