DE Coming into Pool - Can't figure out why?

[texaspoolman57]

It was time to clean my Hayward DE6020 filter. Prior to cleaning the filter everything was running fine and the water was crystal clear.

I cleaned the filter and added DE to the strainer as I always do with the pump running. The water turned cloudy and I noticed DE around my bubblers so I knew that something wasn't right and that DE was entering the pool..

I installed new grids the time before this cleaning and they look new. I thought it might be the manifold so I installed a new one this morning and still DE is coming in. There is no pigtail on this new manifold so its not that.

So virtually new grids, new manifold (engineering designed this one without a pigtail)

I also put in a new o ring on the down pipe (outlet) and lubed it up really well and installed a new spider gasket on the diverter valve.

I ran it again and once again I saw DE coming out of the shallow water bubblers with DE all throughout the bottom of the pool.

Once again when I opened up the filter there was no DE on the grids, it was all in the bottom of the filter housing and in the pool so no DE even coated the grids except for just a little DE on the top of the grids and some on the manifold????

Now here is the other thing I did at the same time. I put a new o ring and nylon washer on my diverter valve. So to do so I had to take it apart.

I made sure the diverter valve was clocked correctly and double checked the flow path and it is correct.

I also turned on the filter pump with the lid off and sure enough the water is entering the lower pipe where it is supposed to, the water is not going the wrong way or being feed into the filter manifold first so that is good which verifies that the diverter valve was clocked correctly when I put it back together.

I checked the outlet pipe in the filter for cracks / leaks and there are none.

I can't figure out what to do next or why in the world this is happening??

TIA

 

[Bugman1401]

You sure your multi-port valve ain’t on RECIRC?
Pics of your valve, pressure gauge on your filter, and your piping would help.

 

[texaspoolman57]

You sure your multi-port valve ain’t on RECIRC?
Pics of your valve, pressure gauge on your filter, and your piping would help.

I'll post pictures this morning.

 

[mknauss]

Check that you used Pool DE.

 

[texaspoolman57]

Check that you used Pool DE.

ok but what other type of DE is there?? I thought all DE was for pools?

 

[texaspoolman57]

Ok here are my pictures. The DE is out of the same box that I used on the previous filter clean that went smoothly.

 

[mknauss]

I thought all DE was for pools?

There is food grade and garden grade DE. You do NOT want to use those in a pool.

 

[texaspoolman57]

Here are more pictures....

 

[texaspoolman57]

There is food grade and garden grade DE. You do NOT want to use those in a pool.

Interesting. The DE I am using is for pools.

 

[texaspoolman57]

Here is what I have been using and am using.

 

[texaspoolman57]

more pics

 

[texaspoolman57]

Pictures of entire pool equipment

 

[texaspoolman57]

UPDATE: I think I have figured out why all that DE was coming back into the pool.

I took my Multiport valve spring to my local favorite pool store and compared the height of the compression spring with a new one.

My old spring uncompressed measured 1.1"

The new spring was 1.35" That is a difference in height of.25" which is quite a bit .

I ended up buying a new Mulitport valve assembly since my old one still leaked after I put in a new o ring. Also I believe the old valve was l leaking also due to the old spring allowing the valve to open up and allow some water too flow out.

Once again just to double check, I pulled out all my filter grids and meticulously inspected them and found that they were like new.

I then installed the new Multiport valve.

Got in the pool and began to vacuum up all the DE on the bottom of the pool.

I also added some to the skimmer as well.

So far I am not seeing any DE coming into the pool.

So far it appears that the culprit was an old compressed weak Multiport valve spring.

I suspect that because the spring was .25" less in height than that of a new one the compression of the spider web gasket was not being held firmly enough against the mating surface in the valve body and with the pressure exerted it was being lifted up and water flow was taking the path of least resistance and flowing right back into the pool taking the DE with it.

I'll keep and eye on it and report back...

 

[Bugman1401]

Congrats on solving the issue.

 

[texaspoolman57]

Hours later and no DE in the pool. Perseverance, patience, logical and critical thinking to determine the root cause solved this mystery.

If you are having this issue and the grids, manifold, manifold pigtail (if you're manifold has one) manifold o ring and spider gasket are good try either a new multiport valve or just a new spring if you are able to disassemble and reassemble your valve. It just might solve your DE in the pool problem.