DE Filter Cleaning Intervals

[Phillbo]

I typically open up my DE filter and clean the grids in the spring (once a year) but since replacing the filter due to a leak in the old one it appears the new one needs to be torn down twice a year. Is there something different about newer grids ?

I clean the grids when I notice a reduction in time between needed backwash. I backwash when my pressure increases 8psi. So the tear down happens when that 8psi increase starts happening sooner.

Was I simply ignorant in the past and should have been cleaning my old grids more often?

[Watermom]

Bumping this up to see if someone can help.

[willdozen]

There are many factors that go into how often the filter needs to be cleaned. Most manufacturers recommend twice a short pool season
Backwashing will need to be done more often when the "load" is higher. Everthing from weather, rain, pool use, and type and freshness of the sanitizer enters into play. The other factor, if you are using a chlorine based sanitizer, is how high (or low) is your chorine stabilizer?
But...if you've had lots of algae growing weather (August is the biggest) and heavier than normal pool use, and as long as your filter pressures returns back to baseline after you break it down and wash the elements, I wouldn't worry unless it continues through the fall.

[Pool Clown]

I tell customers to tear down twice a year weather it needs it or not. If nothing else, it gives you, the customer, the knowledge and experience of how to tear a filter down. It also gives you "eyes" to see if anything in the tank is wearing, aging, cracking, breaking, etc.

Theres no knowledge, or training, like experience.