Solution for fully draining DE filter

[gnomegustaelagua]

Hi all,

I have a Hayward Pro-Grid 3620 DE filter that works well but is kind of a pain to physically clean. I saw online that in general, a hose-off in the tank is recommended for most filter cleanings instead of taking out all the grids and cleaning them separately. (It also seems to be quite a bit faster.) However, when I spray down the grids in the filter, it fills with water (obviously), which I can't get out except via opening the little drain plug at the bottom of the filter. The drain plug doesn't connect to any sort of drainage system, so the water doesn't go anywhere--it just spills out onto the ground next to the filter, which makes a huge mess (not to mention the safety issue of spilling all that DE right there). I've done this in order to complete a filter cleaning, but I'd like to avoid this in the future if it's possible. How do most people deal with this?

• Do I need to install some sort of separate filter drain plug waste line to take the waste water out of the filter?
• Can I just buy some sort of flexible hose to stick in the drain plug right after I unplug it?
• Should I just deal with it and stop complaining?

Thanks!

 

[jblizzle]

I know there was a thread in the past where someone found a fitting that could be screwed into the drain plug. They then installed a bit of pipe with a ball valve and a bib where where they could hook up a hose to run the water where they wanted it.

IMO, breaking everything down does a WAY better job of cleaning the grids. Hosing them down in place would not do as good of a job. And just backwashing is the worst at cleaning it out.

- - - Updated - - -

Ideally, the filter should only need to be cleaned at all 1 or 2 times a year ... and I would rather just do a full breakdown.

 

[zea3]

I installed a ball valve on my old DE filter's drain line. I used an adapter that was threaded on one end and slip on the other. I screwed the threaded end into the filter, and used pvc glue to attach the ball valve. On the other end of the ball valve I used a slip adaptor and glued it in. I attached a backwash hose to the end of that with a screw clamp.

I would go to the hardware store and play around with the fittings until I found the correct pieces that fit together to install them. You may find all threaded pieces, but you need to make sure you can get enough ground clearance to screw the ball valve in if you do.

Here is a similar solution: Adding a to plumbing SOLVED

 

[gnomegustaelagua]

I installed a ball valve on my old DE filter's drain line. I used an adapter that was threaded on one end and slip on the other. I screwed the threaded end into the filter, and used pvc glue to attach the ball valve. On the other end of the ball valve I used a slip adaptor and glued it in. I attached a backwash hose to the end of that with a screw clamp.

Ahhh, this could work. Did you leave this whole setup on, full time, in place of the filter drain cap?

 

[zea3]

Yes, I left it in full time. Worked great!