Custom system I inherited?

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Highpressureprobs

New member
Jul 27, 2023
1
Maryland
My pool system was looked at recently, just started owning this inground pool this year/bought the house.

Found out that it’s a salt system with DE filter, built with 2 inch pipes but when the water returns to the pool- the inground pipes were built to taper down to 1.5in and then 1in diameter before it enters pool. Pool guy told me this is why my DE system baseline pressure is about 27psi. Can confirm. I backwash at about 31psi usually. It also scares me because I can’t get near the recommended amount of DE to add to the filter after backwash.

I think this is making it very hard for me to get a clear pool.

Thing has been cloudy for a month despite shocks. It’s balanced, I just can’t get rid of this cloudiness. Pool store recommended clarifier and against flocculent even knowing my system’s uniqueness.

Is this plumbing a problem I should address? Will I accidentally blow up my house if I add clarifier? Should I stick to flocculent for life?

Thanks!
 
I don’t think your pool is the only pool that reduces its returns to one inch before the return fittings. My pool was recently replastered and all my return fitting pipes coming out of the gunite were 1”. I really don’t think that should be the problem unless you have only one return fitting.

Some extra info for my pool for you to compare
16,500 gallons
Pentair Intelliflo
3 1” returns at pool
60sq ft DE Filter
Heater bypassed
14psi at 3200rpm when clean
 
Highpressureprobs said:
My pool system was looked at recently, just started owning this inground pool this year/bought the house.

Found out that it’s a salt system with DE filter, built with 2 inch pipes but when the water returns to the pool- the inground pipes were built to taper down to 1.5in and then 1in diameter before it enters pool. Pool guy told me this is why my DE system baseline pressure is about 27psi. Can confirm. I backwash at about 31psi usually. It also scares me because I can’t get near the recommended amount of DE to add to the filter after backwash.

I think this is making it very hard for me to get a clear pool.

Thing has been cloudy for a month despite shocks. It’s balanced, I just can’t get rid of this cloudiness. Pool store recommended clarifier and against flocculent even knowing my system’s uniqueness.

Is this plumbing a problem I should address? Will I accidentally blow up my house if I add clarifier? Should I stick to flocculent for life?

Thanks!
Click to expand...
When was the last time the filter was opened and all the DE removed? What size filter is this? How much are you trying to add?
A backwash will never remove all the DE from a filter. So, if you just keep adding the amount for a completely clean filter, it is very likely that the whole filter is completely full of DE and, no, water will not flow through it and the pool will never clear.
 

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I would avoid any clarifiers and floc, especially since your DE filter seems to be clogged.
After a backwash, put no more than 80% of the required DE back in the filter. So if it requires 6lbs of DE, after a backwash only put in 4.5lbs.
It would be best to start fresh, completely clean the grids, soak them in a trash can filled with water and some dishwashing soap to remove the oils. Good info in the following

DE Filter Cleaning Tutorial

This tutorial is geared toward the traditional grid-style DE filters. If you have a cartridge-style DE filter, you may want to switch over to JoyfulNoise's QuadDE Tutorial. When DE filters are backwashed, not all of the DE/fiber cellulose (henceforth, the term DE will be used to refer to both)...
www.troublefreepool.com www.troublefreepool.com

Use and care for DE filters

Hi all, :wave: I've been meaning to write up my 'pearls of wisdom re. DE filters' for a while, with some of our members already firing up their pools, I figured I better get it posted :oops...
www.troublefreepool.com www.troublefreepool.com
 
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