D.E. Filter Tips, Tricks & Troubleshooting 

Another well-produced how-to video from the consummate pool tech/videographer. Love that new, anodized, all-aluminum Multi-Tork socket and that Button-Hook drain plug wrench!

I found an easy way to reinstall DE filter pads that needs to be shared. I don’t do videos so perhaps you can add this to one of yours. I was one of those who struggled with getting my Hayward filter pads realigned after taking them off the manifold. There was always one or two that would leak DE back into the pool on completion. I thought one or more may have torn but it turned out the filter pads weren’t seated properly to the manifold. I found it by running the pump in the backwash mode (cover off) and seeing water leaking from several of the connections. After disassembling I turned the manifold upside down, started with the short pad and worked clockwise outside to inside making sure all pads were well seated into the manifold and there correct spacers. The hardest part was getting the long bolt back into the manifold hole and it wasn’t that bad. All in all this was a much easier task than working from the normal position and no leaks or DE back into my pool. As a side note, I almost purchased a new filter set at $100 plus.

Thanks for the quick reply. Recent owner of a new house with pool. Have learned a lot from your videos! Thanks!

Thanks for all of the great pool videos!! I am a new pool owner and your videos are very helpful. Slowly but surely I am learning how my pool system works!

Thanks for putting this together. I've been maintaining my pool for that past 5 years. Your tips and examples were every concise and helpful.

Thanks very informative. I have just started working for a pool company and have 3 DE filters on my route.

Thank you very much for these videos. This is the second video I have found and has been helpful. The level of detail and advice is great. Thank you, thank you, thank you!

Thank you so much for these videos. They really do help the DIY'er to save money and be self sufficient.

yo i just bought a house and it had a de filter thing is 600$ brand new thought it was crap your vid helped me so much got my pool lookin hella different in a day thanks

Dude your videos are super cool easy to follow !!! I'm new pool owner

Well done instructions, thanks for the tips!

Applying your tips

Do you ever have difficultys trying to close a Jandy filter clamp back on? The filter clamp won’t close all the way and as a result, the bolt to the clamp doesn’t reach the other end of the clamp. I used my mallet and that didn’t work. So I had to use my channel locks to forcefully “close” the ends of the clamp together. This process took me 3.5 hours. What gives? Is this a sign of a bad filter clamp. So far, all my Jandy filters are having the same issues.

I gotta say this was an awesome video! Thanks so much!

Yup we had the anthony de filter and we switched to the non de cartridge filter by pentair

Sealed off the whole and that took care of the issue. Thanks for your help.

First off thanks for posting these videos! We bought a home with a pool and we have a Pentair FNS Plus 60 DE filter and knew zero about maintaining a pool:/ We are having an issue with our backwash and filter valve I think... When the valve is up and in backwash mode it works fine when pump is on and dirty water comes out of the waste pipe, but when we put the valve back down for filter mode it spins a couple times and we turn on the pump so it can filter like normal but water still shoots out of the waste pipe causing our water level to fall. Any suggestions on how to fix this? Or should I bite the bullet and call a service tech? Thanks so much again for helping newbies like us to maintain our pool, you're awesome! :)

This helps a lot with self maintenance. 👍

Thanks a bunch , this is a great video , appreciate the quality info

Great vids! I just started working for a pool company doing as a service tech, what would be the best all around mask to wear? Like opening the tab towers and or d.e

Thank you for sharing and advice. When I turn my pump on, my Pentair FNS filter shoots water from the metal belt/clamp area, can you advise why

At 2:10 you started the pump with no lid on. Is that a way to check for leaks on the top manifold??? Or grids?? O ask because i have some type of de leak majority of it is sitting in the bottom of the tank. So im guessing a de filter or top manifold is damaged.

What if the o-ring to the filter is brand new and I’m still struggling placing the top of the filter tank to “stay down” so it’s on top of the o-ring. It keeps “springing” up from the o ring. How can I get this resolved? I want the top part of my filter lid to remain down so I can place my band clamp on.

