break down DE filter before or after new water- acid wash

[outdoorsgal]

Pool company has some warranty work to do and we are going to be emptying pool so they can do it. They are throwing in an acid wash. Since we knew we were going to empty the h20 we waited too long to backwash and break down the filter. We ended up backwashing a couple of weeks ago, cuz it really needed it, but now we are noticing bubbles coming out of the pop up cleaning system so I'm guessing the filter really needs to be broken down asap. pb was suggesting to break down filter before emptying pool but I'm thinking the filters will get dirty right away versus emptying pool and assuming the acid wash guys should be getting everything out of the bottom of the pool before refilling it.

I've only emptied my pool once and later learned I was supposed to get the last puddle of h20 out of the bottom because that's where the calcium and solids were probably sitting... Makes more sense to me to break it down after new h20. What do u think, break down filter before or after new water and anything else I should pay attention to re acid wash and emptying the pool that I haven’t mentioned? Thx!

 

[HermanTX]

I have a different logic and be interesting to see others opinions. I would clean my DE filter prior to draining and refilling. My logic is that I do not want to circulate the new water with whatever is trapped in the DE filter. So get rid of the old DE and debris and set it up ready for new water to be circulated.

 

[outdoorsgal]

HermanTX. Thx. We broke down the filter, figuring it was overdue and we're running out of time to empty the pool. We'll just have to make sure to break it down, again, sooner than later. Still an interesting question, though. I imagine it's done both ways, breaking it down before or after. On your theory, filter being broken down while pool was emptying would probably be great. I also let the pH go with knowledge that pool company was going to acid wash the pool. What I didn't realize was they weren't going to clean the tile so I'll probably be doing it by hand with a pumus stone. The guy who came out to quote acid wash said it would be too much work, but I figure I'll pay the kids or just do a few tiles each time I get into the pool and make sure to just keep up with pool no matter what the next step is... Made some mistakes the 6 yrs of owning this pool and learned a lot.