It has been a few days since your last post. I hope all is going better for you.

Just a few words about the bump-type DE filters. I'm not an expert by any means, but I have spent a fair amount of time researching them. I have a smaller pool - only a 9000 gallon, and I use a Hayward EC40 bump filter.

You do not have to replace the DE when your filter pressure builds up. The concept with DE is that it coats the filter fingers/grids/whatever with the DE and that filters out small impurities. With commercial DE filters (like in a massive public pool) when you turn the filter off the DE on the grids/fingers just falls off. Then the DE needs to be washed out and replaced. In these smaller hayward filters (especially the bump type) the filter is constructed in such a way that after you have bumped to knock the DE off, and restart the filter, the DE that is on the bottom of the filter recoats the grids/fingers. It basically just rearranges the DE on the grids. You should notice your pressure go way down after one of these "bumps", and then build up again. Once it rises 7-10 psi, it's time to turn off the pump and "bump" again. You can do this repeatedly. Each time you bump, the pressure on a restart will be slightly higher than the last time. Per the manuals, once you bump and the pressure starts out higher (7-10 psi) than when you FIRST put the original DE in, then it is time to flush (and I mean flush thoroughly) and replace the DE.

I know it is a pain, but it is a good thing that your pressure is rising - at least it is telling you that your filter is taking the stuff out of the pool.

Hope that helps

Mike