3 Things to Check When Your Pump Loses Prime

Inspect the pump lid o-ring first Air getting in is what kills prime, and the tiny rubber ring between the lid and housing is the most common leak point. Remove it, clean both the ring and the groove, then apply a thin film of silicone lubricant—never petroleum jelly, which eats rubber.

Hand-tighten the lid only After cleaning the basket, the o-ring may not be reseated perfectly, or it’s dried out. Tighten the lid by hand, not with tools, to avoid damaging the seal.

Check the drain plug underneath If the lid o-ring isn’t the issue, inspect the plastic drain plug on the pump pot—these crack easily. But nine times out of ten, the lid o-ring is the culprit.