I have an 11 month old Hayward EC75A D.E. Filter. It is rusting inside (tube sheet screws & nuts). I have a chlorine pool with vinyl liner. Is this common?
D.E. Filter Problem
- Thread starter jimdee1
- Start date
It's not common but there have been a few reports of it. Can you post a full set of test results?
Can you post some pics of the filter in and outside?
Can you post some pics of the filter in and outside?
I think the response I have received from Hayward is worth posting:
[email protected] 1:46 pm (2 days ago)
Dear Mr J. A.,
The problem you have is not common and it could relate to water chemistry. The screws and nuts are manufactured of marine grade stainless steel but highly acidic water could still cause them to rust. Please contact the dealer that you purchased the filter from.
Regards.
Ross
Hayward Technical Services
One Hayward Industrial Drive
Clemmons, NC (USA) 27012
908-355-7995
Then, the response from the dealer:
Dear Customer,
Thank you for your recent Amazon/In The Swim inquiry. I apologize for the inconvenience, I spoke to our tech specialist and they said the same thing, this is not a common problem on these products. It is likely caused to high acidity in the water chemistry. Unfortunately, this is not covered under the warranty, and the product actually only had a 1 year manufacturer's warranty.
I apologize for the convenience.
Guadalupe Manzano
Amazon/In The Swim Specialist
In The Swim
After checking my paperwork, I notified the dealer 1 yr. & 2 days after I ordered the filter. It was actually only in use for 6 months. I am an experienced and knowledgable pool owner and my water chemistry is always well within the recommended guidelines. I am shocked at the responses from the manufacturer and dealer. I am going to post pics and results as I investigate the cause of this rusting.
[email protected] 1:46 pm (2 days ago)
Dear Mr J. A.,
The problem you have is not common and it could relate to water chemistry. The screws and nuts are manufactured of marine grade stainless steel but highly acidic water could still cause them to rust. Please contact the dealer that you purchased the filter from.
Regards.
Ross
Hayward Technical Services
One Hayward Industrial Drive
Clemmons, NC (USA) 27012
908-355-7995
Then, the response from the dealer:
Dear Customer,
Thank you for your recent Amazon/In The Swim inquiry. I apologize for the inconvenience, I spoke to our tech specialist and they said the same thing, this is not a common problem on these products. It is likely caused to high acidity in the water chemistry. Unfortunately, this is not covered under the warranty, and the product actually only had a 1 year manufacturer's warranty.
I apologize for the convenience.
Guadalupe Manzano
Amazon/In The Swim Specialist
In The Swim
After checking my paperwork, I notified the dealer 1 yr. & 2 days after I ordered the filter. It was actually only in use for 6 months. I am an experienced and knowledgable pool owner and my water chemistry is always well within the recommended guidelines. I am shocked at the responses from the manufacturer and dealer. I am going to post pics and results as I investigate the cause of this rusting.
I have attached 3 pictures of the filter rust. This filter has been used for 6 months. How can it be rusting so severely? In the 8 years I have had this pool the water has been always been kept well within water standards. Any comments would be helpful. Thank you. [attachment=0:2ggtm2qo]Filter rust pic 3.jpg[/attachment:2ggtm2qo], [attachment=1:2ggtm2qo]Filter rust pic 2.jpg[/attachment:2ggtm2qo], [attachment=2:2ggtm2qo]Filter rust pic.jpg[/attachment:2ggtm2qo].
Attachments
What does your pH normally run?
Can you post a full set of test results?
In fact if you keep a record a few sets of results may help.
Can you post a full set of test results?
In fact if you keep a record a few sets of results may help.
Thank you for replying. I have been unsuccessful in attaching scans of my test results over the past years, so I will have to just summarize by giving the averages: chlorine- 1.5-2.5, ph- 7.2-7.6, alkalinity- 80-110. I have not had any problems from my water before- equipment or swimmers. I don't know how marine grade stainless steel could rust like this so rapidly. Any comments would be appreciated.
Is there any chance you may have put trichlor pucks in teh skimmer? Or dichlor, or CYA? Maybe the PB did?
Thank you for the reply. No, I have a Pentair Model 320 in-line feeder that I have always used only trichlor 3" tabs in. The rate of chlorine usage has always been very moderate. I am the only one that services my pool. Wouldn't it take high levels of chlorine to cause rust like this on marine grade stainless steel, over a longer period than 6 months?
Yes. Except there have been people who like to dump various powders in the skimmer to let them dissolve in the filter. Just checking you weren't one of them.jimdee1 said:
Have you seen or heard of any rusting like this on an almost new Hayward D.E. EC75A filter? Hayward's and In The Swim's (the dealer) response to this really surprised me.
- Jun 14, 2012
- 2,668
- Pool Size
- 13500
- Surface
- Vinyl
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- CircuPool Edge-40
jimdee1 said:
I think I would scan those tests and send them via certified letter to both dealer and Hayward and also point out that the contact to the dealer was made 1 year + 2 days and the damage was obviously prior to the contact and must have occured during the warranty period.
From the little research I have done, it would take water with a ph less than 6 and chlorine levels over 200 ppm to pit marine grade stainless steel. These bolts and nuts are rusting rapidly.
Thanks for your reply. At this point, that looks like a real possibility. But, that would be a big thing to claim, considering the size of Hayward and all the products they make. This isn't about just me so I want to be very fair about it. I will say being "blown off" like I was by the dealer, In The Swim, was really surprising and disheartening.
- Jun 14, 2012
- 2,668
- Pool Size
- 13500
- Surface
- Vinyl
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- CircuPool Edge-40
Can they be tested?
Also I saw another thread where rust in a light was attributed to improper bonding. Is that a realistic possibility in cases like this? Are filter systems even bonded?
- Sent using Tapatalk
Also I saw another thread where rust in a light was attributed to improper bonding. Is that a realistic possibility in cases like this? Are filter systems even bonded?
- Sent using Tapatalk
Thanks for the reply. To my knowledge there is no bonding like you have mentioned in this filter. I would like to know if any other owners of a Hayward D.E. Filter are/have had rusting problems like this. I paid over $400. for this filter and it has been used only 6 months.
They're calling that "marine grade" stainless but it's most likely 304 or even 302. The issue with either of those is partial submersion and splash. If they're completely out of the water or they're completely submerged they do fine. If they're exposed to partial submersion or heavy splash they will corrode.
If you have a lot of air in the filter at times it could cause the problem you're seeing. Replacing the fasteners with 316L stainless should help the problem a lot.
Also, since you use tablets exclusively I suspect the pH gets low quite often even if you don't notice it. Tablets have a very low pH and unless you keep a very close eye on it it will drive your pH down. What test kit do you use to test the water?
If you have a lot of air in the filter at times it could cause the problem you're seeing. Replacing the fasteners with 316L stainless should help the problem a lot.
Also, since you use tablets exclusively I suspect the pH gets low quite often even if you don't notice it. Tablets have a very low pH and unless you keep a very close eye on it it will drive your pH down. What test kit do you use to test the water?
I use a 5 solution test kit. I think you are right about the steel not being marine grade (316) stainless. From the looks of the tube sheet screws & nuts, I'm not sure they're even stainless! In a previous reply you mentioned some other reports of rusting. Are they similar to mine? Thanks.
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