My husband and I broke down the DE filter, cleaned it out, backwashed, blew the lines, replaced the DE filter and the pump is still running slow. It starts out running great, (around 23) and then the water slows down from the return valve. Not sure what else we need to do to keep it running great for more than an hour. I go out to bump the filter every hour to keep the pump running good, just am not use to the pump/filter slowing down so quickly. Any suggestions?
DE filter/pump running slow
- Thread starter smdjkas7
- Start date
Water is cloudy. The longer I run the pump the clearer it is becoming. Just taking along time with the pump running slow.
Sounds like your filter is doing what it is supposed to do. Cloudy water is usually early algae and it clogs filters fast. Backwash, note the pressure and then backwash again when pressure rises 20-25%. With cloudy water and/or algae growing that could be every few hours.
Cloudy water is a chemistry problem, not a filter problem. There is probably not enough chlorine in the pool. Either now or recently. Chlorine should always be kept at target level and never drop below minimum for your CYA, Chlorine CYA Chart. When chlorine level drops below minimum level the pool is not sanitized and algae starts growing. Often the first signs of algae are rapidly clogging filter, slimy pool walls or cloudy water.
Cloudy water is a chemistry problem, not a filter problem. There is probably not enough chlorine in the pool. Either now or recently. Chlorine should always be kept at target level and never drop below minimum for your CYA, Chlorine CYA Chart. When chlorine level drops below minimum level the pool is not sanitized and algae starts growing. Often the first signs of algae are rapidly clogging filter, slimy pool walls or cloudy water.
You have just discovered the weakness of a DE filter: it cleans too well. All that cloudiness in your pool is ending up inside the filter, clogging it up the way it's supposed to. It will continue to clog frequently unless you put a stop to the source of the cloudiness, which is probably algae. More than likely, you have insufficient free chlorine for your stabilizer level. Pool School - Chlorine / CYA Chart