Operating & Cleaning a DE filter

[packerfan]

hello i just opened my pool for the year and the water was really nasty green and smelled. i precoated my hayward wc65 DE filter and the pressure was at around 14lbs. after running it most of the day i've watched the pressure and everytime it went up 10 lbs i would bump it and then start over again. now toward the end of the day,my starting pressure right now is around 28lbs. is this normal and should i clean this filter pretty soon and replace the DE? one other thing i notice is after bumping the filter and then turning the pump back on, i get some dark looking substance that comes out the return lines and then blends in with the water,this only happens for a short time. i'm still learning this DE thing. thanks Randy

[waste]

At this point, you're probably better off breaking the unit apart and manually cleaning it - then, just add the full 6 lbs and not worry much about it for the rest of the season

[packerfan]

thanks for the reply, i believe thats what i need to do also. i'm learning about these de filters and that some people say in the startup season they sometimes pull their filters apart a couple of times and clean them before their good for the rest of the season. the advantages over a sand filter is what again?

[Watermom]

Advantages of a sand filter --- only having to backwash once or twice a month at most which involves turning the handle on the top of the filter into a couple of different positions and then back to filter. Takes about a total of 2 minutes. So, maybe 4 minutes per month. Nothing special to do at spring start up either. Hook up the pump and turn it on. Good to go. Just my personal opinion, but I would never have anything but a sand filter. Of course, a lot of people say the same thing about DE. Personal preference.

[packerfan]

i agree with you for the most part and after reading it i say to myself why did i switch to DE. After having several sand filters over the course of 16 yrs, i couldn't stop sand from appearing in my pool, no matter what i did. new filters,different sand,etc. so i got frustrated and changed. i didn't know this DE would require so much work when opening my pool though. oh well got it now so will use it.

[FRANCIS]

My Hayward EC-65 Perflex manual recommends soaking the nest in 20% strength muriatic acid blended with water 1:1. So why does Waste mention 10:1?

[PoolDoc]

Dunno.

Either will work. BUT, most DE filters do NOT need acid. Acid removes calcium scale, which is somewhat rare. TSP removes body oils, etc, which is universal

ALWAYS, do TSP first. Acid reportedly 'sets' grease, creating irremovable goo.