Diagnostic FAQs on how to prime a water well pump set #3:

A "dry" above-ground water pump such as a 1-line jet pump or a 2-line jet pump won't work - the pump has lost its prime. This article provides diagnostic questions & answers that can help you if you're having trouble priming the pump.

This article series describes how to prime a water pump to restore water pressure to a building by priming the well pump to restore the pump to operation after it has lost prime.

Simple & Fast Well Pump Priming Method Using a Garden Hose

Recently-posted questions & answers about priming a well pump using water from an outside source: a hose from a neighbour

These questions and answers were posted originally either at PRIME the PUMP, HOW TO - topic home

On 2017-09-12 3 by (mod) -

re-posting without advertising link

faucetscomplete said:

SHALLOW WELL PUMPS J7S These pumps area unit extraordinarily versatile and despite being somewhat significant, they're significantly easier to maneuver around while not abundant wear and tear.

On 2017-08-08 by SHALLOW WELL PUMPS J7S

This type of pump doesn't feature pismire mechanical components that require to be submerged in water and usually depends on act for drawing water from sources that aren't any quite twenty five feet below the surface.

On 2017-06-26 by Megan

Pretty sure I ran my well dry by using too much water. Well pump running constantly. No water came out when turning on kitchen faucet. Trying to reprime pump. Psi at 5. Can you reprime a pump if the well is dry?

On 2017-05-31 by Anonymous

Old pump died put new pump on and new tank pump won't prime

On 2017-05-09 by (mod) -

If you're close enough to a neighbor to tap into their water source from an outside spigot see https://inspectapedia.com/water/Prime_The_Pump_by_Hose.php

Else you'll want to check again for evidence of a leak in well piping or at the new foot valve. If your priming charge of water just disappears down the well pipe that's the likely problem. You might need to pull the water line again and double check connections.

On 2017-05-09 by Rick

We have replaced the pump the foot valve and the pressure tank, I can't get it primed. Please help

On 2017-04-21 by (mod) -

Wendy

The clues you give sound consistent with a failed foot valve and lost well prime. The priming port is on the pump not on the water tank. See the photos in the article above. Keep me posted.

On 2017-04-18 by Wendy

My water pump to my house was running all the time so I turned it off now I think it has lost water pressure and so I tried to prime it but I can't find the hole that the water goes into to the tank to prime it where are the holes that go into the tall tanks is not on the top of the tank anywhere and I don't know where to put the water into

On 2016-08-19 by (mod) -

Thanks Allen;

For other readers I'd add that IF the pump drain plug is low on the pump body, then opening that drain screw or bleed screw on the pump body will not be the best approach to priming the pump as seeing water coming out of that screw does NOT assure that the pump impeller chamber may not still be air-bound.

But IF there is an easily-removed plug on the TOP of the pump then by all means remove that to let any air out of the pumping chamber, then replace the plug having applied a bit of pipe dope or teflon tape to its threads.

A helpful additional step is to open a nearby faucet just downstream from the pump; push water into the water system (perhaps through the water tank drain valve) until you see water coming out of the faucet).

On 2016-08-19 by Allen

Wait a day until well has water, Disconnect power, Remove bleed screw In the body of the pump, hook your hose to neighbors faucet (you need to make an adaptor hose with two female ends), turn on faucet until water comes through bleed outlet, insert screw and reconnect power, turn on pump and you should be good.

On 2016-08-16 by (mod) -

What adjustment screw, Richard? If you mean on the pressure control switch - no change should be made to that device.

On 2016-08-16 by richard metzger

adjustment screw/should iy ne raised or lowered when priming

On 2016-07-20 by (mod) -

Use the "Click to Show or Hide FAQs" link just above to see recently-posted questions, comments, replies

On 2016-07-20 by (mod) -

HB

Let's first be clear, as there are some very serious safety concerns about over-pressure conditions in water systems. If what broke was a plastic pipe part rather than the pump housing itself, then the failure was in the piping not the pump assembly.

