Hello!
Last spring, for the first time since we installed our pool five years earlier, we had trouble with the DE filter pressure running too high and not effectively filtering the pool. After taking it apart, it was obvious why, the fingers were caked together with DE and I realized that perhaps I should have been cleaning them regularly! Put everything back together, and had a great, trouble free summer.
This summer I noticed the same symptoms after one month of use, and took the DE filter apart again and discovered the caking / clumping to be as bad or worse then the previous year. That's the picture DEFilter1. So, now I'm thinking it's strange that it was five years for it to get that bad the first time, but now it got that bad after one year. After cleaning and reassembly, the filter worked like a charm!
For a week.
Same symptoms, took it apart again, and there it was. Not as severe, but definite clumping and clogging, and this time, it's pink! That's DEFilter1Week picture.
So, now I'm wondering, what changed that could cause this? instead of hurting my rookie pool owner head too much, I'm asking the experts here on Trouble Free Pool! Changes made to the pool setup over the last few years:
Two years ago: Replaced Hayward Continuous Run Pump with a Hayward Variable speed pump. This pump runs on high (3000 rpm) for a twelve hour cycle, then drops to 500rpm until I turn it back to high, generally when we are going to be using the pool in the next few days.
Last year: Replaced the Heater after the heater core corroded to the point that it was leaking like a sieve. Had Iron Issues last year but corrected this after about a month.
This year: Switched to Bacqacil from Chlorine. We love the water difference, but are finding it to be cost prohibitive to maintain.
So - What say you? Any ideas? Any help for a poor fella that had to leave work early yesterday to run home to take apart and clean the DE filter while ten 12 year old boys were waiting to swim on one of our hottest days of the year during my son's birthday bash?
Hoping y'all can assist!
Last spring, for the first time since we installed our pool five years earlier, we had trouble with the DE filter pressure running too high and not effectively filtering the pool. After taking it apart, it was obvious why, the fingers were caked together with DE and I realized that perhaps I should have been cleaning them regularly! Put everything back together, and had a great, trouble free summer.
This summer I noticed the same symptoms after one month of use, and took the DE filter apart again and discovered the caking / clumping to be as bad or worse then the previous year. That's the picture DEFilter1. So, now I'm thinking it's strange that it was five years for it to get that bad the first time, but now it got that bad after one year. After cleaning and reassembly, the filter worked like a charm!
For a week.
Same symptoms, took it apart again, and there it was. Not as severe, but definite clumping and clogging, and this time, it's pink! That's DEFilter1Week picture.
So, now I'm wondering, what changed that could cause this? instead of hurting my rookie pool owner head too much, I'm asking the experts here on Trouble Free Pool! Changes made to the pool setup over the last few years:
Two years ago: Replaced Hayward Continuous Run Pump with a Hayward Variable speed pump. This pump runs on high (3000 rpm) for a twelve hour cycle, then drops to 500rpm until I turn it back to high, generally when we are going to be using the pool in the next few days.
Last year: Replaced the Heater after the heater core corroded to the point that it was leaking like a sieve. Had Iron Issues last year but corrected this after about a month.
This year: Switched to Bacqacil from Chlorine. We love the water difference, but are finding it to be cost prohibitive to maintain.
So - What say you? Any ideas? Any help for a poor fella that had to leave work early yesterday to run home to take apart and clean the DE filter while ten 12 year old boys were waiting to swim on one of our hottest days of the year during my son's birthday bash?
Hoping y'all can assist!
