How do you prime a pump?

Question

John De Vries Wealth for the Nations

Answer 1

Many pumps have a plug that you remove and pour water into to fill the pump. You may need to pour water down the discharge piping.

Answer 2

We have to assume you do not have a submersible pump in an outside well.  There will most likely be a 3/4" pipe plug or cap on a pipe coming off the top of the pump housing that can be removed.   Pour water into the pipe till it starts overflowing and then turn on the pump.  Water will probably come back up from the pipe, and then slow down, or it will be sucked down and need more.  In either case, you should have several gallons of water on hand, as sometimes it takes just pouring water into the pipe till the pump catches a prime and starts pulling water.  When it does the water will start shooting up out of the fill pipe and you can cap it.  If you can cap it while it's still runing, that's best, and you'll probably get wet doing it.  If you can't then turn it off for whatever time it takes to get it capped and turn it back on.  It should be primed.