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I don’t know about you, but I’m not a morning person. It takes every amount of energy just to roll out of bed, take 30 seconds to brush my teeth, and throw a waffle in the toaster. But then I have my first coffee of the day and everything changes. The birds start chirping and the sun peeks from behind the clouds.  Things are good and I am ready to go. Pumps are similar. They need to be primed before they’re ready to operate. When it comes to pumps, priming basically means the pump casing must be filled with liquid before the pump can operate.  Many non-submersible pumps are self priming although some models require a manual prime.  However, if your self-priming pump is on and water hasn’t flowed within five minutes, you may need to prime the pump manually). It is always a good idea to refer to your specific pump’s manual as different pumps and systems may require different methods of priming. For this example however, we’ll take a look at how to correctly prime a Liberty 331 transfer pump. The first step in priming your Liberty 331 is to make sure the power to the pump is off. It is important to note that you should never ever run your pump dry. If you turn on a pump that has not been primed you risk permanently damaging the pump and motor. Remove the prime plug that sits atop the inlet. The amount of water needed to prime a pump differs depending on the pump’s size but the Liberty 331 requires approximately 2 cups. Please note that the water used to prime a pump should be clean water in order to avoid any debris or solids. After adding water, hand tighten the prime plug back in place. Next, connect the inlet and discharge hoses to the pump. The Liberty 331 features standard garden hose connections so your average garden hose can be used. Put the hose connecting to the inlet into your water source and the end of the discharge line to where you want to pump the water. Make sure the connections are tight and air-sealed. Even a pinhole leak may prevent the pump from priming as the air flow restricts the pump from pulling in water. It is also important to make sure the inlet hose is not damaged or obstructed by debris. Luckily the Liberty 331 includes a plastic hose strainer to filter debris just in case. After the hoses are securely attached, plug the power cord into an electrical outlet. Turn the power to the pump on. The amount of time it takes your pump to prime depends on the suction length and height. For example, a maximum vertical suction lift of 15 feet through a standard garden hose could take up to 2 minutes to prime. A check valve installed near the bottom of the suction hose is recommended for suction lifts of more than 10 feet as it reduces the amount of time required to draw water. After waiting a few minutes your pump should be pushing water from the discharge line. This means your pump is primed and ready to go. PumpProducts.com sales specialists are standing by to help you find the right pump or part, as well as to provide price quotes, stocking availability and shipping information. Call our toll free number 1-800-429-0800 to speak to an expert today.