New pool owner and need help identifying piping

[PoolDoc]

That's a DE filter -- dirty, but otherwise looking OK, and not overloaded with DE powder.

It's a PacFac / Pentair Pool FNS DE filter. Here's the Pentair brochure
http://www.pentairpool.com/pdfs/fnsplusDS.pdf
and instruction manual
http://www.pentairpool.com/pdfs/FNSPlusOM.pdf
which you will want to read. You'll also need to find out which model you have -- that will put a limit on what the maximum flow and pump size should be.

Be careful with the grids -- they are dacron sail cloth over a fragile plastic grid -- and the grids get more fragile over time. The grid assemblies are usually not cheap, though I haven't looked up costs on that unit.

And, when you re-assemble the filter, be CAREFUL to clean both the tank O-ring *and* the groove under the O-ring. Dirt there will often cause a slow leak, and can damage the ring (also usually not cheap). Also, be careful not to stretch the O-ring . . . or it will be too big to get back into the groove. (No fun to be had there!)

[Palombaro]

Thanks for the the pdfs Ben. They are going to help a lot! I'm glad to hear that it's salvagable. I'll definitely take my time so I don't damage the grids, I still have over a month before the water temp will come down so there's no rush.