Pump turns off, the cloud appears

[Clearglendrive]

Hey folks, I just had my waterline tile replaced, cleaned the pool up, cleaned the filter (Pentair DE), etc. And I just noticed this cloud of ?? Pouring out of the little hole in the wall below the skimmer and settling in the deep end. Must have happened over the course of an hour? Any thoughts on what might be causing this? I'm feeling defeated because I spent a ton of time yesterday getting things set up.

 

[Texas Splash]

I wonder if it's DE flowing backwards from your filter? Hummmm. I'm also wondering what that small hole is below your skimmer? Seems like an odd location for a return jet or vacuum fitting. Certainly not an overflow hole under there. Do you know what that hole is for? Did you take the filter apart at all recently during al the work that was done? Lastly, post a pic or two of your equipment pad for us please.

Don't forget to update your signature with all of your pool and equipment info. IT helps us.

 

[Clearglendrive]

I wonder if it's DE flowing backwards from your filter? Hummmm. I'm also wondering what that small hole is below your skimmer? Seems like an odd location for a return jet or vacuum fitting. Certainly not an overflow hole under there. Do you know what that hole is for? Did you take the filter apart at all recently during al the work that was done? Lastly, post a pic or two of your equipment pad for us please.

Don't forget to update your signature with all of your pool and equipment info. IT helps us.

Hi @Texas Splash! Thank you for the reply.

I wonder if it's DE flowing backwards from your filter? Hummmm.
DE was my first thought, but I just don't understand how it would have happened. Pool newbie problems

I'm also wondering what that small hole is below your skimmer? Seems like an odd location for a return jet or vacuum fitting. Certainly not an overflow hole under there. Do you know what that hole is for?
I couldn't think of the term when posting, but the "hole" is the equalizer line that connects up to the skimmer bottom.

Did you take the filter apart at all recently during al the work that was done?
I did - took it apart, cleaned the grids, and didn't *notice* any tears, rips, etc.

Lastly, post a pic or two of your equipment pad for us please.
Here is the pad:

Don't forget to update your signature with all of your pool and equipment info. IT helps us.
Done!

 

[Texas Splash]

Equalizer - got it. I'm going back to the filter since that is the last place you were before this started happening. If you had a tear in a grid or finger, I would expect to see DE out the returns, but this appears to be flowing backwards. I'm assuming this can only happen when the system shuts down since that hole is tied to the skimmer. Perhaps the manifold or some other mating parts didn't quite met-up properly letting DE flow backwards? Any chance you over-charged with too much DE? I don't see a check valve between the filter and pump, but this never happened before right? So if you look closely when the pump is turned off you can probably see it flow out (backwards). Something else to consider - an air leak. An air leak will seep into the system and allow water (and DE) to flow backwards back to the pool. When you shut off the system, listen carefully for any hissing or watch for spurts of water. Check the center band seal around the filter and your pressure gauge as those are quite common. I would look for those air leak areas first.

 

[Clearglendrive]

Equalizer - got it. I'm going back to the filter since that is the last place you were before this started happening. If you had a tear in a grid or finger, I would expect to see DE out the returns, but this appears to be flowing backwards. I'm assuming this can only happen when the system shuts down since that hole is tied to the skimmer. Perhaps the manifold or some other mating parts didn't quite met-up properly letting DE flow backwards? Any chance you over-charged with too much DE? I don't see a check valve between the filter and pump, but this never happened before right? So if you look closely when the pump is turned off you can probably see it flow out (backwards). Something else to consider - an air leak. An air leak will seep into the system and allow water (and DE) to flow backwards back to the pool. When you shut off the system, listen carefully for any hissing or watch for spurts of water. Check the center band seal around the filter and your pressure gauge as those are quite common. I would look for those air leak areas first.

Perhaps the manifold or some other mating parts didn't quite met-up properly letting DE flow backwards?
I had to work fairly hard to get everything perfectly back into place, so I'm leaning toward no on this one.

