My pool (vinyl 14x28) is relatively new from 2021. First year and a half were problem free and wonderful, however the last 6 months I've noticed a constant layer/lines of DE appearing and reappearing on the bottom of the liner. I had back washed pretty regularly, and since we have a very good screen enclosure, it seemed to do the job. I first noticed some dark DE on the bottom, appearing to be coming from the two returns in the shallow end and visibly settling in line with the return, or on the steps. Ultimately pulled the filter apart and washed all of the very ugly DE away and recharged it. Since doing that, I'm still getting the same DE on the bottom, but this time it's the color of the new DE. Had the pool guy come out and look over the filter grids and found nothing wrong, recharged again and same issue. We thought maybe one of the grids had a tear or cut we missed, so we just replaced the entire set of grids and STILL getting the same new DE on the bottom. I've tried to search through threads and haven't found anything to explain the issue. I have all of my equipment listed in my profile and nothing has changed in how things run since we first built it, except going to a Dolphin cleaner from a pressure side Polaris 280. Anyone have any suggestions on what to try next?
DE continually coming into the pool
- Thread starter Kamikazesloth
- Start date
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- Tags
- de filter
Sitting in front of the return indicates it is bypassing the filter. It can be a mixture of DE and debris. If the grids are good then check the following.
You could have a hole in the screen on top of the manifold in your filter. It is a little screen that usually has some DE around it. The other possibility is the where the manifold connects to the standpipe. There is an oring and if that is damaged then you will have a leak path of unfiltered flow.
The last thing is a crack in the manifold itself. Those are harder to detect because with no pressure it look fine but with pressure the crack opens up to let debris in. So check 3 other items
The small screen on top of the manifold
The oring seal of the manifold to the standpipe
The manifold for cracks.
You could have a hole in the screen on top of the manifold in your filter. It is a little screen that usually has some DE around it. The other possibility is the where the manifold connects to the standpipe. There is an oring and if that is damaged then you will have a leak path of unfiltered flow.
The last thing is a crack in the manifold itself. Those are harder to detect because with no pressure it look fine but with pressure the crack opens up to let debris in. So check 3 other items
The small screen on top of the manifold
The oring seal of the manifold to the standpipe
The manifold for cracks.
Thank you for the thorough reply, that's very helpful! So I cracked the filter and found it like this. I'm thinking that's not a good look, but I honestly haven't opened it up like this before. I ended up looking over the manifold and saw no observable cracks/issues. I pulled off the small vertical breather (?) and rinsed it out before putting it back on. Sealed everything back up and turned the pump on.
I ended up leaving for a few hours and just got back to find water slowly leaking out around the top, where the pressure gauge and bleed valve sits. Any ideas? Psi lives around 26psi and always has since build.
I ended up leaving for a few hours and just got back to find water slowly leaking out around the top, where the pressure gauge and bleed valve sits. Any ideas? Psi lives around 26psi and always has since build.
The top looks normal. Was there any DE coming out of the returns?
For the pressure gauge/bleed valve leak, is it the threaded part or another part of the bleed valve leaking? Show a picture.
If it was the threaded part, you could remove it (turn off the pump), clean up the threads, put 2 wraps of teflon tape on it and screw it back in.
Operating pressure at 26psi for a relatively clean DE filter sounds high. When I had a single speed pump (runs at 3450 rpm) it always started around 19-20psi then would climb to 25psi when i would backwash it.
At what speed are you running your pump to get 26psi?
- May 23, 2015
- 25,718
- Pool Size
- 16000
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-60
26psi clean pressure is awfully high but it’s also a small filter (36 sq ft) … typical Florida pool builders, they always put the dinkiest filters on pools. Never could figure out why unless it’s just a make-work situation for them - the smaller the filter, the more service calls they get.
Anyway, you unfortunately need to pull out the grid assembly and check the fabric around every connection between the grids and the upper manifold. A tear anywhere near those points of contact can let DE through. You also need to check and lube the standpipe o-ring.
Grid style DE filters are old school technology and a royal PITA to work on. If you absolutely want DE, then get a Pentair QuadDE filter … and for Pete’s sake, oversize the filter and save yourself all this hassle.
But, if you really want to do yourself a solid, ditch DE altogether and go with an oversized Pentair Clean and Clear cartridge filter. You’ll never be able to tell the difference.