Nevertheless, your pressure tank and pump system should include a pressure relief valve, required on all pressurized tanks or vessels by building codes and standards. That will protect against not only damaging but potentially fatal bursting of plumbing system components.

If your pump pressure control switch is not working properly (debris-clogged perhaps) it might fail to properly shut off the pump at a safe pressure.

So after you have restored water by priming the pump as described in this article series, and before using the system, you'll want to assure that the system is safe, the pressure control switch working properly, and that a relief valve has been installed at the pump and tank.

I doubt you can successfully prime a pump and well system if at the same time the water system is draining water out of a faucet or spigot. Close those and try again.

On 2016-07-19 by HBaz333

Yesterday the pipe on top of the pump blew off (most likely because it was PVC instead of a galvanized pipe 😡), fixed that but now no water, tried priming it but the person priming left a spigot open the whole time and also did not notice leaks coming from the pipe that supplies the house......does this sound like a well problem or that it was just not primed correctly yet? Waiting on a plumber now but if I can do this myself then I'd rather

On 2017-03-18 by (mod) - reasons to suspect a leaky foot valve: can't fill the pump prime chamber

Yep; perhaps before your system's foot valve or well piping wasn't leaking.

On 2017-03-18 by Anonymous

Thank u. I was thinking it was going down line but never had this issues before. So thanks again I will check this out

On 2017-03-18 by (mod) - can't fill the pump prime chamber

L:

I suspect that you're filling a jet pump that has no check valve at the pump, so your priming water is running down the pipe back into the well. If the foot valve in the well is not working, then you'll never get the pump primed by simple manual filling.

First try priming the well by garden hose if you have a nearby independent water source - search (use the box just above) PRIME THE PUMP WITH GARDEN HOSE to see details.

Else you can try to pour say 5-gallons slowly through the pump priming opening: if you never see the water level drop rate slow or stop, you may have to have your plumber install a new check valve or foot valve.

On 2017-03-18 by Anonymous

ThT question from lsdclinton @yahoo.com
I keep putting water in housing but it don't seem to fill up. What should I look for

On 2017-01-31 by (mod) - pump loses its prime, it will pump up to 12 pounds

Not sure what "the pusher" is, Anon, but if your pump is losing prime you'll want to repair or replace the check valve or foot valve or leak that's causing the prime-loss.

Otherwise there's risk of damage to the pump and, of course, loss of water.

On 2017-01-31 by Anonymous

if my pump loses its prime/it will pump up to 12 pounds and if u shut it off the pusher will drop

On 2016-08-16 by (mod) - pump quit while filling the swimming pool

You can

1. SHUT OFF the PUMP IMMEDIATELY so as not to burn up the motor or its impeller


2. Wait. Wait 3 hours or longer for the well to recover. Then turn the pump on. You may have to re-prime the pump. If so see WATER PUMP PRIMING PROCEDURE at WATER PUMP PRIMING PROCEDURE

3. Don't expect to be able to fill a swimming pool, other than maybe a 50-100 gallon kiddie pool, from your well

4. Detailed diagnostic and repair suggestions can be found by searching InspectApedia.com for NO WATER PRESSURE

On 2016-08-16 by susan

My family and I live in a century old farmhouse served by a well and pump system. We have had a particularly hot and dry summer so far. I bought a swimming pool and while attempting to fill it the water quit working, not a drop coming through at all.

We do not have another water source in which to prime the system so what else can we do? We really can't afford to have someone come to diagnose and repair the system, please help - thanks

On 2016-02-24 by (mod) - so how do I prime the pump?

Sure Jedd

See the live link just above in this article on this line

Continue reading at PRIME the PUMP, HOW TO ... there you'll find detailed procedures for priming a water pump

On 2016-02-24 by jedd

Asking how to prime a well pump

On 2016-01-24 by (mod) - pump "primes" for 5-10 seconds then is quiet

I suspect a failing check valve or foot valve.

