Irrigation pump problem

[Jmeyers]

Heading up to the lake this weekend, had some trouble with the irrigation pump not sucking water from the lake. We primed it up and it spits water out when you pump it full of hose water but for some reason it wont build the pressure to pull the water from the lake.

The water does need to be pulled up little hill so I was thinking that was the problem, but the people that had the place before us never had any problems with is so I'm kind of lost on what it could be. Thought I would ask around before we hire someone to come check it out.

any thoughts?

[Macgyver55]

There is either an air leak in the line between the lake and the pump or possibly a bad impeller .

[Whoaru99]

There may be is a foot valve (type of backflow preventer/check valve) at the end of inlet/intake line in the lake that is stuck open or dirty/leaking.

This would allow the water to drain back and could cause the pump to lose prime. Similar in symptom to the air leak mentioned above.

[Macgyver55]

Good point! Could be something stuck in check valve causing it to lose prime, but that shouldn't affect it being able to pump once it is primed.

[efgh]

If the impeller in the pump is clogged with dirt last year and harden over winter, the pump will not pump. I would take the pump apart and look at the impeller, make sure the vanes are clear, this is on a cent. pump. On a vane pump the vanes maybe stuck and need to be cleaned.

[delcecchi]

Did it get properly drained last winter? Otherwise I am with the air leak contingent.

[fishingstar]

We need to know what kind of pump it is.

has it worked this year at all?