DE keeps showing up in my pool. Pool guy has been out 3 times for this...

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Morketh

Morketh

0
Oct 17, 2018
113
KATY/TX
I have a hayward DE filter with the 60 sq ft grids. We have completely replaced the grids and put a new o-ring on the top of the filter as it was leaking, but still I see DE showing up in the pool when I run the pump at about 2500RPMs.

Today the pool guy came out and took the filter apart as well as taking the top part apart where the pressure release is and he said everything looks good and added 6 pounds of DE back and we see if DE shows up in the pool tomorrow when I run it on high again.

What is the next step if this keeps happening?
I was open to replace the whole filter as it was like $750 or somewhere around there and he said it would be fine to just replace the grids and that was like $400 or so to get all that done so I did that and now I regret following his recommendation.

Edit: How To: Prevent DE Powder Returning To Pool - YouTube
After watching that video I think the problem is a suction leak. The reason I think this is because there is always bubbles coming out of my returns in the pool.
Both of my pumps have just been replaced and are brand new so the pumps arent the problem and I honestly have no clue where the air is getting into the system. Is there a special way for a pool service company to check for leaks in your lines and locate them to fix them? I hope this isnt a huge problem I have here.
 
In my case the issue was the spider gasket in the multiport valve, the replacement valve was around $11.00 if I remember correctly. A few weeks back there was a similar thread and their issue was the steam at the top of the filter was not on properly, their pictures show a bunch of DE resting on the top of the filter grid assembly when they opened the filter.
 
Yea I believe the pool guy took the thing at the top completely apart and he also replaced the o-ring on the top and said it was all good. I will check that multiport valve gasket when I get home and see if I can tell if anything is damaged. Maybe I should just get a new gasket anyways and call it a day and see if that fixes it.
 
m,

Are you sure it is DE?

Tell us more about the air issue.. Does your filter and pump drain back into the pool when the pump is off?

When you fire the pool up in the morning, do you get large roaring bubbles for about a minute and then they disappear? Or do you get small bubbles all the time?

If you leave the pump running 24/7 do you still get DE into the pool, or does this happen only after the pump has been off?

Does your main pump have bubbles under the pump lid when running..

Thanks,

Jim R
 
While the pump is running, dump a pound of DE in the skimmer and watch the returns for a few minutes to see if any DE comes out of the returns.

The return water should be crystal clear. Note any cloudiness.

When the pump turns off, listen to the top air relief and the multiport Waste line for any sounds of air getting sucked in.

Is the DE accumulating around the main drain, in the skimmer or in the pump basket?
 
Jimrahbe said:
m,

Are you sure it is DE?

Tell us more about the air issue.. Does your filter and pump drain back into the pool when the pump is off?

When you fire the pool up in the morning, do you get large roaring bubbles for about a minute and then they disappear? Or do you get small bubbles all the time?

If you leave the pump running 24/7 do you still get DE into the pool, or does this happen only after the pump has been off?

Does your main pump have bubbles under the pump lid when running..

Thanks,

Jim R
Click to expand...

It is a brown sand looking material in the bottom of my pool and it clearly is coming from the return jets. (I'm not sure why it is brown/beige when DE is white though)

I do not believe the filter or pump drains back into the pool, the pump stays full of water at all times and doesnt need much priming at all and I am assuming the filter does not drain back into the pool either.

There are times that I do get large roaring bubbles for about a minute and then the bubbles get small, but there are always bubbles. If I pump from 1850RPM to 2850RPM the amount of bubbles I see goes up a lot.

I have not left the pump running 24/7, I guess I could try this and maybe run it at 1850 RPM's for 24 to 48 hours and see the status of my pool after that.

If I remember right the day I had the pump installed there was not bubbles but the last I checked I remember seeing a few bubbles in the pump lid while it was running. I will recheck this again tonight and also unscrew and rescrew the lid to make sure I have a good seal.


JamesW said:
While the pump is running, dump a pound of DE in the skimmer and watch the returns for a few minutes to see if any DE comes out of the returns.

The return water should be crystal clear. Note any cloudiness.

When the pump turns off, listen to the top air relief and the multiport Waste line for any sounds of air getting sucked in.