Hello. This is my first year with a inground de filter pool. Open it, cleaned it, cleaned de filter, and added de powder. Now the problem. Filter runs great except when in filter mode. Seems to work ok for awhile and then slows down. The water slows coming out of pool jets and going into skimmer. What do I have to do to get this right? Please help me. Thank you.

I keep on having to backwash after roughly 1-2 days. My return jets have low presssure even when my PSI is at around 12 which is when it is charged. I have a 48 sq ft filter and put in 6 scoops to fully charge it, 4-5 scoops after a backwash. I literally have tried everything and watched every video and can not find out why I have such low pressure at my return jets. Can you please help

Any idea why DE filter would all of the sudden lose pressure. I cleaned it out completely about two months ago and haven't done a backwash in a while. Went to look at the filter and pump today, the pump was not sucking in enough water (as though something clogged the line). I'm going to take the filter apart today and cleaning it out completely hoepfully this will solve the issue

Clean it every 6 months LOL. I have been a pool guy for over 25 years and I have not taken apart and cleaned the DE filter at my house in over 12 years and the grids have not needed replaced either!!! I only have to backwash it about every 4-5 months if you know how to take care of a pool, your filter grids will last that long. If it's maintaining its clean working pressure after backwash there's no need to do a DE breakdown. Only time you need to do a DE break down is if the grids did not get enough DE and they weren't protected, and the grids themselves got dirty instead of the DE, and then it lost its efficiency and can no longer get back to its clean working pressure after a backwash. That is when you would need to do a DE breakdown not before that though. I wouldn't do a DE breakdown until it went about 4- 6 PSI above its clean working pressure after backwashing. Quite literally you might never need to do a DE breakdown on it before the Grids need replaced if it doesn't go above that pressure threshold that I talked about. And if that was necessary then a commercial degreaser or an acid wash could help when cleaning the grids off if needed, if they are especially dirty or clogged with some substance, like suntan oil for example. Customers ask me all the time how often do you need to clean the filter every week every two weeks every month? I tell them every time, there is no set time for a pool filter to be cleaned. The guys with PhD's in engineering designed them to be cleaned after a certain amount of rise in pressure over the clean working pressure on the pressure gauge. I think they know better than me and you, they're the ones that designed and built it, and they say to go by pressure as when to clean it. As a general rule of thumb once the pressure has went 6 PSI above the clean working pressure. If the pressure hasn't risen that far above the clean working pressure after backwashing, then the filters are operating as a they should be filtering perfectly well, within operating parameters, and their efficiency has not been sufficiently reduced to affect its filtering ability they're doing their job just fine it doesn't matter how dirty they look or how long it's been if the pressure is fine they're operating as they should be and filtering as they should be. Also, there is a trick to make the grids last a long time they typically fail in a couple common areas. On the corners, and at the end of the tube on the bottom of the filter grid. If you put silicone on those areas into the mesh Off the Grid in those areas it will last long time and not fail for a very long time over typically DE grids. Another example of why you should not break it down that often is the more you take it apart the more wear-and-tear you do on it, and the more likely something is going to break as you take it apart each time. There is an old adage called if it's not broken don't fix it.

I have a Jacuzzi EW75. The metal rim band is very tight. I can't unloosen/femoce it from around the filter. I thought maybe not lubing the o-ring caused this, even after I removed air from it. I have a buddy coming over tomorrow to lend a hand. We'll use rubber malet, to try to loosen it up.

When vacuuming pool bottom the filter gets full, I back wash it several times and continue to vacuum then backwassh pool again and I repeat these steps, do I have to use DE powder on every back wash or just at the end when I complete all the vacuuming?

You are awesome for posting these great and helpful videos

Any thoughts on why a Am Standard DE Filter would disengage the top from the bottom? It's blown off twice. Thanks. Great video.

How do I get the Pentair internal Air bleed screen to stop coming off tube. It is a very bad design because the tube has a very miniscule lip to keep the screen on. Every time I backwash, the screen comes off letting almost all the DE medium back into the pool.

