You must prime your Flex Connect Pump whenever you add water to a dry Flex Connect. This will happen after your initial assembly, after you completely refresh your water, and whenever you re-assemble your Flex Connect. By priming your pump, you will remove excess oxygen from the Flex Connect Return Line so the pump can properly pull and push water throughout your Flex Connect.
Step 1: Ensure all Flex Farm Tanks are at least 1/2 full
Before plugging in your pump, you will want to ensure all Flex Farms that will be in operation are at least 1/2 full with water. As always, for Flex Farms that will be in operation their Drainage Assembly Valve and Vertical Irrigation Line Valve are in the open position. All Flex Farms not in operation should have their Drainage Assembly Valve and Vertical Irrigation Line Valve in the closed position.
Tip: Make sure your Riser Blocks are in their proper position. Having the ends of your Return Line 1-2" above your pump will help the air escape the pump and rise to the ends of the Return Line.
Step 2: Plug in your Flex Connect Pump
After your Flex Farms are filled with water, you will turn on your Flex Connect Pump by plugging it in. When initially plugging the pump in, it may sound like it is cavitating (drawing air). After 1-2 minutes, the pump should prime, and you will notice water flowing through all of your Flex Farm Drip Lines! If your pump is still cavitating after a few minutes, unplug your pump and continue onto Step 3.
Step 3: Close your Flex Farm Drainage Assembly Valves
Closing your Flex Farm Drainage Assembly valves will force more water pressure from your source water house into the pump to push out the air.
Step 4: Connect your Source Water Hose to your Return Line Drainage Assembly
Connect your Source Water Hose to your Return Line Drainage Assembly.
Step 5: Turn on your Source Water, Open your Return Line Drainage Assembly Valve, and Plug in your Pump
After connecting your source water hose and turning the water on you will open your Return Line Drainage Assembly Valve and plug in your pump. This added water pressure will force the air away from the pump and prime it. After 1-2 minutes, the pump should prime, and you will notice water flowing through all of your Flex Farm Drip Lines! Please go ahead and turn off your source water hose, close your Return Line Drainage Assembly valve, and open your Flex Farm Drainage Assembly Vales.
If your pump is still cavitating, continue onto Step 6.
Step 6: Grab a Wet Vac and Open your Supply Line Drainage Assembly Valve
With your pump running from the setup in Step 5, turn on your wet vac and place the wet vac hose at the end of the Supply Line Drainage Assembly, and open the valve. After 1-2 minutes, the pump should prime, and you will notice water flowing through all of your Flex Farm Drip Lines! Please go ahead and close your Supply Line Drainage Assembly valve, turn off your wet vac, turn off your source water hose, close your Return Line Drainage Assembly valve, and open your Flex Farm Drainage Assembly Vales.
If your pump is still caveating after these additional steps, please reach out to our Partner Support team in the bottom right corner, and we will complete additional troubleshooting.