Might seem a silly question, but does everyone re-plug their DE filters after they drain them? I have visions of local field mice making a home in there over the winter if I don't.
Plug DE after drain?
- Thread starter GaryParr
- Start date
- Jun 22, 2014
- 47,802
- Pool Size
- 17888
- Surface
- Fiberglass
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- CircuPool RJ-45 Plus
Interesting. Could probably go either way. If you leave it out, maybe place a tiny screen material over it for those critters. If you install the plug, just tighten loosely. Even if it was tight, if the filter is dry there should be no cause for water expansion later.
You can close it now finger tight and check back in a week to see if there's more to drain. At that point the little that remains won't hurt you.
Saturn94
Bronze Supporter
- Mar 11, 2015
- 1,746
- Pool Size
- 20000
- Surface
- Vinyl
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Hayward Aqua Rite (T-15)
Yep, I close the drain on the DE filter after draining exactly for the reason you mentioned.
I don't. I put the pressure gauge back on after I'm done with the compressor, take out the selector valve and cover the opening real good with several layers, but I don't do anything with the backwash tube opening. If the little critters want to crawl up in there, that's ok. They'll quickly get flushed out when the system restarts in spring. It's actually not a bad thought to plug openings, but I just never bothered. I've had mice chew holes in custom-made covers that I have for the pump and heater, but never any evidence of mouse stuff inside the filter.
