Adding too much DE to your pool may cause multiple negative results. These ramifications include a clogged skimmer, turning the pool cloudy, reducing the circulatory pressure in the pool and putting too much work on your pump that may result in eventually breaking the pump.
This leaves your pool a cloudy, muddy-looking mess. Luckily however, the powder usually sinks to the bottom of the pool. The only way to remove the earth from your pool is to vacuum the pool with the filter release valve open. This will allow the earth to flush from the filter.
If you are starting with a brand new DE filter installation or doing a full cleaning meaning you are removing all of the DE fromyour filter grids then you will add 1 lb of D.E. powder for every 10 square feet (Sq. Ft.) of filter area. We suggest doing a full DE filter cleaning 1-2 times per year.
When you get down to it, DE filters will filter much finer particles than other filters, that's why it's clogging - again, it's doing what it's designed to do.
Diatomaceous earth (DE) filters use a powder that attaches itself onto a filter grid inside the filter. If the filter is damaged, the DE powder can pass through the filter and back out the return jet. In turn, your pool turns cloudy and looks muddy – not exactly inviting for a quick dip!
Chemically, it is safe to swim. You will need circulation in the pool to introduce chlorine...... keeping it sanitary and algae free. Do not turn your pump off for more than 24 hours or so.
Do not operate your filter pump without having the D.E. powder coating the grids, or you will see the filter pressure rise very quickly, and if left in this manner the grids can collapse or the fabric can become clogged or damaged. As the pressure gauge on a D.E. filter increases, flow rate decreases.
The most common reasons why a cartridge, sand, or DE filter's pressure rises quickly, even after cleaning or backwashing, is a clogged or blocked filter, algae or old filter elements. If any of these things are wrong, the pressure can rise rapidly in minutes, hours or days.
The most common reason for high pressure on your filter pump is a dirty filter. Whether you have a sand filter, DE filter or cartridge filter, dust and solid particles will slowly clog your filter causing the pressure to rise. To fix this, backwash your filter or in the case of cartridge filters, hose it out.
Fill a large bucket with water and add 1 part muriatic acid to 20 parts water. Carefully lower the pool filter into the acid solution and allow it to soak until it stops bubbling.
After backwashing, new DE must be added to the filter. Add the entire amount of DE the filter recommends. If you see DE returning to the pool, vacuum it to waste, after it settles. The next time you backwash and recoat, decrease the amount by 1 pound.
You should clean your DE filter at least once every month or whenever you're pounds per square inch is 8 to 10 pounds above the normal starting pressure. Cleaning your DE Filter involves three basic steps: Backwashing, Cleaning the manifold and grid and adding new DE.
DE Filter Grids Clogged with Oil
Much is brought in on the wind, or dragged in by swimmers. Pool lubricants and some gel type pool clarifiers can add oils to your pool, which eventually is trapped in the filter grids.
Generally, if your pool filter water pressure rises more than 10 PSI over the normal range, it's time to clean – or possibly even replace -- your filter. For most filters, 20 or 30 PSI is considered too high, but you should consult your pool professional to make sure that's true for your model.
You should backwash your DE pool filter about once a month during pool season. In addition to the regular schedule, you'll want to perform additional backwashing if: You've been running your pool filter for 48 hours straight. This can cause a pressure build-up, even if the filter grids look clean.
Backwashing a sand or DE filter is a simple task. Shut off the pump, set the multiport valve or slide valve handle to the backwash position, roll out the backwash hose and turn the pump on again. Backwash for 3-4 minutes or until the water runs clear, then shut the pump off and return the valve to the filter position.
Generally speaking, a pressure reading between 10 – 25 psi can be considered normal. Once you have installed a new filter, turn everything on and take a baseline reading. Each time that you change your pool filter take a new baseline reading.
Also, seems like you are waiting way too long to clean the filter. We generally recommend cleaning when the pressure goes up 20-25%. So that would would be around 19psi not 30.
Although DE powder is used for filter grids, it can be added to sand filters. When the powder is added to the sand, the sharp edges of the DE powder enhance the filtering process of the sand by capturing tiny dirt particles during the filtering process.
Let the pump run for at least 20-30 minutes to let the D.E. spread evenly over the filter grids.
Whenever the filter fills up with the dirt/debris it reduces the flow of water to your pool. Low flow = poor circulation which will lead to algae in the pool. Bottom line, the filter must be backwashed on a regular basis to ensure that your pool water is clear.
With proper preventative maintenance, the non wear out parts of a filter should last between 5-10 years as well- these include the band clamps, the internal grids, and plumbing including valves.
Normally, for a DE filter, rinsing the grids/fingers off with water is sufficient. If there is stuff that won't come off with just water you can soak them in detergent. Ideally, for that, you want to use TSP (trisodium phosphate), but that is often difficult to find.
Those with a DE filter should be opening up their filter and cleaning the grids every three months or more often. DE filter grids can last for four or five years with proper care. During cleaning, the grids need to be looked over for damage.