Replacing DE filter grids

I am pretty sure one of my DE filter grids has a hole/tear, since I have been getting debris and some DE blowing back into the pool, especially while vacuuming. I found a great suggestion on here about using queen size knee highs in the skimmer basket to catch debris before it goes through the filter. That has worked amazingly, but I know I need to address the problem of the filter.
My question is....when there is a hole in a filter grid, is it going to be obvious when I see it, or could it be a tiny thing that I won't see easily? I have never actually disassembled the grids when I cleaned them, because I've read that getting them back together can be a nightmare. If I am going to have to take it apart to find the tear, would it be best to just replace the grid with the tear, or is it best to replace all of them at the same time.
The filter is a Hayward 3600, and it was here with the house when we bought it, so it is about 11 years old. Will I even be able to find replacement parts for a filter that old, or will we need to look at replacing the whole thing?
Thanks!

Here's a link with a diagram:
http://www.poolcenter.com/parts_filt...icro_clear.htm

I'm going to try to let someone with actual experience with that filter answer your other questions.

Ben

Welcome to the Forum!

If my experience working on a couple few hundred of these filters will help, I'm here for you:D

About the time your filter was made Hayward changed from Pro-Grid to Micro-Clear as the model, it did not effect the filter's internal nest so you can still get new grids.

I'd take the nest apart and inspect every square inch of each grid for signs of wear or rips - replace any that show signs of weakening.

However, before you use 2 1/2" wrenches (one on the top nut and one on the bottom nut) to get the grids out, mark the location of the small grid on the top manifold (i.e. which hole it slides into) also note how the grids fit into the bottom. This will help you get the beast back together with 'less' headaches. If you can take a couple digital pics while you're disassembling it, that would ease putting it back together correctly. It would be helpful, for you, if you made a magic marker line on the bottom plate ("Element Locator") that follows one of the grids [once you get one in correctly, the rest fall into place - but remember to have the short grid in the proper place- the other 7 are interchangeable).

If any of the plastic pieces on the top of the grids are broken or missing, replace that grid also.

The easiest way to make sure the grids are oriented correctly is too install them in the manifold (top) first and then match up the element locator on the bottom - but this causes it's own issues:(.

Also be sure to check the manifold for cracks/ breaks and the air bleeder tube.

This is woefully incomplete but I'm around most nights, after work, to help.:)

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Originally Posted by waste

.......but I'm around most nights, after work, to help.:)

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And, though we don't say it often enough, we appreciate your help, Ted!

Thanks!
So is there a usual life-span for the filter grids? If I am going to have to take it apart to replace one with a tear, would it be best to just replace them all at the same time?

Ted's the expert on these filters, not me, but I think if the grid shows no sign of wear, there's no reason to replace it. He did say inspect it for tears AND signs of wear.

Carl

To paraphrase what Carl said - if it ain't broke, don't fix it. :) However, I've heard of folks getting a full set of new grids for less than buying 5 grids 'a-la-carte' - if you can find such a deal, you'd have back up grids for the future.

The expected lifetime on them depends on how well they are treated but the worst thing for them is being 'over driven' (running the filter with too much pressure) which is usually the result of not backwashing in a timely manner or of overloading the DE. Have you seen this thread?

(thanks Mom :o :D)

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Originally Posted by waste

(thanks Mom :o :D)

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You're welcome!

Thanks, Ted.

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Originally Posted by PoolDoc

Thanks, Ted.

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Oh, no Ben, it's I who should be thanking you!

Before I stumbled onto this site, I was one of those 'pool dudes' who just trusted what the chem companies told us :( I found this site and Pool Solutions and learned how to properly take care of a pool - you've helped a large number of folks by sharing your knowledge that won't ever know it's because of you and this forum (I tried to tell customers about this site but the boss made me stop :confused: :D)

It hasn't been said lately but, I'm (we are) sooo VERY happy you are back!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

We are ALL very happy he is back!

Just wanted to stop back in and thank you for the advice. I had been dreading taking the filter apart to replace the grids, because I had heard (and read) so many people say it was a nightmare, and I was afraid that once I had it apart, I'd never get it back together again.
Today I went ahead and did it........ and it wasn't that bad! I flipped it upside down, and took the bottom off, then I took the short grid out and replaced it. Then I just went around and put the new ones in as I took the old ones out. Getting the bottom to line up properly along the grids took a little fiddling, but once I got the hang of how to space them out along the notches in the bottom, it went fine. All in all, it took about an hour to get the whole thing back together.
I did end up replacing all 8 of the grids. There were actually no tears in the grids, but parts of the plastic 'spines' inside the grids had broken. Some of the grids were broken or cracked at the part that fits into the top manifold.....they were just hanging on by a thread. A few weren't even attached to the grid anymore....they were stuck in the top manifold and I had to use forceps to get the plastic out of the manifold.
I was only willing to try doing it myself, knowing there was someone here I could come ask for help if I got stuck. I'm assuming I did everything right, because when I put everything back together and put the DE in, nothing came out of the blowers except clear water. An added bonus is that my Kreepy Krawly is now blasting around the pool faster than I've ever seen it go before! (and still nothing but water coming out of the blowers!)
Thanks again!! :-)

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Originally Posted by Tristie88

Just wanted to stop back in and thank you for the advice. I was only willing to try doing it myself, knowing there was someone here I could come ask for help if I got stuck.:-)

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That is exactly what we are here for! Thanks so much for your kind words. We are very glad to have you join us here on the Pool Forum! Thanks for writing.

Thanks for the update! Glad we were able to help give you the confidence to do this yourself and save some $

I hope the rest of your pool season goes without a hitch, but if something comes up - you know where to find help:)