DE in pool after heater maintenance.

[Savagepool]

I disconnected my heater to replace a bypass valve and after I reconnected it and started the pump to test it, the pool flooded with DE from the filter. Any idea why or what I should check? The pool doesn’t seem to be getting any less cloudy after running for 16 hours or so now. Also, now the heater completely shuts off when the spa gets to temp (panel on the heater is off), and then restarts when temp drops below target. I thought that before when it gets to temp the burner shuts off, but the heater was still electrically powered. Any thoughts?

 

[Savagepool]

And yes, I’m ripping of Jim’s avatar idea…

 

[ajw22]

I disconnected my heater to replace a bypass valve and after I reconnected it and started the pump to test it, the pool flooded with DE from the filter. Any idea why or what I should check? The pool doesn’t seem to be getting any less cloudy after running for 16 hours or so now.

Could you have swapped the in and out pipes to the filter?

Post pictures of your equipment pad.

Also, now the heater completely shuts off when the spa gets to temp (panel on the heater is off), and then restarts when temp drops below target. I thought that before when it gets to temp the burner shuts off, but the heater was still electrically powered. Any thoughts?

What model heater are we discussing?

Is the heater controlled by what automation?

Please create your signature with details of your pool and equipment.

 

[ajw22]

And yes, I’m ripping of Jim’s avatar idea…

You are forgiven for the Holiday season.

 

[Savagepool]

Sorry, it’s a Pentair Mastertemp 400, controlled by an IntelliTouch I7+3 with a wall controller. No chance that I switched the lines…and thanks for the forgiveness!

 

[ajw22]

Also, now the heater completely shuts off when the spa gets to temp (panel on the heater is off), and then restarts when temp drops below target. I thought that before when it gets to temp the burner shuts off, but the heater was still electrically powered. Any thoughts?

The IntelliTouch opens the firemans switch which cuts off the 24V control voltage. The MasterTemp display is blank when the heater is OFF under 2-wire firemans switch control. The display is on when the heater is ON.

 

[JamesW]

If you open the lines on the return side, the DE can flow from the filter through the pump and out of the main drain and skimmers.

You should have a check valve between the pump and filter.

 

[JamesW]

Take the filter apart and clean and inspect the grids and other parts.

 

[Savagepool]

Thanks ajw22 and James. Good to know the heater is working normally. I put a couple of cups of DE into a skimmer to test if the filter was catching it, and sure enough it came right back out into the pool. Only thing I can figure is something failed inside the filter when I restarted it after it had drained while I had the heater disconnected from the system. Looks like I’m taking the filter apart and checking panels today.