Where Can I Pick Up The Tool That You Used For The Bottom Pool Plug On The DE Filter Tank????

Very informative. Well done.

Great information love your videos.

@Swimming Pool Tips, Reviews & How To - SPL I have a minor leak from Nautilus NS49 stainless steel tank's bottom. Suspect it's the bulkhead O-ring or the locknut or and spacer where the drain pipe connects with the tank. Do I need to lift the bottom half entirely to change the bulkhead o-ring? Is it locked by the locknut from inside the tank? I cannot find any relevant information online for this particular matter. Thanks a lot in advance.

What is the difference between back washing with a hose and back washing into the sewer? My system is permanently plumbed into the sewer and I haven't seen any like that online.

This video is very informative. Thanks!

I watch/like your videos. Thank you for posting. I have a question. What if, one time, you open filter and then close it with out cleaning rim where o-ring lies and don't lube the ring?

if no DE is added, could that cause the pressure to be high? i soaked my Haywatd finger in the half water/acid solution overnight and rinsed thefilter off but pressure starts at 15 and not too long after goes to about 24 PSI. Is 24 PSI too high?

Hi we have a Jandi 48 filter. The pool was fine a day ago today the pool was cloudy we backwashed it and added de. However the pressure built up again after 30 minutes. The chemicals in the pool are fine. Dont understand why pool is cloudy. Grids are fairly new. Is there anything else we should check? We cleaned grids and filter pool again still after minutes pressure built up again. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Great video, I have sand filter and I don`t know what is the better filter; sand or D.E.. Thanks

I hear dripping sound from within the bottom half, and wet floor. Checked the common places, metal clamps, valves, drain plug, air pressure relief valve, not leak there. Where could it be? And how do i check the bottom half?

Confused 😕 In one part your video says 5 scoops of DE for a 48sq ft BUT THEN shortly after you show 10 scoops??? Then you explain how too much or too little will cause problems. This just leaves me very confused. I have a Jandy DEV48 If possible could you clarify a suggested amount of DE

Nice video. What would be the best no hassle media today in case of algea problems ? Glass ?

I have a PentAir 2000 try to dismantle it this time I’ve been using your instructions for a while it’s always worked, but this time around it’s extra clogged and I can’t seem to budge the filters out they are stuck. The filter was turned off for a week while the pool tiles are being redone is there a trick to loosen them up so they will come out. Thanks!

Hey david i got me a posi flo with the stainless still tank i Got the 100 sq ft they had a 135 sq ft is thier much of a difference between the two

The manifold has a crack in it, I noticed it when they were cleaning grids. I added de to it while the manifold came in, some de leaked into pool, when I replace the manifold how much de do I add to replace what leaked out?

Is it worth replacing just the fabric surrounding the plastic and sewing a new sleeve. If so where can I get fabric ????

Great tutorial. My question is ,why do i constantly be doing a back wash on my d.e filter to get good pressure. I cleean the grids add the appropriate amounts of d.e powder and still have to do a back hours later. Im lost need help .

Is there anything that would cause water to come out under the tank? Bottom of tank cracked? (Haward DE-3600)

Always a great video. Ty. Question, I had DE in my pool cleaner , Polaris 360, filter/ housing. Never saw that before. What could have caused this? ty.

you can actually back fill pool with lid off without damaging anything. I often wondered if inside it was doing anything. I see water going out to street,but at end of process overall pressure not signifigantly impacted/lowered

Bro i have a pentair purex 4000 series D.E FILTER & it leaves the D.E powder at the very bottom of the tank; WHAT COULD B THE PROBLEM? am I putting the D.E too fast?

It's 36 square foot filter. Tried a few different amounts so far. What do you recommend?

Hello, y DE Filter is leaking from the black pipe sitting on top of the filter....please advise.

Is there a video or link on how to backwash a pool with a Venturi skimmer? The front of the skimmer blows DE all over the pool. Thank you!