When the pump impeller chamber is filled with water it's pretty quiet.

When the pump impeller chamber is filled with air or part air and part water, that is, it's not fully primed, the pump will be much noisier.

On 2016-01-19 by Justin

when switching on the pump it primes for about 5-10 seconds max, after that its quiet.

now usually when I use water in any means, flushing the toilet, bathing, washing etc. the pump will prime itself after every time, but today no such thing, it stays quiet. Any suggestions?

On 2015-10-10 by Nick

Replaced well pump with Dayton 1hp pump.

Pump is not building pressure so no water is coming to the hose or house. Tried to prime right at the pump with close valve still not drawing up water and 10 psi pressure.... What to do next?

 

On 2017-08-06 by (mod) My water pump lose prime an now want prime up what can I do

Gregory,

At at PRIME the PUMP, HOW TO we describe how to re-prime the pump. When your pump keeps losing prime it makes sense to figure out where the leak is located so that you don't have to keep repeating the process.

Typically that's a bad foot valve or bad check valve, sometimes it's a leak in the well piping or even an air leak into the pump right at a mating surface or bad gasket at the pump housing itself.

Start by tightening all the well piping connections you can access, adding a hose clamp if needed.

PUMP PRIME, REPEATED LOSS of if you can't keep the pump primed

On 2017-08-06 by Gregory less e

My water pump lose prime an now want prime up what can I do

On 2017-06-24 by Anonymous

water pump is primed but water does not move through pipes inside the house

On 2017-04-29 by Anonymous

New pump that's primed won't pick up no pressure on gauge

On 2017-03-05 by (mod) Yesterday alone, we spent 6 hours trying to prime our pump.

Tyler: where's your pump - in the home or under water in the creek. If the pump is not a submersible unit (those area self priming) then there may be an air leak in the piping or the inlet screen may be dirt clogged. If the pump is a submersible one (under water in the creek) its impeller may be damged or debris clogged.

On 2017-03-05 by Tyler

We pump out of our creek with a hose. When it storms,our creek rages and is chocolate in color.When this happens, we pull our hose out.

The last storm, last week, i pulled the hose out and turned off certain valves per usual.

We were without power for 3 days. We have spent countless hours trying to prime and start the pump.

Our 2500 gallon tank has a reserve valve at 400 gallons. I opened that yesterday. Yesterday alone, we spent 6 hours trying to prime our pump. Any pointers would be greatly appreciated since a storm is heading our way, and we wont be able to pump until the creek clears up.

Thanks

On 2017-01-17 by (mod) - How to remove air from tank

Make your water pressure tank has excessive air in it, leave the air with exit via the nearest faucet the next time you run the water. However if your tank is constantly accumulating air I suspect that there is a defective snifter valve.

On 2017-01-16 by Anonymous

How to remove air from tank

On 2016-11-01 by Chris

My pump which is gravity fed from a large tank . The pump is now running on and of approximately every 20 seconds . Wat would cause that . Please help it is doing my head in . Can you please messenger me . Thank you .

On 2016-10-10 by (mod) - When power was restored the pump wouldn't prime.

Sonja,

If you are pouring water into the priming opening on the pump but the pump chamber is NOT filling up completely with water then water is probably running back down the well piping; you need to pour in enough water to fill the system until the pump priming chamber is full. If you can obtain water from a neighbor's system via hose that may do the trick.

Watch out: after flooding your system may need to be sanitized.

On 2016-10-10 by Sonja

Trying to reprime pump. It's the only water source for our home. We live in Florida and just went through Hurricane Matthew and was without power for 3 days.

When power was restored the pump wouldn't prime. We have tried several times by pouring water in that little hole....but nothing no water!! HELP MY HUSBAND IS GETTING MAD

On 2016-09-14 by (mod) - Don't know where to add water to a goulds jet pump

Kevin,

I hope that you shut off your pump before running dry caused it to become damaged.

