My info is (as stated in my signature): 16x32x8 vinyl in-ground; 20k gal; Pentair SuperFlo 1HP; Hayward S-200 sand filter; 1.5" plumbing; solar heating; 1 main drain, 1 skimmer, 1 return with 2 jets. I backwash when the pressure reaches about 22 lbs (after BW, it's around 14). Although, the last few times I've tried vacuuming and saw the silt come back out of the jets, the pressure didn't rise. That makes sense if the filter isn't catching anything.
I'd thought of vacuuming to waste, but I don't think that's the answer. The fact that I saw the DE go straight from the skimmer and out the jets indicated that there was something else going on.
I removed the sand to check out the laterals and internal plumbing. The laterals looked fine - until I tried to unscrew one and snapped it in half. Doh. I went ahead and ordered a new set of laterals and gaskets. All the laterals and gaskets are super brittle and I figured it wouldn't hurt to replace them.
While I had the filter disconnected from the multiport, I switched the valve to recirculate and turned on the pump to see if there was any leakage. Not a drop came out of the filter pipes, so I think the multiport is in good shape.
I'm starting to think I had some sort of channeling issue. I wish I'd found the forum that mentioned overflowing the filter with a garden hose to clear any clumping and gunk before I removed the sand to see if that would help. Oh well...
Also, pH is 7.2 and I did dump in about 20lbs of bicarb a couple of weeks ago. What's a good vac/bw schedule? Maybe I need to go get pool schooled for a little while.
I'd thought of vacuuming to waste, but I don't think that's the answer. The fact that I saw the DE go straight from the skimmer and out the jets indicated that there was something else going on.
I removed the sand to check out the laterals and internal plumbing. The laterals looked fine - until I tried to unscrew one and snapped it in half. Doh. I went ahead and ordered a new set of laterals and gaskets. All the laterals and gaskets are super brittle and I figured it wouldn't hurt to replace them.
While I had the filter disconnected from the multiport, I switched the valve to recirculate and turned on the pump to see if there was any leakage. Not a drop came out of the filter pipes, so I think the multiport is in good shape.
I'm starting to think I had some sort of channeling issue. I wish I'd found the forum that mentioned overflowing the filter with a garden hose to clear any clumping and gunk before I removed the sand to see if that would help. Oh well...
Also, pH is 7.2 and I did dump in about 20lbs of bicarb a couple of weeks ago. What's a good vac/bw schedule? Maybe I need to go get pool schooled for a little while.