Pump Priming

My power went out this past weekend (for 4 or so hours is my best guess).

When it came back on I had no running water and the pump was running without shutting off. When I realized this, I tripped the breaker to stop it from running, but still have no water.

Did I lose my prime? I was going to try priming but wasn't sure how to go about it.

It's an above ground pump (Champion is the name on the pump) and the only place I could find to put the water in is on the top of the pump, but that looks like an air valve, so I figured that was not it.

Can anyone help me out?

How many pipes do you have coming through the wall and into the pump? If you have a tee with a gauge on top you can take the gauge off along with the bushing below it and prime from there. Once you have filled the pump with water put the gauge back on fairly loose and shut the main off to your house. Turn the pump on, air and water should start coming out. When it gets close to being fully primed it might start surging a bit and at full prime it will start building pressure. You might have to repeat the process a few times before you get the pump primed. Also before you insert the bushing and gauge put some teflon tape and pipe dope on the threads. Once the pump starts building pressure open the main valve to the house half way and open up an outside faucet to get rid of any air that might still be in the system. The pressure should stay pretty steady if its fully primed. Once you see that the pressure is staying up open that main valve all the way. If it is pumping at a steady rate and you dont see the pressure fluctuating your system is now primed.The last thing you should do is cycle the system a few times. Keep the outside faucet going so the pump is running. Shut the main valve off and you should notice the pressure start to climb. Once the pump shuts off open the main valve again. You should see the pressure drop and the pump should turn on at its cut in pressure. Shut the main off and repeat the process a few times. This is to make sure your system is 100 good to go.

Good Luck!!

SAM