Is pollen clogging my filter?

[denanbob]

We have a DE filter that ran wonderfully last year. Something is wrong this year. At startup, we put 4lbs. of DE to coat the filter and everything started out great. Pool cleared up with lots of bleach. We noticed water wasn't pouring into the skimmer with much force and the water in the pool wasn't circulating well so we took the filter apart and cleaned it. The grids were completely empty of DE but coated with green gunk. We squirted the grids off, put 4 more lbs. of DE in the skimmer and started fresh. Pressure start out at 12 and jumps to 16-17 rather quickly (after only a couple hours) and again the water isn't flowing into the skimmer hardly at all. The return jet is just a wimpy flow. Anyone have any ideas as to what is wrong? Our pool is LOADED with pollen and the filter just isn't touching it. Last year, our filter was like Superman. My pool was crystal clear all year. Hellllllllllppppp........our kids haven't been able to swim yet!!!

[ScottS]

I can't speak for the DE filter as I don't have any experience with them.

However I'd suggest using some skimmer socks to catch the pollen before it entered the filter. These things work great.

[JohnT]

I'd check your grids again. If the DE isn't staying, it has to be going somewhere. Uncoated grids will clog quickly.

If the grids are coated, then it would be normal for a DE filter to clog quickly in the presence of a high debris load. The good filtering characteristics that you like are a problem with very dirty water. It's not unheard of to have to backwash a DE filter every half hour.

Can you see DE in the backwash water when you backwash?

Not knowing your filter model I can't be sure, but 4lbs is on the light side for a DE charge.

[denanbob]

Not knowing your filter model I can't be sure, but 4lbs is on the light side for a DE charge.

My filter is a PacFab Star DE-ST50 model. Is doesn't backwash. It just "bumps and swishes". Last year we had no problems with it. I'm wondering if the problem is with the filter or the pump now? What would cause the water in the skimmer to not be pushing through very fast. Last year, the skimmer door was flattened by the water rushing in. This year, the door stands up and free-floats which means there is no suction. GRRRRR!

[denanbob]

So again we took the filter apart and squirted it off. Seems most of the DE was at the bottom and not on the grids. Again the grids were covered in green gunk. Not sure what is happening. We put it all back together, put 4 more lbs. of DE in and this time used a skimmer sock while vacuuming the pool. We had to empty/clean it 3x's before we were even done with the pool. It was loaded with brown/greenish dirt and seeds from the tree. The skimmer sock really seems to be doing the trick because the suction is great and the return is really moving the water well finally. I'm still a little concerned about the DE not sticking to the grids so maybe we need to soak the grids in muriatic acid like I've seen other people post. What again is the purpose of that?