It is designed to be filled with water at all times. If the pump is operated dry, it will burn out the motor and cause you to have to replace an expensive piece of pool equipment. If a pump is allowed to operate dry, it will build up heat that will melt the pump and possibly surrounding plumbing fixtures.
WATER LEVEL - The water level of the pool should be at least halfway up the skimmer door opening. A low water level could create a situation where the pump runs half empty or dry.
The simple answer is that you are sucking in air between the pool (skimmer/floor) and the pump impeller.
The quick answer is no. You don't need to drain your pool, as there is no risk to your pool by it being full. The only thing you lose with a pool filled to the rim is your skimmer's surface cleaning action. Overall, it still draws water and the equipment is just fine.
If the water level is too high the debris floating next to the opening may pass by without being pulled into the skimmer. However if the water level is too low it may cause the skimmer to suck air into the system. If this happens you may run the risk of burning up your pool pumps motor.
It is recommended you have your water level between one-third and one-half up the swimming pool skimmer box opening. If the level is higher than that, it may slow or even stop debris from being pulled into the skimmer box through the plate or valve.
Unless the low area is prone to flooding it should be fine. Your pump won't have to work as hard to prime since you will have gravity working in your favor. Just about all above ground pools have the equipment 3 feet below water level with no ill effects.
One of two things is happening to cause the pump to drain. The simplest and most common is that you're sucking air when its running, a big gas bubble forms in the tank, and as soon as the pump shuts off, it expands because it's no longer under pressure and pushes the water out.
If the pump is running without water, the seal will overheat and melt, If left running without water for a long period of time, the heat generated could damage the PVC pipe and other system components.
Check your water level daily, and add water whenever the level approaches the one-third mark on the skimmer door. If the water level is below the skimmer hatch, don't run the filter system at all until you've added water.
JUST RAISE THE PUMP: If your pool filter system consists of a pump and a filter, and no heater – you may just consider raising the pump only, 1-3 feet, and leaving the other equipment at the current level. Other than dirty water stains, most pool filters, pipes and valves will do fine if underwater for a few days.
The size of your pool, the efficiency of your pump and filter, and how dirty your pool is are just some of the factors you need to consider. Nevertheless, most pool cleaning professionals would advise against running a pool pump for more than 8 hours a day.
Some above ground pumps can be installed up to 8 ft above water level. The check valve should be as close to the skimmer as possible.
How often should I have to fill my pool? This will vary depending upon several factors including: weather, if the pool is covered or not, bather load, and if it is heated or not. With pools that are covered, a good rule of thumb is that they should not have to be refilled more often than once every 2 weeks.
If your water level is too low, your skimmer will suck in water as usual, but it will also suck in air. And in case you don't already know, your pool system was designed to move water only—never, ever air.
If the water in your swimming pool is too low, the skimmer can bottom out and suck air into your filter system. And when that happens, you're at risk for burning out the motor on your pool pump. This could be a costly problem, which is why you should definitely keep an eye on the water level of your swimming pool.
Every pool must turn over at least once a day, so most pool pumps should run approximately 8 hours a day. But here's the thing: you don't have to run your pool pump consecutively. You can choose to run it for three hours in the morning before you leave for work and another 5 hours in the evening.
One of the most common causes for a noisy pump is that it's running dry. This can happen for a few reasons—the most common of which have to do with the skimmer plate built into the side of the pool. If your pool water level has fallen below halfway down the skimmer, your pump might be sucking in air as well as water.
Receptacles for pumps and motors must be located between 6 and 10 feet from the pool walls, and they must be GFCI-protected and locked. Outlet receptacles for general use can be no closer than 20 feet from a pool or in-ground spa if they are not GFCI-protected, and no closer than 6 feet away if they are GFCI protected.
Pump will be slightly higher than the water line and no more than 20ft.
If you're filling your pool with well water, make sure that your well has the capacity to do so. You'll also want to ensure that your well equipment is up to speed; test the well water before adding it to your pool. It can contain excess minerals that might make balancing your pool water difficult.