DE in the pool?

[tbombaci]

We recently had our pool remodeled. We went from a white plaster pool to a darker pebble tech finish. It has been a pretty mild winter so I am not vacuuming regularly until yesterday. About a month ago, I replaced the DE in the system. Everything seemed fine until I started vacuuming. The bottom and most of the sides were covered in DE powder. I am wondering if this was the case before or is it time to replace the filter blades? The attached pic shows the DE powder in the middle of the vacuumed sides.

Thanks!
Tom

 

[mknauss]

Can you add a signature? That will provide detail of your equipment for better answers.

See Pool School - Getting Started

 

[JamesW]

Pour a pound of DE in the skimmer while the pump is on and watch for DE to come back through the returns.

 

[tbombaci]

Pour a pound of DE in the skimmer while the pump is on and watch for DE to come back through the returns.

If that happens, is it time to replace the fabric "blades" in the filter?

 

[JamesW]

It might be a bad multiport gasket, manifold or ripped fabric on a grid. Try the test. If you see de blow back in, take the grids out and clean them then look for holes or rips.