Before starting the pump, you should close the intake valve.

Before starting the pump, you should close the intake valve.

• A. True
• B. False
• C. It should be opened
• D. It should be replaced with a new one

Answer: (A)

The important idea is priming the pump on the suction side before it starts drawing water from the source. When you close the intake valve, you isolate the pump from the water source so the priming device can fill the pump housing and push any trapped air out. With the suction side primed, opening the intake valve lets water flow in and the pump can then deliver water reliably. If you opened the intake valve first, air or an unprimed path could be drawn into the pump, breaking the prime and causing a loss of suction or cavitation. The other options don’t fit the proper priming sequence or are irrelevant.

The important idea is priming the pump on the suction side before it starts drawing water from the source. When you close the intake valve, you isolate the pump from the water source so the priming device can fill the pump housing and push any trapped air out. With the suction side primed, opening the intake valve lets water flow in and the pump can then deliver water reliably. If you opened the intake valve first, air or an unprimed path could be drawn into the pump, breaking the prime and causing a loss of suction or cavitation. The other options don’t fit the proper priming sequence or are irrelevant.