DE Filter questions

[fmercury84]

Last October I paid a pool company to winterize the pool (took filter apart and rinsed) and the same company reopened it this month (added DE) after which I started the SLAM process. I got the FC/TC levels right but was never able to get rid of some pool cloudiness.
A couple of backwashes and vacuums (through filter) later I realized that the cloudiness/dust accumulating at the bottom of the pool was actually DE getting back in through the return line.
The filter pressure never seemed to increase no matter running it 24/7. I opened it up to take a look, only to find the filter full of pebbles/grains that (to me) do not look at all what a DE covered filter grid should look like. See photo.
What's going on? I am second guessing the pool maintenance company that I've used. Could this be too much DE? Or too little? After every backwash I used 80% of the full capacity (4lbs for my DEV48).

 

[JoyfulNoise]

That looks more like pool sand for a sand filter than DE ... I'm wondering if someone screwed up and put filter sand in your DE filter

The fix is simple but not easy ... that filter needs to be taken apart, cleaned to remove all the DE and whatever that debris is and then put back together again. All of the grids and fabric needs to be checked for tears and any internal o-rings need to be inspected and lubed. Then it all has to be reassembled and loaded back up with DE.

 

[Jimrahbe]

84,

I agree with Matt.. that is not like any DE I have ever seen...

Thanks,

Jim R.

 

[fmercury84]

I was gonna suggest that but I have never seen a sand filter before...Thanks for your feedback and wow, I am 100% sure I only used DE and when I watched them open the pool I had no reason to believe that was something else. But at least it explains the dust in my return lines...

 

[fmercury84]

That looks more like pool sand for a sand filter than DE ... I'm wondering if someone screwed up and put filter sand in your DE filter

The fix is simple but not easy ... that filter needs to be taken apart, cleaned to remove all the DE and whatever that debris is and then put back together again. All of the grids and fabric needs to be checked for tears and any internal o-rings need to be inspected and lubed. Then it all has to be reassembled and loaded back up with DE.

Ok I got this far…all taken apart, grids cleaned, emptied out all the sand from filter, reassembled. No evident tear on the grids or o-rings.
Of course, I ran out of DE in my previous attempts and the local store is out of stock for at least a few days.
My next problem is vacuuming the sand from the bottom of the pool. My valve only has filter/backwash positions, so how can I vacuum to waste?
In any case, I assume I should not even try to run the filter until I can feed the required amount of DE through the skimmer.

 

[Poolbreh]

Your manifold wasn’t cracked? Looks like it could be from the picture.

 

[fmercury84]

I didn’t take pictures after the rinse but no, I checked carefully up and down and everything looked intact

 

[Poolbreh]

Must be the dirt but looks like a crack

 

[fmercury84]

It was a conspicuous amount of dirt and I can definitely recheck before restarting but it didn’t seem apparent. Any advice for the vacuuming?

 

[Poolbreh]

double checking is up to you, the DE was getting through from somewhere and it looks like a crack to me. You need a mpv to vac to waste. Just vac it up like you normally do and backwash as needed.

 

[fmercury84]

double checking is up to you, the DE was getting through from somewhere and it looks like a crack to me.

Will definitely recheck

 

[fmercury84]

You were on point about the crack. It went completely unnoticed to me from rinsing distance, but the again I don’t know what I’m looking at…thank you!
So I suppose nothing can happen at this point until I get a replacement.
Does it need to be the same brand or are these manifold standard?

 

[Poolbreh]

So I suppose nothing can happen at this point until I get a replacement.

Correct. Manifolds are different. You need the manifold specific for your filter with the pipe on top, it’s what holds the assembly down on the stand pipe.

 

[fmercury84]

Ok. Found the part number and will shop for options.
Just out of curiosity, does the original claim that I had sand instead of DE in the filter still stand? And could it have caused the crack?
Or most likely 2 separate issues?

 

[Poolbreh]

It just looks like a really dirty filter with DE to me.

 

[Jimrahbe]

Poolbreh,

You may be right, but I have never seen DE that appears to have rocks in it. Odd indeed.

Jim R.

 

[Poolbreh]

Your guess is as good as mine jim.

 

[fmercury84]

It just looks like a really dirty filter with DE to me.

Either way, thank you for pointing out the crack. Without that hint, I would have been back to where I started after wasting money on more DE and time to clean the filter again. As well as having more vacuuming to do

 

[fmercury84]

I just wanted to thank all those who helped on this and another thread I made previously. It only took a couple of days with the new filter manifold and the water is finally as clear as ever.
Attached before/after for your (my) enjoyment & proof