The Sta-Rite pump system is a submersible and aboveground water pump that requires the following steps to be completed:
- Shut off all electrical power to the pump system.
- Open the valve on the suction piping fitted with an onboard control valve.
- Remove the square-neck priming plug located on top of the pumping chamber.
- Place the funnel into the priming opening.
- Replace the square-neck plugs to seal the pumping chamber and suction pipe.
- Switch the electrical power on.
- Install a priming tee, priming plug, and suction pipe to the pump.
- Connect the pipe from the well to the pump suction port using the fewest possible fittings, especially elbows, as fittings increase friction in the pipe. Include a foot valve.
When priming the pump, monitor the pump and piping temperature. If the pump or piping begin to feel warm to the touch, shut off the pump and allow priming to refer to the pump.
Key features of the Sta-Rite pump include a close-grained cast iron body, drain port for easy winterizing, and a precision-molded diffuser. It primes faster and handles more air with multi-port, precision-molded, reinforced components.
When using a foot valve, ensure that all suction pipes are leakproof or the pump will lose prime and fail to pump.
To aid priming with well point installations, install a check valve.
The priming plug at the top position allows you to fill the pump with liquid. Once filled and the priming plug replaced, the pump will prime.
It is important to prime the pump before starting and check the motor label for lubrication instructions. The mechanical shaft seal in the pump is water-based.
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It’s funny, I only watched the first part of your article before the winter to winterize my pump. Now that I wanted to use the pump again, no water was coming out. So after some googling I ended up back at your article which started automatically at the priming part from where I left off last time! We’re also right down the road in Gulf Breeze! Thanks for your article! Oh and indeed, you should just prime / fill it before turning the pump on.
Great article! I had no water coming out but the pump motor was running. I went to prime the pump just like you showed and quickly learned that my pump had a big crack in it. Water was flowing out of the crack. I knew immediately because i had just watched your article and you showed the welded crack in your pump. Now I know I need to winterize this pump, even down here in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. We did have a colder than usual winter. Hard lesson learned. Hopefully I can get my pump welded too. Do you know if the pump portion of the unit can be replaced, without replacing the entire pump/motor?
Love the article! I was wondering if you could help with a different question. I have one of these Irri-Gator pumps, looks just like yours. Mine doesn’t come on at all. I traced the 110V signal into the pump from the timer, and through each component and through the capacitor. So the signal is getting into the pump but it does not energize. Any suggestions?