Any chance you over-charged with too much DE?
I added 6 pounds of DE, which is what the manual calls for, so I don't believe that would be the issue.

I don't see a check valve between the filter and pump, but this never happened before right? So if you look closely when the pump is turned off you can probably see it flow out (backwards).
@Texas Splash You're referring to the clear valve over on the spa/pool return, correct? If so, you're saying I should be able to see the actual flow in there when switching off the system - like, the "dirty DE water" will pass through, viewable to me?

Something else to consider - an air leak. An air leak will seep into the system and allow water (and DE) to flow backwards back to the pool. When you shut off the system, listen carefully for any hissing or watch for spurts of water.
I've been turning it off/on with my phone, so haven't heard anything, but will head out there after the rain stops and see if I hear anything.

Check the center band seal around the filter and your pressure gauge as those are quite common. I would look for those air leak areas first.
Both are nice 'n tight

 

[Texas Splash]

Some builders will install a check valve after the pump before the filter to prevent backward flow (if needed). But you didn't have this problem before, so it's not a big deal. For the potential air leaks, they can be very tricky to find. Since this started happening after the filter work, I would hope that's the first place to investigate. Something might need a bit of pool silicone lube around an O-ring or metal band, or perhaps some Teflon tape around some threads. But the tiniest air leak will push water backwards for sure.

 

[Jimrahbe]

Clear,

Is this the first time you have added DE to your pool? If so, tell us exactly how you did it...

Thanks,

Jim R.

 

[Clearglendrive]

Clear,

Is this the first time you have added DE to your pool? If so, tell us exactly how you did it...

Thanks,

Jim R.

It is not the first time, but I made a slurry and poured into the skimmer. No issues the previous times I did it!

 

[Jimrahbe]

Clear,

That is exactly how you should do it..

Seems to me that the only way DE can get into the equalizer port is for you to have added the DE slurry too quickly, or that your filter is draining back into your pool through the pump.

Not saying this is the problem or not, but I did notice that your filter band is a lot looser than mine.

Do you see DE inside the pump basket?

Thanks,

Jim R.

 

[Clearglendrive]

Clear,

That is exactly how you should do it..

Seems to me that the only way DE can get into the equalizer port is for you to have added the DE slurry too quickly, or that your filter is draining back into your pool through the pump.

Not saying this is the problem or not, but I did notice that your filter band is a lot looser than mine.

Do you see DE inside the pump basket?

Thanks,

Jim R.

@Jimrahbe Well, the DE sucked in fine when I added it - it was the following day when the pump turned off that the stuff appeared in the skimmer and shot out the equalizer port.

With regard to the filter band - I tightened to where the springs were touching (you can't see from the picture, they touch in the back), but maybe I misunderstood the directions and need to tighten where the whole spring touches? I just didn't want to over tighten so might have made a misstep.

No DE inside the pump basket.

Also, @Texas Splash : Update. I turned off the pump, and the skimmers were both clear, so nothing backed up like it was doing yesterday. However, when I flipped it back on, I noticed the spa jet was shooting out some gunk. That's new. Nothing extra from the pool jets, just the spa.

 

[Rancho Cost-a-Lotta]

Seems to me that the only way DE can get into the equalizer port is for you to have added the DE slurry too quickly

This is likely the issue assuming your pump is not draining down when the pump is off. Does your skimmer use a diverter/float valve? If you added DE without the valve, DE may have entered the equalizer line. With the pump off, the DE drifted down to the pool. Vacuum the DE back to the filter and see if it returns.

 

[Clearglendrive]

This is likely the issue assuming your pump is not draining down when the pump is off. Does your skimmer use a diverter/float valve? If you added DE without the valve, DE may have entered the equalizer line. With the pump off, the DE drifted down to the pool. Vacuum the DE back to the filter and see if it returns.

Yeah, but the equalizer line is like 1 foot at most. Anything that may have been deposited there is cleared out.

Haven't found any leaks yet, so I guess I'm going to have to rip the filter apart again. Sigh.