Luci, welcome to the forum!

Don't fear the filter, unless the installer didn't put unions (a/k/a quick disconnects) on the effluent port. Breaking it apart and cleaning it with a garden hose is a very! good idea once a year, and pretty easy! I've got a few posts on them here - sorry - I just don't have time tonight to do the 'cross- linking' - 12 hr day, shower, laundry, time with wife and dog, missing Mother's day flowers I sent to my mom... You could try an advanced search using "DE Filter" in the subject and "waste" in the username areas and probably find them - if you can't get them, I'll try to get back to this thread this week (looks like Wed might be a rain day, so I'll have time then). It's a very busy time of the year for pool dudes, so if I forget to respond by this time Wed, please just make a quick post here so that I remember to do it .
Again welcome to the forum (.. or should that be, welcome back!)