Kath,

Sorry I can't give you my shoulder to cry on. I guarantee it's an excellent shoulder.

1. The answer is take a few days off, and enjoy yourself without any thoughts of the pool.

2. When you come back, make sure the multiway valve is set to filter. Start the pump and check the pressure on the filter. Connect the vacuum and remove the DE to put it back on the filter grids. If you are still getting DE back in the pool, the gasket on the multiway valve may be damaged. Remember never to change the valve position when the pump is running. It says so on the valve top.

3. If all goes well, backwash when you see the pressure is about 8 psi above where you started.

4. Forget about the pool service. Odds on they may create more problems than when you started.

When you have done all this, have a stiff drink on me.

Now to get rid of the green color.

Start adding bleach until you get about 15 ppm chlorine and maintain that until it starts to clear. You may get some cloudiness. That's OK. Just keep backwashing when the pressure goes up.

I am certain you will get extra support. We will NOT let you down.

Have fun and keep us posted.

Pat