DE Filter with Sand Multiport Valve Causing Issue?

[DrNateDawg]

Hello TFP members,

I moved in late April and have been fighting to get my pool open since then. My DE filter doesn't seem to be holding DE powder or filtering the water and I am looking for confirmation that my multiport valve is the issue. I have a Hayward DE3620 filter with a Hayward SPX0710x32 multiport valve. This multiport valve is clearly labeled for a sand filter on the Hayward website. My understanding is that a DE filter flows the water from the bottom of the filter through the grids, then through the manifold (essentially bottom up) while a sand or cartridge filter flows from manifold down through the grids and returns at the bottom. Does anyone have experience running a DE filter with a multiport valve for a sand filter and getting the filter to work?

Since noticing that I'm leaking large amounts of DE powder out the return (basically looks like the same amount that I put in the skimmer), I've replaced the filter grids, manifold, standpipe O-ring, and MPV spider gasket. After replacing these, I'm still leaking DE. In theory, I feel like my DE filter grids should get coated with DE powder from the inside if the flow is top down due to my multiport valve and still be able to work correctly, but they don't appear to be holding DE powder at all. Has anyone ran into this issue before?

 

[1poolman1]

Hello TFP members,

I moved in late April and have been fighting to get my pool open since then. My DE filter doesn't seem to be holding DE powder or filtering the water and I am looking for confirmation that my multiport valve is the issue. I have a Hayward DE3620 filter with a Hayward SPX0710x32 multiport valve. This multiport valve is clearly labeled for a sand filter on the Hayward website. My understanding is that a DE filter flows the water from the bottom of the filter through the grids, then through the manifold (essentially bottom up) while a sand or cartridge filter flows from manifold down through the grids and returns at the bottom. Does anyone have experience running a DE filter with a multiport valve for a sand filter and getting the filter to work?

Since noticing that I'm leaking large amounts of DE powder out the return (basically looks like the same amount that I put in the skimmer), I've replaced the filter grids, manifold, standpipe O-ring, and MPV spider gasket. After replacing these, I'm still leaking DE. In theory, I feel like my DE filter grids should get coated with DE powder from the inside if the flow is top down due to my multiport valve and still be able to work correctly, but they don't appear to be holding DE powder at all. Has anyone ran into this issue before?

Use the "Backswash" setting to filter and the "Filter" setting to backwash. Its just the label on that valve that is different for sand or DE (same way with Pentair valves), the valves are the same. They used to be shipped in the package with the filter and a separate label that the installer had to put on the valve depending on D.E. or sand.

D.E. should not be on the inside of the grids, but should coat the outside.

 

[DrNateDawg]

Use the "Backswash" setting to filter and the "Filter" setting to backwash. Its just the label on that valve that is different for sand or DE (same way with Pentair valves), the valves are the same. They used to be shipped in the package with the filter and a separate label that the installer had to put on the valve depending on D.E. or sand.

D.E. should not be on the inside of the grids, but should coat the outside.

Thank you! I'll definitely try that when I get home. Thinking through it though, will I need to take the head off of my multiport valve and install it "backwards" or rotate it in some fashion to achieve this? If I put it in backwash as its currently installed, it backwashes to waste and I would be constantly refilling my pool.