If there is no removable primer plug on the pump you may be able to force priming water into the system from a hose fitting located nearby, such as Auntie at the bottom of the water pressure tank.

On 2016-09-10 by Kevin

Don't know where to add water to a goulds jet pump have no water pump keeps running

On 2016-08-19 by (mod) - No water pressure. Plumber said it was well pump but wanted $2500 to fix.

Suz:

Please search InspectApedia for NO WATER PRESSURE to see a checklist of things to go through to diagnose and fix the trouble.

On 2016-08-19 by Suzanna

No water pressure. Plumber said it was well pump but wanted $2500 to fix. We installed new submersible pump ourselves but still no water pressure.

On 2016-06-27 by (mod) - a tree branch had knocked of a wingnut that the wires need to be connected to pump up the water.

Hope you turned off that humming pump in time to avoid burning it up. Probably the well was exhausted. Give it 4 to 12 hours to recover.

On 2016-06-27 by Michele

Well I didn't want to bother my husbnd since he was working. We are connected to my moms well next door. We both have water tanks and pressure tanks and pumps to send water to house.

I opened her valve inside her holding tank and filled up then I connected a hose and ran it into the top of our tank.

I thought she had turned off the breaker since we have to do it manually { iforget sometimes} so I closed the hose and toke out of tank and deceided that ill give the trees some water. I turn the hose valve on and no water. at this time I still thought that the breaker was on not till I turned hose back on that I assusumed ma had turned it off.

So I deceided to call it a night. Well three days later time to fill our tank my husband said breaker was still on.

Come to find out a tree branch had knocked of a wingnut that the wires need to be connected to pump up the water.

so they could have been touching on and off however I didn't see any sparks. { I know cover should have been on electrical. repariman lost cover and screws previously and never replaced stupid decision.. so husband fixed wiring and soon a little water starting coming and then stopped.

Like a rock or lost prime. The pump is making a humming noise but not bringing up water. Two concerns I blew the pump or our water tablet is to low. its already down over 600 feet and 8 months ago they opened a chicken egg plant{ Hickmans} Husband used to work at another location and they use tons of water and we are already at a spot that you have to go really deep.

So our tank is empty thank goodnass ma only fills hers once a week. so before she kills me since I haven't told her yet. I got about 24hours till death. just kidding but she already was very concerned that we would run out of water. Whats your thoughts? I need advice fast.
Michele

On 2016-05-14 by (mod) - How to fix pump when piping or tank or pump has air

Anon:

Search InspectApedia.com for AIR DISCHARGE at PLUMBING FIXTURES to read details.

On 2016-05-14 by Anonymous

How to fix pump hen has air

On 2016-05-08 by (mod) - The pump runs but no water. What's the problem

Vern,

It sounds as if the people took the pump and controls too. So I'm unclear how your pump could be running at all. But if you've installed a new pump and properlyi wired it, but the pump is not delivering water, and if there's water in the well, I suspect that you need to prime the pump.

On 2016-05-05 by Vern

I've recently bought a double wide on line at a auction. When people left the property, they took the pump house! They just cut pipes and the pump wires and loaded it up! The pump runs but no water. What's the problem

On 2016-05-02 by Albright

I pump water last Friday morning, the water supply to my over head tank is connected to the bottom of the tank instead of the top.

I always shut the tank after pumping with a va;ve, but that day I forgot to. After about three hours I noticed that all the water in the overhead tank has returned back to the source. Since then till now I have not been able to pump water. After priming, I spent more than three hours yesterday without being able to pump.

Please what is the problem? Has the foot valve spoilt because of water from the over head thank flowing back to the well? Please advise

On 2016-03-19 by (mod) - Convertible jet pump manually

Robert I'm not sure what set screw you refer to. Check your pump owners manual. Also you can search InspectApedia.com for WELL PUMP WON'T STOP RUNNING to read diagnostic details.

