Yesterday was my last DE change

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swipter2

Member
Jun 2, 2018
17
phoenix/az
I purchased a pool vacuum maybe 4 years ago. I read, I think on here, that DE lasted YEARS.....YEARS. Well, my pump would not prime properly and the pool was not as clear as normal.

1. I changed janty valve o-rings and found the supply side valve was one o-ring short. The pool pump installation company did the first job. I have been prime issues for a while.

2. It still would not totally prime after the o-ring change. I decided to clean it. I'm not weak but could barely lift the filter out of the housing. It was way over time.

I cleaned it, reassembled, no issues, and it totally primed in less than 30 seconds.

I'm going to a cartridge filter when it's time to clean it again.

I just can't deal with DE, and longer.

Thanks for listening to my venting.
 
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swipter2 said:
I read, I think on here, that DE lasted YEARS.....YEARS.
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I doubt you read that here. Sand lasts forever. DE needs to be changed out whenever the filter is cleaned. About every 8-12 weeks fo me.
 
swipter2 said:
You change DE every 2 to 3 months. I would die.
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Are you perhaps confusing backwashing with a complete breakdown of your filter? DE backwashes are fairly quick and take maybe 15-20 minutes as Allen suggested. A complete filter breakdown can take an hour or more, but is much more infrequent.
 
swipter2 said:
No confusion. He stated changing 8-12 weeks but he probably meant months for a DE change.
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Nope. My pool isn only open about 7 months out of the year and I backwash about 3 times a season.
 
Honest to God, switching & following the TFP method...I am over 4 months in on this DE still @ 0 psi on the filter @ 21 hour per day RPM run speed...8 psi @ 2000 RPM/32 GPM for skimming/chem checks. The biggest difference by far is NEVER running any type of clarifier, phosphate reducer, clearaide/perfect weekly...straight chlorine, baking soda, muriatic acid, cyanuric acid, salt & nothing else. Ever.

Can easily get away with 2-3 cleanings per year. I personally never backwash though, only full grid removal/clean out/fresh DE. I like knowing it has exactly 6 lbs in the grids & starting at 0 psi. Takes about 1 hour.
 
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Just switch to cartridges and you'll be much happier. If you don't want to remove and clean the cartridges every 3-6 months then you can just replace them once a year. Just keep in mind that you'll need to make some plumbing changes where the water enters and leaves the cartridge tank as those pipes are reversed between DE and Cartridge filters.
 

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swipter2 said:
No confusion. He stated changing 8-12 weeks but he probably meant months for a DE change.
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The cartridges, when properly care for, will last many years.
The DE is the means for trapping dirt/algae/debris. It lasts months.

The difference between a DE filter and a Cartridge are negligible in my experience; but the cartridge filter will need to be cleaned as often as a DE filter. For me that's 2-3 times per year.
 
reggiehammond said:
The cartridges, when properly care for, will last many years.
The DE is the means for trapping dirt/algae/debris. It lasts months.

The difference between a DE filter and a Cartridge are negligible in my experience; but the cartridge filter will need to be cleaned as often as a DE filter. For me that's 2-3 times per year.
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2-3 times a year seems like a lot. I'm thinking of the DE to cartridge switch too. I backwash maybe twice a year, it's the once a year breakdown and grid cleaning I hate, but really only takes an hour or so. If it takes 30 minutes to clean cartridges, that sounds almost as bad. Plus all the plumbing changes.
 
tcat said:
I use Fiberclear, delivered from Amazon, not heavy.
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Anyway you slice it, it's another expense (albeit a small one) and another step to the cleaning process (also not a dealbreaker, but appreciated by those who can skip the step).

If i had a working DE filter, I'd probably ride it until it died, then I'd switch that instant. If funding ever becomes entirely disposable, then I'd switch early, also that instant.
 
My issue with DE is all the DE on the ground after cleaning. The breaking down isn't an issue but the weight of the filter last time, I know I waited too long, was almost too much me. I know it was easily over 100 pounds, maybe closer to 120. I know what two 52 pound kettlebells feel like.
 
Newdude said:
Anyway you slice it, it's another expense (albeit a small one) and another step to the cleaning process (also not a dealbreaker, but appreciated by those who can skip the step).

If i had a working DE filter, I'd probably ride it until it died, then I'd switch that instant. If funding ever becomes entirely disposable, then I'd switch early, also that instant.
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What is Fibreclear?
 
swipter2 said:
My issue with DE is all the DE on the ground after cleaning. The breaking down isn't an issue but the weight of the filter last time, I know I waited too long, was almost too much me. I know it was easily over 100 pounds, maybe closer to 120. I know what two 52 pound kettlebells feel like.
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Why are you lifting the filter? I backwash, open air port, open drain, remove tank lid, then remove each grid individually. Clean all and put back in tank. I'm guessing not much different than cleaning 4 cartridges, except you're cleaning 8 grids. I do see it's a bit easier to go cartridge, but not sure if it's worth the expense if the DE tank doesn't leak. Dang, I think I'm talking myself out of the switch.
 
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tcat said:
Why are you lifting the filter? I backwash, open air port, open drain, remove tank lid, then remove each grid individually. Clean all and put back in tank. I'm guessing not much different than cleaning 4 cartridges, except you're cleaning 8 grids. I do see it's a bit easier to go cartridge, but not sure if it's worth the expense if the DE tank doesn't leak. Dang, I think I'm talking myself out of the switch.
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Because I don't take it apart. I pull the whole thing out and spray it clean. I have no leaks but I'm tired of all the DE waste.
 

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