Hi all. I had broken the top manifold on my Hayward DE filter last year. My pump has been running for over a week and the pool is still cloudy (opened up to algae bloom). I noticed that whenever I replaced the DE, the filter pressure would increase more than the 25% within an hour or so, but have been putting off opening up the actual DE filter instead of backwashing since it was such a pain to reassemble last year.
Anyway, can anyone suggest a way to remove the manifold cover off of the DE filter grids. I'm sure its stuck at where the manifold cover meets the standpipe with o-ring, but I can't for the life of me remove it. If I try knocking it with a rubber mallet, i'm afraid I'll crack it again like I did last year. (The crack was where its likely stuck now, where manfold meets standpipe)
Alternatively, would it be good enough to simply hose the filter grids off while its still connected? There does seem to be a massive DE build-up in the very center of the grid, which I attribute to be part of the reason my filter clogs so quickly. If I'm able to remove it, I'm dreading aligning the grids and putting everything back together. Took me hours last year (did upside down approach).
View attachment 49068
Anyway, can anyone suggest a way to remove the manifold cover off of the DE filter grids. I'm sure its stuck at where the manifold cover meets the standpipe with o-ring, but I can't for the life of me remove it. If I try knocking it with a rubber mallet, i'm afraid I'll crack it again like I did last year. (The crack was where its likely stuck now, where manfold meets standpipe)
Alternatively, would it be good enough to simply hose the filter grids off while its still connected? There does seem to be a massive DE build-up in the very center of the grid, which I attribute to be part of the reason my filter clogs so quickly. If I'm able to remove it, I'm dreading aligning the grids and putting everything back together. Took me hours last year (did upside down approach).
View attachment 49068