On 2016-03-19 by Robert

I have primed my Convertible jet pump manually, but the pump is continuously running and not building any pressure? I had the set screw open to let the water enter freely into the pump housing, haven't turned it in would this be the problem?

On 2016-01-16 by (mod) - Replaced piping it prime's but don't build pressure

George,

Please search inspectapedia.com for


WELL PUMP WON'T STOP RUNNING to see suggested diagnostic and repair steps for the condition you describe.

On 2016-01-16 by George Barrett replaced piping it primes but dont

Replaced piping it prime's but don't bill pressure

On 2016-01-09 by (mod) - is this a shallow well jet pump or is it a deep well jet pump?

If the jet pump is using 2 lines, a pressure and a suction line, that's a deep well set-up

A two-line jet pump is shown in my photo.

The larger line is the suction pipe.

On 2016-01-09 by brent

i have a jet pump that is old needs to replaced. it has two black lines comeing from the floor. to the end of the pump.

one is the suckion or fill line. the other one is the drain or discharge line. than there is one hole on top. which has to be shared to prime and hook up to the blader tank. my question is , is this a shallow well jet pump or is it a deep well jet pump please help.

On 2015-10-05 by Anonymous How much water should it take to prime a deep well jet pump?

How much water should it take to prime a deep well jet pump? My well is 60'. I have a two-line Gould J05 jet pump mounted to my tank.

I have lost all water pressure and I tried to prime through the plug on top of the pump. I don't have a close enough water source to use the garden hose method, so I will need to prime it manually.

On 2015-07-26 by Anonymous

It works ! you have to keep draining the air out of the line disconnect the bladder tank and shut the water valve going to it prime and shut the main off open the shut off valve to bladder tank line to drain air into 5 gall bucket We have a 90 ft deep double drop well so it took 5-6 times to get it to running steady.

On 2015-07-19 by Rick Gruber

Have a submersible pump in a 35' deep well about 20 years old, that recently has an issue.

The tank drains downs and kicks on the pump, but delivers no water to the tank, even though I can hear or feel the vibration in the pipe. If I flip off the breaker and turn it back on, it will then pump water to the system.

Sometimes it will pump water and fill when it draws down to 30 psi by itself, but most of the time I have to turn off the power and turn it back on, and then it will fill. Any idea of the problem?

On 2015-05-18 by (mod) - what if using a garden hose to prime the pump won't work because there's no nearby water supply

John if there is no place to which you can connect a garden hose to obtain an independent, pressurized water supply to use that priming method then this is not going to work - though one could jury-rig a tank of water, hose, and pony pump it seems pointless.

Instead use the pump priming method described at the live link found at the end of the article at "Continue Reading at

PRIME the PUMP, HOW TO "

On 2015-05-18 by john

there is no faucet on there to prim it

how do I prime my pump using a hose

On 2015-05-01 by Mixie

Note that for a female-female faucet to hose connector you can use the connector on your pressure washer (Karcher).

...

Continue reading at PRIME the PUMP, HOW TO through the pump priming plug If you do not have such a source available, we provide alternative methods, or select a topic from the closely-related articles below, or see the complete ARTICLE INDEX.

Or see these

Recommended Articles

• FOOT VALVES
• WATER PUMP PRIMING PROCEDURE
  • PRIME the PUMP using a GARDEN HOSE
  • PRIME THE PUMP BY PRIMING PLUG OPENING
  • PUMP PRIME, REPEATED LOSS
• WATER PRESSURE LOSS DIAGNOSIS & REPAIR if priming the pump is just not working for you
• WELL PIPING CHECK VALVES
• WELL PIPING LEAK DIAGNOSIS

Suggested citation for this web page

WELL PUMP PRIMING PROCEDURE Q&A-3 at InspectApedia.com - online encyclopedia of building & environmental inspection, testing, diagnosis, repair, & problem prevention advice.

Or see this

INDEX to RELATED ARTICLES: ARTICLE INDEX to WATER SUPPLY, PUMPS TANKS WELLS

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