More DE?

[Spensar]

You have likely read it, but if you have a visible algae, after you kill it there will be dead algae left over that is very fine and is hard for a filter to catch. I will let it settle and vacum directly to waste/drain.

[Shifty]

Thanks for the suggestion of vacuuming to waste. I do plan on it but I was trying to avoid it due to the water loss. I will need to be quick about it.

I opened the multiport valve yesterday and the spider gasket looks to be fully operational. It wasn't bent or out of the track. It looked rather new.

I guess the next step is to open the filter and take a look at the grids. I don't want to put more DE in the skimmer only to have to blow out the returns. Thoughts?

[Shifty]

I opened the filter and the grids looked fine with no noticeable tears or rips. Vacuumed debris is still coming out the returns. I guess the next step is to call for service. Any idea how much a service call on a filter will be?

[aylad]

That's going to vary by area. Down here it's an hourly rate of $75/hour, plus the trip charge of $90 (but I live out in the country). Up there it's likely to be more.

You'll just have to call around to the folks that service your area and see what the going rate is....

Janet

[Shifty]

I think I may take a shot at hosing off the grids after work. I found some pictures online that resembled my grids. My grids were kind of dark with the caked on DE and possibly dead algae. The pictures in the link below resemble the color of my grids.

If after I hose down the grids and vacuumed debris still comes out the returns, what could be the problem? I was thinking maybe there were a few holes in the grids but nothing was obvious when I looked yesterday.

When putting the top back on the fiilter, is there some kind of lubricant or sealant I should be using before putting the O ring back on? I noticed a small drip coming from the T pin on the O ring after I turned my filter and pump on last night.

This is very frustrating. My water is crystal clear but I am vacumming daily. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

[PoolDoc]

I'd replace the multiport. . . .

[Shifty]

Pool Doc,

Yesterday evening, I hosed off the caked on DE from the grids. Then, re-coated the grids with 9.6 scoops from the DE scooper (each scoop covers 5 sq ft and I have a 48 sq ft filter) I have. The pool was filthy as the debris I vacuumed the previous day had come out the returns. After the DE coated the grids, I vacuumed the debris and next to nothing came out the returns until later in the evening. What did come out was minimal compared to the last few days.

Logic seems to dictate I did not have enough DE coated on the grids. I think I will need to replace the grids at some point. Most of the 8 grids were not as rigid as they should be. Some were flexible at the top and I found a hole in the bottom of another. I am hoping if I replace the damaged grids, the problem will be fixed. I found the full set of replacement grids from H2O pool products for $91.99. This seems to be a good price. What do you think? Have you ever order from H2O pool products?

Would you mind elaborating why in post #24 you said you would replace the multiport? I am very enthusiastic to learn as much as I can to aid in diagnosing any potential problems that may arise.

Thanks for your help.