How To Clean De Filter

DE pool filter cutaway D.Due east. pool filters are superior filters, as compared to sand and cartridge filters, which cannot come close to D.E.'s ability to remove particles as minor as two microns.

Withal, D.Eastward. filters are known to crave more than maintenance, and not but considering you lot have to add more D.E. pulverisation after backwashing, just mainly because at that place are simply more parts inside the filter tank.

1 of the best things y'all can practice to maintain proper DE filtration is to open upward the filter tank and clean the filter grids. This is washed during pool winterization, or every 6 months of apply, for sunbelt pools open all twelvemonth.

TYPES OF DE FILTERS

Hayward Perflex Nest Assembly, containing 120 Flex Tube 'Fingers' Today in that location are ii types of DE filters in use, Vertical Grid filters, and Hayward'due south Perflex filters which use a cylindrical 'Flex Tube', shown right. Both vertical grids and Flex Tubes, aka 'Fingers', are covered in a mesh polyester fabric, with pores pocket-size enough to allow h2o to laissez passer through, just not the DE powder.

HOW DE FILTERS OPERATE

Pentair / Hayward Curved Vertical DE Grid Assembly The fabric covering the grids or tubes serves to concord the DE pulverization, which covers the material. Every bit the h2o passes through the powder, the clay is trapped in the powder's microscopic pores. The pulverisation is the filter, non the grids.

Over time, the DE powder will trap so much clay, oil and droppings that water will have a harder time passing through, which will enhance the filter tank pressure and reduce the period charge per unit. Somewhen it becomes necessary to flush out the dirty DE pulverisation in a backwash process.

WHY A 'DEEP CLEANING' IS NECESSARY

Anthony Filter Grids Backwashing does not flush out all of the powder, sometimes only half of it is actually removed. Adding a full dose of DE pulverisation afterwards can pb to bridging between the grids, resulting in less effective filtration.

Opening upward the tank to hose off all of the powder every six months, is important to maintain filter performance. And for pools that winterize and drain the filter tank, allowing the DE pulverization to dry onto the grids creates clogging problems the following year.

Minerals and Oils besides build up within the filter textile of a DE grid or Flex Tube, which backwashing does non remove effectively. Hosing make clean will remove some (even if using the Mega Blaster DE Cleaning Tool), only for best results a chemical soaking is used to remove mineral calibration and oily deposits.

CLEANING VERTICAL DE GRIDS

1. Open air bleeder and remove filter drain plug to bleed water from the tank.
ii. With the proper wrench or socket, loosen the bolt and remove the clench.
three. Loosen the chapeau and pull information technology directly off. A flat tool may be needed to pry it off.
iv. Spray grids with a hose, to remove about of the heavy DE powder.
5. Lift upward on sides of top manifold, with a slight twisting move, to free the grids from the standpipe. Two people may be needed, to lift the grid assembly out.
6. Place grids on a stable surface area, being careful non to let the assembly fall over, which tin can scissure the superlative manifold.
vii. Exercise not accept the grid assembly apart, simply spray h2o fully in-betwixt the grids, to completely make clean grids on both sides.
8. Supersede grids advisedly back into tank, applying a small amount of lube to the standpipe o-ring, found on Pentair and Hayward filters.

CLEANING PERFLEX FLEX TUBES

1. Shut off the pump, push bump handle down slowly and upward quickly, viii times.
ii. Open vent valve and remove filter drain plug to drain water from the tank.
3. After draining completely, turn filter pump on for 5 seconds to flush tank.
4. Shut vent valve and drain plug. Turn on pump to make full tank. Repeat steps ane-3.
5. If non winterizing, restart pump to fill filter with water, calculation new DE powder.

DE FILTER Chemic CLEANING SOLUTIONS

Hosing off the filter grids, or performing the Perflex cleaning process as described above is suitable in about cases, however a chemical cleaning may be necessary from time to fourth dimension to remove mineral scale and oily deposits.

Mineral Deposits: Primarily calcium scale from pools with loftier levels of calcium hardness, or from improper water residuum. Calibration will rapidly clog the pores of DE grids and Flex-Tubes, causing short-cycles to occur.

Acid Magic Scale tin be removed by soaking the Flex Tube Nest Assembly or the DE Filigree Assembly in a twenty% solution of Water and Muriatic Acid (5:i ratio). Soak Flex Tubes in a large bucket and DE Grids in a large (clean) trash can for several hours, and so hose off thoroughly.

Oil Deposits: A more common problem than calcium build-upwards, oil and grease can exist a existent problem for DE filter grids and Flex Tubes. Suntan lotion, pilus products, cosmetics and air current diddled oils, in addition to o-ring lubricants and light oils found on plastic and vinyl products can all clog your DE filter.

in-the-swim-de-filter-cleaner Oils can exist removed past soaking filter grids in TSP and hot h2o, using ane/ii lb. per five-gals of water. You tin also apply our DE Filter Cleaner or Natural Chemistry'south Filter Perfect chemical to spray or soak the DE Grids or DE 'Fingers'. For pools with continuous problems with oils, endeavor Jack's Magic Filter Fiber as a replacement for DE powder.

Stains: It's not uncommon to see DE grids or fingers plow a yellowish color, or even a rust color over time. In well-nigh cases this will not affect the filtration too much, but some stains tin also contain other particles, which can reduce the small pores of the DE filter cloth.

To remove stains on DE filter grids or Perflex Flex Tubes, I recommend using our Granular Filter Cleaner chemical, which is a combination of calibration and stain fighters, and tin restore the about-new color to DE grids and fingers, while increasing filter flow rates.

REPLACING DE FILTER GRIDS

If during your cleaning and servicing, you notice several holes or the threads beginning to unravel or the grid material deteriorating, it may be time to replace the filter grids, which is the subject of this related mail service, DE Filter Grid Replacement.

For Perflex filters, you lot tin purchase the Flex Tubes individually or in v-Packs in our parts department. You can also buy the complete Flex Tube associates, called the 'Filter Nest', or you may consider buying an entire new Perflex DE Filter.

INSPECTING DE FILTER GRIDS

To Inspect your DE filter grid assembly, expect for:

Tears or rips in the material, specially at the seams and the bottom heart.
Cleaved tabs on the top, where the filigree inserts into the manifold.
Cracks in the manifold (don't allow it fall over!)
Missing or damaged air bleeder screen or sock on the manifold.
Loose assembly; missing through fly basics on thru-bolts.
Missing or damaged standpipe o-ring; where the manifold fits on.
Mis-spaced or mis-aligned grids.

An annual inspection and cleaning should go on your DE filter running in tip-top shape. Only don't wait if your filter starts acting funny – you tin can practise this anytime!

That's all for at present! If yous have any other questions regarding cleaning or servicing your DE pool filter, leave a reply below – I reply these questions personally! 🙂

Davy Merino
In The Swim Web log Editor