Priming a pump involves using a liquid to draw more liquid from a well, which may be necessary when air enters the system. Priming can be done by pouring liquid down the well and turning on the pump. If it doesn’t work the first time, it may take several tries. After priming, it’s important to let the water run for a short time before using it. Priming has also become a metaphor for infusing money into the economy to stimulate capital flows.
Pump priming is when water, or some other liquid, is used to draw more liquid from a well that has already been tapped. While priming isn’t necessary with many modern pumps, it can sometimes be necessary, especially with older devices. Therefore, knowing what to do and when to do it can be essential in some situations to ensure proper water supply.
When air has leaked into the pump, displacing the fluid and causing a loss of pressure, priming is usually necessary. Most pumps use fluid, usually water, to create the pressure and suction needed to get more liquid out of the ground. Therefore, when air enters the system, a loss of pressure occurs.
To prime the pump, often all that is needed is another source of the wanted liquid. This is usually accomplished by simply pouring some of that liquid down the well. Once this is done, it is usually enough to turn on the pump or use a hand crank, depending on the type of pump.
In most cases, once water starts flowing from a pump, no further priming should be needed in the future. In cases where the use of the pump is suspended for an extended period of time, however, more may be required. It’s always best to try this method before assuming the well has dried out, as that would be a very rare situation for a water pump.
If priming the pump doesn’t work the first time, people may want to try again. It is possible that not enough pressure was built up the first time the pump was primed. It may take several tries before enough pressure is built up to maintain a constant water flow.
After priming, people should let the water run for a short time before collecting it for use, especially if the use is for human or animal consumption. This ensures that any stale, possibly contaminated water that had been in the pump has been drained. While the depth of the pump can make a difference, discharging no more than a gallon or two (3.78 to 7.5 liters) is usually sufficient.
In addition to the technical use, priming the pump has become a metaphor for other things. When the government infuses money into the economic system, for example, it can be called “primer the pump. The government hopes that an influx of capital will help stimulate more capital flows, so the government is often said to be “primer” the economy.
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