cleaned out de filter but......

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surfbabe

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Sep 23, 2015
162
Austin
I followed the tutorial on here for cleaning the DE Filter - all the way through... put the fresh DE into water and poured into skimmer. It has returned to the pool - pool water is now cloudy. I don't even know where to start to figure this out. It has been the most horrible job, it's taken me 2 whole afternoons and reduced me to tears at least 3 times. Honestly folks, could do with some encouragement here. :brickwall:
 
Bummer :(

There are only a couple ways for the DE to get into the pool:
1. The backwash valves setting was not on Filter when you added the DE (or was not fully seated)
2. The grids did not get seated properly in the manifold
3. There is damage to something inside the filter

Likely you need to take the filter apart again to inspect everything.

What part were you struggling with the most?
 
jblizzle said:
Bummer :(

There are only a couple ways for the DE to get into the pool:
1. The backwash valves setting was not on Filter when you added the DE (or was not fully seated)
2. The grids did not get seated properly in the manifold
3. There is damage to something inside the filter

Likely you need to take the filter apart again to inspect everything.

What part were you struggling with the most?
Click to expand...

1 Filter valve was fine.
2 Definitely possible that they didn't seat properly. The nut that secures the manifold was a PITA and I probably should have just got a new one to put back on. It could be that this isn't as tight as it needs to be. Also, the "O" ring on the pipe that the manifold connects to was maybe a bit slack. Could buy a new one of those.
3. I checked the grids and manifold for any damage - 1 grid was broken so I replaced that one but the others were fine.

I struggled because everything was difficult to undo/unscrew, the filter was clogged and heavy so I tried to spray the de off without taking the whole lot out but then gave up and managed to get the grids and assembly out to hose down...... horrible cruddy DE all over me which I appear to be sensitive to as I now have a rash over my arms and legs.
 
Backwashing the grids first before disassembling the filter helps to remove a good deal of the DE and saves on back ache. I have a QuadDE filter so I can't be of much help here (assembly is fairly easy to remove), but I know how you feel. Wet DE is not a big deal but, if it dries on your skin and you rub it off, you'll definitely suffer irritation. Best to always wear long sleeves and pants when doing the work as well as eye protection. I also wear disposable nitrile gloves as well.

The good news is, once you get your filter working again, let the DE settle to the bottom of the pool overnight and then very slowly vacuum it up in the morning. The cloudiness will go away with time.
 
You do not want the nut to be very tight at all or you could end up crushing the grids. If that O ring is not seated properly then that could certainly let the de bypass as well.
 
surfbabe,

I have a Pentair DE Filter assembly. the 1st pic is the Air Bleed Assembly which includes the mesh cap.

the 2nd pic is the Top Manifold Assy, including the Air Bleed Assy.

Some years ago, I forgot to attach the Air Bleed cap & the result was DE getting into the pool. It's something to check or perhaps the mesh is damaged.
 

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Scoop said:
surfbabe,

I have a Pentair DE Filter assembly. the 1st pic is the Air Bleed Assembly which includes the mesh cap.

the 2nd pic is the Top Manifold Assy, including the Air Bleed Assy.

Some years ago, I forgot to attach the Air Bleed cap & the result was DE getting into the pool. It's something to check or perhaps the mesh is damaged.
Click to expand...

Right.
 

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Thanks to all you lovely people for your replies!
I reassured myself that all the mucky horrible work was done - more on that. Took the filter housing off and first thing I noticed was that the manifold was not seated properly on the top of the grids. So, I've tightened that up enough to ensure that it stays put but isn't too tight.
I went to my "favourite" pool store and bought more lube and another "O" ring for the elbow (is that the right term - it's where the manifold goes onto the inlet pipe). Manifold slid on nicely, much better than yesterday and the old "O" ring was definitely stretched out.

Cleaned and lubed the filter housing "O" ring and tightened everything up.

Success! I carefully watched the water returns and when I added the DE, water stayed clear. :smile:

Pressure reading on the filter is now 10/11 psi. Does that sound right?

However, next thing is all the DE that went back into the water yesterday. The polaris is indeed sucking it in but the scrubby tail is also doing a good job of stirring it into the water, which now looks cloudy again. I've also had a load of leaves fall in and I've been scooping them out so that I don't have to empty the polaris bag every 2 minutes.

I'm guessing that some of the DE in the pool water will end up back in the filter? When I added the DE this morning I added slightly less ( 2 scoops) because I could see some of the DE from yesterday on the grids. What should I do next? I am slightly concerned that there will be too much DE on the grids after all this.

But anyway, no more meltdowns from me today and for that I am very grateful to you all.

AH!! The breather looks ok but a bit old if not worn. I guess it wouldn't do any harm to replace it?
 
Your filter pressure might go up as the DE from the pool enters the filter. DE is heavier than water and will settle so I would suggest you take the Polaris out and get a manual vacuum head and start vacuuming. The Polaris bag is not going to be fine enough to capture the DE and all it's going to do is stir up the DE. In my opinion, I would not have recharged the DE filter with fresh DE but would have used the vacuum to suck up the DE that got shot into the pool. You can run a DE filter without DE for a short time while vacuuming, it won't do any harm.

Either way, sounds like you found your problem. I love DE filters (especially my Pentair Quad) but they can get messy sometimes. They certainly aren't as simple as a sand filter or a cartridge filter but, when they are working right, there's nothing like the polish your water gets with a DE filter.
 
surfbabe said:
I don't have a manual vacuum - only the polaris.

In which case, the best way to handle the DE in the water is probably to stir it up and let it go to the filter, I suppose?
Click to expand...

Hmmm...that's going to take a heck of a lot longer. Do you have a pool brush and main drains? If so, you could try to put all of the pump suction on the main drains and gently and slowly try to sweep the DE towards the drain.

Really, vacuuming is the only way to get it all up but I'm guessing you're not wanting to go out and get all the stuff you need for a pool vacuum?
 
I started a neighbourhood pool group so I'll see if anyone has one they can lend me. If not, may buy one anyway because I think the manual cleaner may work better at picking up all the leaves. Suggestions for a good, reasonably priced one to buy?
 
Polaris makes a silt bag that should help but as it sucks up the DE it will not float very well, tends to flop over then debris can't enter the bag. Vacuum is the best option.
 

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