I think I know whats wrong... But I'm hoping maybe there is a good way to confirm it before I have to go off and spend all kinds of money... Or ideally I'll be just wrong, which would be awesome!
I have a Pentair NS48 stainless steel DE filter, its probably at least 20 years old... But I don't actually know (manual revision date was 4/1/91).
I had an algae outbreak, so after knocking that problem out, my pressure had risen. I backwashed, pressure was still high, so I went for the manual cleaning. I should also note that we have a pool jet about a foot above the pool, and I usually use how far that sprays as kind of a side indicator something is off....
So, I take them apart, clean them per manufacturer instructions, and re-assemble the grids, which each time I do it reminds me that I'm terrible at jigsaw puzzles. I did a chemical cleaning 5 or 6 months ago as well, so these things should be nice and clean. I go to recharge the filter, and my water goes from clear to "where did the bottom go??". I waited a week, it cleared up, until I went to sweep it, then I found all that DE. Frustrated, I took the filter apart, and looked for tears (I have had to replace 2 of the "fingers" already), but I couldn't find anything that looked obviously wrong. So I started with replacing cheap parts. New O-Ring on the standpipe, and a new "mesh" filter on top of the manifold (I think I saw a thread somewhere on here where that was an issue). When I cleaned the filters, there was at least some DE on the grids, but I don't think it had enough....
I start re-charging the filter, and it looks like DE is just coming straight out without stopping. So I went and grabbed some of my wife's stockings (which I think was recommeneded in another thread) to catch what was coming out just to verify, and it was mostly DE (and some larger dirt particles... which sort of surprised me). This was on Sunday. It was hot, late, so I let it run all week. Things again, cleared up, until I just went out and swept. And there was all the DE. I also see it coming out when I turn the pump off, then on.
So, I'm at the point, I strongly suspect I have a torn grid, but I don't know which one.... There are 6 that I haven't replaced... And I was hoping not to have to do them all... Does anyone have a way to checking/testing a grid for leaks? DOes this seem like the problem? Should I just break down and replace the other 6? Any help would be greatly appreciated.
I have a Pentair NS48 stainless steel DE filter, its probably at least 20 years old... But I don't actually know (manual revision date was 4/1/91).
I had an algae outbreak, so after knocking that problem out, my pressure had risen. I backwashed, pressure was still high, so I went for the manual cleaning. I should also note that we have a pool jet about a foot above the pool, and I usually use how far that sprays as kind of a side indicator something is off....
So, I take them apart, clean them per manufacturer instructions, and re-assemble the grids, which each time I do it reminds me that I'm terrible at jigsaw puzzles. I did a chemical cleaning 5 or 6 months ago as well, so these things should be nice and clean. I go to recharge the filter, and my water goes from clear to "where did the bottom go??". I waited a week, it cleared up, until I went to sweep it, then I found all that DE. Frustrated, I took the filter apart, and looked for tears (I have had to replace 2 of the "fingers" already), but I couldn't find anything that looked obviously wrong. So I started with replacing cheap parts. New O-Ring on the standpipe, and a new "mesh" filter on top of the manifold (I think I saw a thread somewhere on here where that was an issue). When I cleaned the filters, there was at least some DE on the grids, but I don't think it had enough....
I start re-charging the filter, and it looks like DE is just coming straight out without stopping. So I went and grabbed some of my wife's stockings (which I think was recommeneded in another thread) to catch what was coming out just to verify, and it was mostly DE (and some larger dirt particles... which sort of surprised me). This was on Sunday. It was hot, late, so I let it run all week. Things again, cleared up, until I just went out and swept. And there was all the DE. I also see it coming out when I turn the pump off, then on.
So, I'm at the point, I strongly suspect I have a torn grid, but I don't know which one.... There are 6 that I haven't replaced... And I was hoping not to have to do them all... Does anyone have a way to checking/testing a grid for leaks? DOes this seem like the problem? Should I just break down and replace the other 6? Any help would be greatly appreciated.
