Cleaning DE Grids

[donfranko]

I’m in the middle of cleaning DE grids on a Hayward DE7220. Because of the grid size they are difficult to completely submerge. I degreased with TSP by placing the grids in a garbage can with a mix of 2 cups TSP to 10 gallons of water. This covered almost ½ the grid. I brushed with a soft brush, flipped them over and did the other side.

Is this long enough to degrease? I want to acid wash next but I’m concerned about what I read about the oils solidifying.

Also, what is the recommended acid/water ratio? I’ve seen 1:1 up to 1:25.

Thanks

[waste]

Don, the oils should come off relatively quickly, a couple of hours should be enough. I'd say that you are ready to acid wash them. Hayward says 1:1 on the acid, I do ~ 1:25 because we let them soak for 24 hours (logistical matter, we can only address them 1X a day) I think that a 1:10 mix (acid to water) would be sufficient for a 2- 5 hr soaking. It gets said every time we talk about muriatic, but I'll say it again - add the acid to the water not the water to the acid!

I hope you will enjoy your pool all summer and have no problems with it - but if you do, you know where to find the help you need

[donfranko]

Thanks. Well just by sheer luck I was using a 30 gallon garbage pail 1/2 full and had 1 1/2 gallons of acid, Wa-la a 1:10 ratio. At 2 hours a pop and 8 grids 1/2 submerged guess I'll be making trips to the yard for most of the night if I want to open tomorrow.

An yes, I did add the acid to the water! Muriatic is nasty stuff IMO.