Add DE After failure to prime?

[Sarahdeakins]

Our pool pump is on a timer. We have had a few instances where the pump has failed to prime at start up. I'm pretty sure the failures occurred after we have cleaned out the pump basket, so we are being extra careful now to clean it out, fill with water and start the pump afterwards to make sure we don't have any leaks.

When the prime failure has occurred in the past, we have observed what I believe is DE in the basket and I believe a bit is circulated in the pool as well after we get the pump primed and going again. Hopefully we have a good handle on the reason the prime failure occurred so it will not happen again. However, if it does, do we need to add more DE back to the filter? Backwash it? Just hoping to understand what we should do if it were to ever occur again.

 

[Rocco]

If you are sure that it is DE you should not need to add more as it should get caught in the filter again and adding more will only increase the pressure, however if you backwash you will be removing the DE from the filter and will need to add again. If you are not sure that it is DE in the pool I recommend getting a bucket and fill it with tap water and place next to the pool. If it shows up in the bucket it is something that is falling/blowing into the pool. This helped me when I first had a ton of pollen and wasn't sure if it was the fiber I use (fiber is an alternative to DE).

 

[Sarahdeakins]

Ah silly question. I'm not losing any de if it stays in the water! Thanks Rocco

 

[Rocco]

correct, however if it goes into the pool you will need to collect the DE in the filter again.