Quote Originally Posted by HOF-City View Post
What exactly would I need to do to run a DE test? Just add some DE through the skimmer?
Yes! What you are looking for, is whether the DE goes THROUGH the filter or is caught. If it goes through the filter, your filter needs servicing. Please note you MUST use pool DE for this purpose. Other grades of DE may be so fine they will go through a working filter.

Also, how difficult is it for a rookie to change out the sand from my filter? I have no idea how long it's been since it was replaced.
It probably doesn't need to be replaced, but if a lot of sand is missing, it probably DOES need to be supplemented.

Adding sand is not hard, once you get the filter open. Getting the filter open may be easy, or hard, depending. Take pictures -- phone pictures are OK for this -- of your filter and the surrounding pipe, send them to poolforum@gmail.com, and I'll tell you how hard or easy it will be to get inside the filter.