How to Easily Prime A Portable Clean-Up Pump: Installing a Check Valve

I have gotten quite a few comments on my Portable Clean-Up Pump Video with the issue of it being hard to prime. If you are having trouble priming the pump I suggest installing a check valve in front so the water in the pump will stay in there and the pump will prime up easily. This video will cover how to install the check valve.

Note that my supplier only carried the 1-1/2” Double threaded nipple pipe (12 inches) and the link I include is for a 6” single threaded high heat nipple pipe for the front of the pump. So if you order this one, no cutting is needed. Also my supplier did not have a 1-1/2” thread insert for the front of the check valve so I had to install it using a Coupling and the 2” to 1-1/2” Bushing Spigot (I called it the reducer in the video). You can also just order a 1-1/2” Bushing and glue it into the front of the check valve.

I also used a Superior Brand check valve made by PoolCorp – only available at wholesale locations. But any 1-1/2” bypass check valves will work. I went with a spa bypass check valve as it produces very little resistance and won't effect the flow of the pump while in use. It is all you need to stop the water from exiting the pump during priming. I wouldn't install a more powerful check valve as it is unnecessary.

Here are the parts you will need to install the check valve as shown in the video:

Valterra 200-C15 PVC Swing/Spring Combination Check Valve, Clear, 1-1/2" Slip

https://www.amazon.com/Valterra-200-C...


Spears 438 Series PVC Pipe Fitting, Bushing, Schedule 40, White, 2" Spigot x 1-1/2" NPT Female
https://www.amazon.com/Spears-Fitting...


Spears 188N Series PVC Pipe Fitting, Nipple, Thread on One End, Schedule 80, Gray, 1-1/2" NPT Male x Socket, 6" Length
https://www.amazon.com/Spears-Fitting...

2" SCHEDULE 40 PVC COUPLING
https://www.amazon.com/Spears-Fitting...


So there are many alternate ways to install the check valve on the front of the pump, this is just the way I did it. If you want to just install a 1 1/2” Spigot int the front of the check valve that will work also:

Spears 438 Series PVC Pipe Fitting, Bushing, Schedule 40, White, 1-1/2" Spigot x 1" NPT Female:

https://www.amazon.com/Spears-Fitting...

If your also wondering about the threaded fittings I used for the pool hoses – they appear in the Portable Clean-Up Pump original video but here they are if you want to order them also.

Pool Pump and Filter Universal Hose Adapter:
https://www.amazon.com/Pool-Pump-Filt...

If your interested in getting the pump itself here is the link for you:

Hayward SP1580 Power-Flo LX Series 1-Horsepower Pool Pump with Cord and Replacement Lid O-Ring - 2 Item Bundle:

https://www.amazon.com/Hayward-SP1580...

You can also view the original Portable Clean-Up Pump video to learn more about it:
Portable Clean-Up Pump to Vacuum out a Pool:    • How to make a Portable Clean-Up Pump ...  

So if you are having trouble priming your pump this will solve the issue for you.

One note on using the PVC Cement. Primer is a good thing to use on the fittings to prep the pipes and I like using the Pool Heavy Grey Cement as it dries a bit slower giving you more time to complete the fittings before they set. Apply liberal amounts of cement on all the fittings except for the threaded parts.


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