RSAnative said:
Here's my baby:
Model: EC-65
Mine looks just like yours. My procedure is a little different but basically the same. I do this when the pressure won't stay down.
First turn off the pump. My off switch is right next to the filter. Close the return valve where the water leaves the top of the filter and goes to the pool. Open the waste valve at the bottom of the filter. That way I can run the filter and divert the water to waste without getting it in the pool. The filter is in the middle of some landscaping and the plants and grass don't seem to mind. I run the pump for minute or so while I bump the handle to purge the DE from the fingers. When the water runs clear I turn the pump off and close the waste valve. OPEN THE RETURN VALVE. Put some fresh DE in the skimmer to start (1/2 charge) and turn the pump on. Make sure the water is running into the pool. Make sure the DE is pulled into the filter. Go add the rest of the DE to the skimmer. Watch for leaks and call it a day. Takes 20 minutes tops.
If the pressure goes up right away with a fresh charge the fingers need cleaned. Start with the above and purge the filter of the old DE. Take a cordless drill and the correct socket and remove the bolts from the top. BRING SOMETHING TO PUT IT ALL IN. Pull the pin that connects the handle to the push rod. Not the hinge pin but the connecting pin in the middle of the handle. Disconnect the union to your plumbing and pull the top off the unit.
Take the fingers someplace where it is easy to work and hose them off. Get all the DE off. I have hard water so I take a couple of extra steps at this point. First I put degreaser in a five gallon bucket and soak the fingers for 15 minutes or so. I get degreaser from the pool store and mix it according to the directions. After they are done soaking I hose everything off. The next step is to mix 1 gallon of MA and 4 gallons of water in a five gallon bucket. I put the finger assembly in the bucket and let it soak over night. The next morning I hose the assembly off. The acid mix will kill the grass or etch concrete so be careful disposing of it. I have a gravel driveway so I just dilute it further and pour it out.
The acid wash is optional but I found that I was changing the DE too often. The filter manual suggested the acid wash if you were changing DE too often.
Put everything back together. DON'T FORGET TO ADD DE. DON'T FORGET TO OPEN THE RETURN VALVE. MAKE SURE THE WATER IS GOING INTO THE POOL AND YOU SHUT THE WASTE VALVE.
Trust me, you don't want to know why I put some of this in upper case.
Any thoughts from the experts on this process would be appreciated.