I have a lot of DE on the bottom of my pool as a result of a cracked manifold, some torn and broken grids and possibly worn push/pull backwash valve stem seals. The backwash handle was really hard to move so I took it apart and cleaned it and replaced the seals. When I tore apart the filter to clean it after backwashing twice, I discovered the cracked manifold and the torn and broken grids which I’m now replacing with a new filter grid assembly. The small difference in price of replacing everything separately vs the huge gain in time saved and less hassle to replace the complete grid assembly were the deciding factors for me.
So what is the best way to get all this DE out of my pool? Vacuuming will add more DE to the filter, pressure will go up and I’ll have to backwash again almost right away. I’ve already wasted a lot of DE before I discovered the problem so I’d rather not backwash right away if I don’t have to. Should I not add the full amount of DE on startup figuring the vacuumed DE will add to the new DE? But then I won’t really know how much DE I have in my filter which seems pretty foolish after doing a full cleaning. Too much DE’s not good, neither is too little, so what’s the best approach? I don’t want to do anything that could compromise my new filter grid assembly. I tried vacuuming with a Leaf Vac and a very fine mesh bag hoping to trap the bulk of it outside of the filter and that did catch some DE but it also stirs it up and makes it hard to see the bottom so it would have to be done several times before I got most of the DE out. I’ve seen several posts about vacuuming to waste but I don’t have a multiport valve. Is there a way to vacuum to waste with a push/pull valve? The water is fairly cloudy now so any type of vacuuming makes it hard to see the bottom pretty quickly.
I’m going to install the filter grid assembly now so I’m hoping someone can give me some advice on how to proceed after that.
Thanks!
Marge
So what is the best way to get all this DE out of my pool? Vacuuming will add more DE to the filter, pressure will go up and I’ll have to backwash again almost right away. I’ve already wasted a lot of DE before I discovered the problem so I’d rather not backwash right away if I don’t have to. Should I not add the full amount of DE on startup figuring the vacuumed DE will add to the new DE? But then I won’t really know how much DE I have in my filter which seems pretty foolish after doing a full cleaning. Too much DE’s not good, neither is too little, so what’s the best approach? I don’t want to do anything that could compromise my new filter grid assembly. I tried vacuuming with a Leaf Vac and a very fine mesh bag hoping to trap the bulk of it outside of the filter and that did catch some DE but it also stirs it up and makes it hard to see the bottom so it would have to be done several times before I got most of the DE out. I’ve seen several posts about vacuuming to waste but I don’t have a multiport valve. Is there a way to vacuum to waste with a push/pull valve? The water is fairly cloudy now so any type of vacuuming makes it hard to see the bottom pretty quickly.
I’m going to install the filter grid assembly now so I’m hoping someone can give me some advice on how to proceed after that.
Thanks!
Marge
