First time filter clean

[Scottallison1]

Hi All,

I decided to take on maintaining my pool myself. No problem so far until my first time cleaning my filter. I have a Pentair Quad 100 DE filter, and following YouTube videos I managed to take apart, clean and put back together again. so far so good.

My problem came when added the DE into the skimmer. The suction pipe is right below a jet returning debri and such to the pool, so when I added the DE the jet immediately blew the DE powder right into the pool. I am looking for a way to stop the jet blowing while I add the DE powder. Any advise from anyone?

Below is a picture of my problem.

Thanks
Scott

 

[Jimrahbe]

Scott,

You have one of those "magic" skimmers, that sends return water back through the skimmer to "in theory" help with the skimming.

You should have a valve to turn that return flow off.

Show us some pics of your equipment pad.

Thanks,

Jim R.

 

[1poolman1]

Open filter, try to drain water below the tank half (or use a scoop to remove some), pour DE into tank (it will settle into any water in the tank, close filter, turn on pump. Works.

 

[Scottallison1]

Scott,

You have one of those "magic" skimmers, that sends return water back through the skimmer to "in theory" help with the skimming.

You should have a valve to turn that return flow off.

Show us some pics of your equipment pad.

Thanks,

Jim R.

Thanks Jim, I found the valve and switched off. Every day is a lesson . Thanks for your help.

 

[Scottallison1]

Open filter, try to drain water below the tank half (or use a scoop to remove some), pour DE into tank (it will settle into any water in the tank, close filter, turn on pump. Works.

So your suggesting to pour the DE directly into the filter Rather than the skimmer? Won’t that then return to the pool?

 

[wireform]

So your suggesting to pour the DE directly into the filter Rather than the skimmer? Won’t that then return to the pool?

No, the water hast to pass from the outside filter surface to the center and then goes on it's way to the pool via whatever else is in its path.

 

[1poolman1]

So your suggesting to pour the DE directly into the filter Rather than the skimmer? Won’t that then return to the pool?

It gets to the same place through the skimmer, through the pump, inside the tank, outside the cartridges. If it returns to the pool, you have a different issue.

 

[Jimrahbe]

Scott,

I have never tried poolman's way, so have no idea how well it works, but I like the idea of adding a little DE slurry at a time into a running skimmer.

I take a 5 gal bucket and add the DE the filter needs. Then fill the bucket with water. You will be amazed at the water that will still fit in the bucket. It is just like the DE is not even there. Then I stir it up into a slurry, and slowly pool it into the running skimmer. Logic says that will coat the grids more evenly, but I have no way to prove if that is true or not.

Thanks,

Jim R.

 

[Scottallison1]

It gets to the same place through the skimmer, through the pump, inside the tank, outside the cartridges. If it returns to the pool, you have a different issue.

Okay thanks good to know for next time.

 

[kbolin]

Thanks Jim, I found the valve and switched off. Every day is a lesson . Thanks for your help.

Hi Scott, I have the same setup in my pool and made the same mistake. You indicated you found the valve, where was the valve located?