Particles coming out of the return valve

[kramer840]

Howdy. I've had this problem since I started using the pump this season. Whenever I would let the pump run on it's own or use the vacuum, whatever I sucked up would get spit back out of the return jets. This happened even when I manually washed off the filter grids and put in new DE. To help combat this, I got ingenious and folded up paper towels, put them in the outside filter (a filter for the filter), and brushed the crap from the bottom towards it. My pool is pretty clear now, but I still need to figure out what the problem is.

I read the post by Waste about how to clean the filter grids (and mine are definitely grids), and I know mine hold water in the bottom. Is that the most likely reason for my problem? Is it easy to take apart/put back together? I have a Hayward filter, and the grids kind of overlap, like a swirl. I don't want to take it apart and not be able to put it back together. And I'd rather not have to spend ~$200 on new grids unless I absolutely have to.

And for the detergent, does it have to be any specific kind? And does it have to be a powder or liquid? And is the muriatic acid something I can get from Leslie's? Thanks in advance for the help.

[PoolDoc]

Dirt on your filter does NOT cause vacuumed dirt to return to the pool via the pool returns.

There is ONLY one reason for this to happen: dirty water is bypassing the filter. There ARE several ways that can happen:
1. There are holes in your DE membranes (but then, DE will ALSO shoot into the pool after backwashing), OR
2. Something internal to your filter system OR your filter valve is allowing dirty water to bypass the filter, OR
3. You've got piping or a valve that allows dirty water to bypass the filter.

Cleaning your filter won't fix any of those -- though it's possible that if you disassemble the filter, clean it, and then re-assemble it, you may inadvertently correct the problem.

[Watermom]

Or maybe the pump is too powerful for the filter??

(Or is that only an issue with sand filters?)

[PoolDoc]

It's a sand filter thing. A excessive pump blows dirt THROUGH a sand filter, but blows OUT cartridges and DE membranes. In either case, not only vacuum debris would come through, DE would come through as well.

[waste]

Welcome to the Forum!

I fear you'll have to take the unit apart and find out why debris is bypassing.

I'm a little pressed for time tonight but will be back tomorrow to further explain.

[kramer840]

Hey Waste, any ideas yet?