Things You'll Need:
- DE powder
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Step 1
First of all D.E. filters have to be shut off for 4 hours every night or the filter will clog to the point where it won't filter anymore, regardless of how much you run it. If you've done this you'll need to manually disassemble the filter and clean it...and then acid wash the elements. Soak the elements in a plastic garbage pail with a 50/50 mix of muriatic acid and water. Leave them in until the elements stop bubbling. This cleans out the pores of the filter grids. Recharge the filter with the correct amount of DE powder. Don't guess!
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Step 2
Inspect the grids for rips and tears. When you recharge a DE filter watch the return lines into the pool to see if white cloudy water is coming out. If so the filter has damage to the elements or a valve seal is broken and bypassing. If you find a tear you can seal it with a silicone caulking. Let it dry a day first.
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Step 3
If the grids are clean and rip free...then an "O" ring in the backwash valve or the rubber body gasket in the multiport valve is bad. A simple replacement will do the trick. Run your filter at least 4-6 hours a day. The rule is run it long enough to get the water clear. Once it's clear make sure the chemicals are balanced...after that, why run it if people aren't in it?