Not sure why you have all that Pentair equipment and the filter is Hayward ??
Anyway, you unfortunately need to pull out the grid assembly and check the fabric around every connection between the grids and the upper manifold. A tear anywhere near those points of contact can let DE through. You also need to check and lube the standpipe o-ring.
Grid style DE filters are old school technology and a royal PITA to work on. If you absolutely want DE, then get a Pentair QuadDE filter … and for Pete’s sake, oversize the filter and save yourself all this hassle.
But, if you really want to do yourself a solid, ditch DE altogether and go with an oversized Pentair Clean and Clear cartridge filter. You’ll never be able to tell the difference.
Not sure why you have all that Pentair equipment and the filter is Hayward ??
Looks like a smaller amount is coming out, but so far it hasn't stopped yet. I'll throw in the dolphin to clean it up, and small amounts are back in the bottom/deep end.
Best I can tell, the top where the pressure relief valve is, is wet now. So I think it's begun to leak around that possibly. The pressure gauge is a few months old, and it's on tight with plenty of plumbers tape.
As far as pressure goes, it's lived around the mid/upper 20s since it was new. I run the superflo at high speed (3450rpm) 3hrs in the morning, then low speed (1700rpm) for the reminder of the day, and then another high speed run in the evening. When it's running at the low speed, I'm showing around 7-9psi.
You're unfortunately reading my mind. When this was built, I literally had no clue what I was getting or what I needed beyond a VS pump. The builder is an old school, been around the area for ages and appears to not be too caught up in the new technologies or updates to equipment or best practices.
I have spent lots of time and research realizing how much better of a pool I could have had, if I had only known what I know now.
I'm by no means remotely set on DE, if anything, I don't like it. Given how effective our screen enclosure is, the need to filter to micron level isn't nearly as important. I'd like to look at a cartridge filter setup and just needed some idea of what to look at.
As far as why Hayward? No clue. I have a feeling that's all he knows.
I appreciate the suggestions and I'll look into it. I'm just bummed that after such a large investment, I'm already having to undo a good portion of the equipment, because of their lack of knowledge.
What type of DE are you using? Maybe it's not "pool grade"? My DE looks more like paste when I open up the filter. Yours looks more granular.
- May 23, 2015
- 25,718
- Pool Size
- 16000
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-60
This is not at all uncommon and many of us here on TFP got here well after the pool was built. My pool equipment pad setup also has issues and I too say that if I had known then what I know now, my pool and equipment would look very, very different. Most enter into pool ownership under the assumption that the builders are “experts” in their craft. The reality is that very few of them attempt to keep their knowledge up and many just stick with what they know and know how to build and hope to just make it long enough to get to retirement.
It's Porpoise brand DE filter powder our local Pinch A Penny has in stock. I agree though, the grainy look gave me pause.
Maybe clean out your filter and try another brand. My DE, when dry, looks and feels like powder. ALWAYS be cautious when handling dry DE as it is not good for your lungs. Wear a mask, or stay up wind when handling.
I have had good luck with this brand in the past.
I have had good luck with this brand in the past.
I have just skimmed this thread and see nothing to confirm it is DE to begin with,
OP, do you know for a fact it is DE? You described it as "dark de" but what you are describing sounds more like dead algae
OP, do you know for a fact it is DE? You described it as "dark de" but what you are describing sounds more like dead algae
Yes sir, I'm certain of it at this point.
The very first sign of anything out of the ordinary was the darker green colored "something" on the bottom of the pool. in line with the returns. I pulled the DE filter to check it and found it was covered in greenish DE, so I did the complete pull apart and rinse off the grids entirely, also ran the cleaner through the pool so anything left on the bottom was gone. After doing so, the filter was recharged with new DE filter. The following day the pool had more of the same on the bottom, only this time it was the color of new DE powder. That's remained the same since rewashing the grids twice and now replacing the grids with new ones. I also have run the Dolphin Active 20 cleaner many many times and it pulls out DE into its own filters. Same white "paste" that the above comment references.
I think you have algae and are not losing DE.
Rather than just guessing, if you will provide us a set of test results with your own GOOD kit and we can go from there.
Rather than just guessing, if you will provide us a set of test results with your own GOOD kit and we can go from there.