How To Clean A De Pool Filter

Rob is a pool-service manufacture professional person with over 20 years of experience.

Cleaning DE filters isn't hard when you know what you are doing!

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Cleaning DE Filter Grids

Diatomaceous globe (or DE) filters require full maintenance about once per year, or if your filter pressure level becomes increasingly higher even after backwashing. This may crave the filter to be pulled autonomously and cleaned. The DE powder can become caked onto the grids over a period of time, after which backwashing alone will not remove the residue. Information technology volition need to be dismantled and cleaned. This is a relatively like shooting fish in a barrel process and can salve you quite a bit of money by avoiding a puddle company'southward charge. My fee is usually $75 per DE filter dismantle and clean, but I have seen companies accuse upwards of $150 for this!

How to Take the DE Filter Apart

Earlier y'all brainstorm to dis-gather the filter, make sure you backwash information technology thoroughly to rinse away any loose D.E.
Next, turn off the billow or timer switch.
Virtually brands and models will have a center ring known as a large band clamp around the centre. This will need to be removed. Information technology is best to use a box-cease wrench to remove the clench. The bolt size on the clamps varies—some are a nine/16, others are larger.
The entire grid associates should be removed as shown.

This is how you will clean the filter. — This is how yous will make clean the filter.

How to Clean DE Filter Grids

The filter grid assembly is pictured here. The caked-on DE will demand to be rinsed off with a hose—if using a standard hose nozzle, make certain it is on the jet setting. You demand a strong stream to remove the remainder. Rinse all over the grids including in between the inside grids. Inspect the grids and top manifold thoroughly.
Grids may exist worn or torn and require replacement. If they are torn, you will not effectively be able to filter the pool water. Likewise, if the superlative manifold is cracked, it will crave replacement.
If all is well with the grids and manifold, finalize the rinse with a 50% h2o/muriatic acid solution. Pour liberally over the entire grid assembly. Permit soak for 5 minutes and rinse. (Scout for fumes, as they can be overwhelming!)
Rinse over again and replace the grid associates exactly as you removed it. Inspect and lubricate all O-rings.

Test Out the DE Filter

Afterward the filter is re-assembled and the main band clamp is tightened, turn the pump on and cheque for whatsoever leaking around the main band clamp. If there is leakage, you will demand to remove the clench and re-inspect the O-band making sure the top one-half of the filter is seated properly onto the bottom half with no twists in the O-ring.

If all is well, add your DE through the skimmer and ensure that no DE powder is returning into the pool. If any DE returns to the pool, this is a serious indication that a grid is torn or the manifold is cracked.

This article is accurate and true to the best of the author's knowledge. Content is for informational or entertainment purposes but and does not substitute for personal counsel or professional advice in business, financial, legal, or technical matters.

Questions & Answers

Question: Cleaned the DE filter as recommended. However, a calendar week later and the pool withal remains cloudy. The filter is x years former. Is it time for a new ane?

Answer: The filter grids might not be property DE powder. This could be from torn grids, or a broken manifold. To test this, backwash the filter. Then add together some DE powder through the skimmer. If you tin can see the DE powder blowing back into the pool then the filter needs repaired or replaced. If the filter has no issues and is holding DE this means the cloudy pool h2o has a chemical science issue, or the pump is not running long enough.

Rob Hampton (author) from Port Richey, Florida on April 19, 2019:

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