AQUASTRONG 1.5 HP Shallow Well Pump | High Performance 4250 GPH Jet & Centrifugal Pump | 115V/230V Cast Iron Booster Pump | Perfect for Lawn Sprinkler Systems & Garden Irrigation | Ideal for Residential Water Supply & Agricultural Use

I ordered this AQUASTRONG 2 HP Centrifugal/Jet Pump, 5200 GPH, 230V, Durable Cast Iron Pump for Lawn Sprinkler and Irrigation to replace a Red Lion 2 HP pump that’s in need of being rebuilt. Bought this one for two main reasons; it’s low price, which included a $50.00 discount coupon, and of its 86 GPM, or about 10 more gallons per minute than the pump it replaced.Installation was simple, especially since the inlet and outlet fittings are the same size as the old pump. Also, which I always recommend for pump installation, I used quick connectors for both the inlet and outlet pump piping. So, it was just a matter of disconnecting the two quick connectors, unscrewing the pipes from the old pump and do a reverse installation on the new pump. Wiring installation (240 volts) is just as easier. You removed the back cover, which is held in place with two screws and install the three wires, 2 hot wires and a ground, to the three available screws. I did replace the 1/2" adjustable connector with 1/2 in. PVC male adapter and glued the electrical conduit to it.As for priming the pump, I read a review where the person stated there wasn’t “no fill plug to get it full of water to start the suction”. Although the pump itself doesn’t have a dedicated fill plug (neither I have seen one with a dedicated fill plug), the pump itself can be a breeze to prime with the proper setup. One way is to install a three-way PVC fitting at the pump outlet and add a hose bib or plug to the upper side of the three-way fitting. The hose bib, in my opinion, works best because it allows for the quick relief of trap air and for priming the pump with a water hose. You can also use a dedicated ball valve, which you can easily open to add water to the pump for priming. We are on well water, and I have the house pump piping connected to the sprinkler pump piping, with a ball valve in between. This setup makes priming, not just for the sprinkler pump but also the house pump if needed, by simply using the water flow from either pump. In my case, the pump was prime at the first attempt.Note that if you run into issues when priming the pump, you should stop and do some troubleshooting to prevent damage to the pump or motor. Although the motor is supposed to be thermally protected, running it without a good water flow can cause it to burn or the PVC fittings getting distorted, which can lead to leaks. The most common cause for pump not priming, other than a defective pump, is due to cavitation or trap air. These could be caused for various reasons, like lose pipe connections, a check valve no seated properly, low water level, especially if you are drawing water from a well. If unsure, use a professional installer who may have all needed tools to find and fix the issue(s).Anyway, this replacement pump is quieter and has a larger flow than the pump it replaced. So far, it has worked great for two days now. I run the sprinkler station manually through my cell phone, so the pump doesn’t run constantly, but the motor feels cool to the touch, which is an indication of good water flow. I recommend it.