Is the DE accumulating around the main drain, in the skimmer or in the pump basket?
Click to expand...

The pool guy dumped 6 pounds of DE into the skimmer and nothing came out of the returns, I've watched him do this once before as well so I never see DE come out after putting DE into the skimmer.

I will listen for air the next time I turn it on/off

The DE accumulates all around the pool bottom where it flies out from the return jets. There has been times where DE only shows up around 1 return jet but this last time I saw it all around the bottom of the pool and could tell it was spewed out from the return jets judging by the landing pattern it made on the floor.
 
When you first add the DE is when it's most likely to come out of the returns.

Try dumping a pound in the skimmer and watch very carefully directly at the return for any cloudiness.

Can you vacuum some into a skimmer sock for examination?

Do you have a picture?
 
JamesW said:
When you first add the DE is when it's most likely to come out of the returns.

Try dumping a pound in the skimmer and watch very carefully directly at the return for any cloudiness.

Can you vacuum some into a skimmer sock for examination?

Do you have a picture?
Click to expand...

I already had my robot clean it all up. If it happens again I will take a picture of it in the pool as well as when mr. robot vacuums it up I'll get a close-up.
 

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You are definitely sucking air into the system at some point between the pump and where the plumbing comes out of the ground. Check all the pipe joints, valves, and the pump pot lid. It looks like the pump pot lid is not quite turned all the way to lock it in position, so I would check it first. Lube the pump pot lid o-ring with silicone pool lube, fill up the pump pot, and put the lid back on. Also open any air bleed on top of the filter and turn on the pump. Watch to see if the pump pot fills completely once the pump is running. When there is no air in the pump pot close the air bleed on the filter. Running the pump at high speed is going to suck in more air, so you will see more air pushed out than when you run the pump at lower speeds. You are seeing most of the air being forced out through the return on the steps since it is closest to the pump. If DE is returning to the pool this is also where you would see the majority of it come out. This video show how to check for a suction side air leak: Find an air leak in your swimming pool. - YouTube

As for the DE returning to the pool. Unless the pool is very dirty the DE will not change color right away. Do you only notice the DE after the pool has been sitting without the pump running for a while? Back when I had a DE filter I would get a "puff" of DE return to the pool when I turned on the pump, and it would disperse quickly. It did not build up on the pool floor. Could you post a current set of test results?
 
Okay here are the videos after lubing the o ring on the pump lid, looks much better:
Lubed pump lid oring seems to have stopped most of the bubbles - YouTube

More bubbles come out at 1850 rpm - YouTube

Yes I only notice the DE after the pump has been off for a while. I don't really see it otherwise. I am going to put my robot in today and clean all the DE up and then see if it comes back again. It has came back every time, surely it has to stop at some point.

2 days ago test results:
FCL 6.77
TCL 6.98
PH 7.7
ALK 111
CH 200
CYA 52
 
Well I did the water hose test and poured water over every single connection or place where air could be sucked in on my equipment and I was not able to stop the bubbles showing in my pump.
I either have more than 1 spot where air is getting in or I guess maybe it is somewhere underground where air is getting in.

Is there any real problem with air getting in? I would hate to have to pay hundreds or thousands for a pool guy to figure this out if it isnt that big of a deal.

The DE shooting back into the pool is likely something I will have to pay unless it stops here in the next few days. I cleaned my pool out once more this weekend so I will check it again today and see if DE has shown back up.
 
Two valuable tools when looking for a suction side leak are shaving foam and plastic food wrap. You can take a can of old fashion shaving cream (Barbasol type) and smear it on any joints, valves or other areas you suspect, then watch for the foam to show up in the pump pot. Plastic food wrap can be used as a temporary seal which can confirm an area is the source of the air leak.
 
chiefwej said:
Two valuable tools when looking for a suction side leak are shaving foam and plastic food wrap. You can take a can of old fashion shaving cream (Barbasol type) and smear it on any joints, valves or other areas you suspect, then watch for the foam to show up in the pump pot. Plastic food wrap can be used as a temporary seal which can confirm an area is the source of the air leak.
Click to expand...


I might try that next, thanks!
 
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