I am confused… Ymaybe I’m missing something…you say one full scoop of that Aladdin DE scoop is 1 pound of DE product but then your graphic showing for a 48 inch grid screen requires 10 full scoops (and also says one full scoop = .5 lbs) so with my newly cleaned grids I know it needs 5 pounds of DE yet the Aladdin DE cup holds one pound of DE?? Wouldn’t 10 scoops equals 10 pounds if earlier you said the cup holds 1 pound of product?

Great video. Have a question. I have a Hayward filter. When I start it up the pressure is great, however after 15 min the pressure goes down ( not on the gauge but through the return ) Any tips to correct this?

why after i clean the filter and connect everything back and i turn it on and the manifold pops the inner line . the pressure is at 10 but the pool sweep is working and the suction is strong but the pressure gauge goes down to 4. why does it pop off thanks

I have some de filters that the plastic inside seemed to be snapping off but it still stays inside the cloth. Should I replace these?

Haha. Just watched your video. At the end when you are wearing a mask, I thought this was a new video and you had it on for the big virus scare. My scoop also has a partially broken handle. Good idea to use tape. I'm an HVAC guy, so I think I can find some tape to fix it.

I just opened my pool and it full of algae. I shocked it and turned on the pump and and filled my DE filter. The pump/filter seems to run fine for a couple of hours and then the pressure builds up ~15psi and the water stops flowing. I opened up the filter and cleaned it witha hose without removing the grids. Added 4 lbs for my 48 filter. After it ran nicely for a few hours, the same problem happened. I backwashed for ~20 seconds until I see the DE coming out (it's still clean and white), then turn the filter back on, and it starts running normally again. What do you think could be causing the blockage? I am unable to pull the entire manifold up because it's stuck tight in the pipe. also could not take off the nut so I could take off the top section. If you dont' know, what would you recommend that I try. Thank you, I enjoyed your video.

How concerned should I be with D.E. flowing back into my pool? I neglected to close the return valve before i started the pump back up and quite a lot of DE got into the pool before I noticed. I'm just learning how to do this and worried I can't use my pool now.

Hi, I has 9 years old Hayward DE6020, done with new grid and backwash. PSI 10-15 working. When I leave Hayward controller in CIRCULATION, the water pressure is good; that's, water spillovers from spa to pool and in pool strong, compared to when I leave Hayward controller in FILTRATION with which water returns strong at beginning then weaker and weaker from both spa and pool. Water in pool is still clear and good in chemicals. When I set 3-way outlet valve 70% spa and 40% pool, water returns better than 50/50, even though it's weaker eventually. Please help. Thanks

Hi. I’m trying to decide between the pentair 4000 series or the quad hybrid cartridge filter. Which do you prefer? Thanks.

Hello I have a pentair 2000 and seems to back wash the DE powder into the pool from the skimmer and the jets I went to Leslie's pool and took all my filters they said they were fine also on my lower manifold I was told I could put a plug on it but I still have that issue

Hello, I have a pentair system and I don't see the push pull valve to backwash. Any thoughts as to how I can backwash my system?

What if there is a separation tank? What do I need to do with the separation tank before backwashing? Open the air valve on top of the separation tank? Anything else? Thanks.

I have series 2000 filter, 60sf. The manifold was replaced a week ago but I am still getting blowback into the pool. I noticed on my old manifold that there was no bleeder hose attached and it was closed off with silicone. The new manifold has the hole but it is not closed off, was this an oversight by the pool tech? Is this why I am getting the blowback? I would assume so but hey, I'm not a pool tech. Please help. Love your channel, this has been my new go to channel. Forgot to mention that I have new filter grids, installed Memorial Day weekend, new manifold installed last week, but the pool is not clean because of the blowback. I vacuum it and it goes right back into the pool. Thanks again.

After washing my Filters the pressure goes up to fast about 30mins I open up the filters and there clean. What so do you think could be being up my pressure up so fast..

Hello there I have a quick question for you I have a pentair DE filter system for my pool my question is not about the de or the filters but the outside cosmetic of the filter housing itself it's cosmetic is son beaten and badly worn when I touch it and makes my skin itch real bad is there any spray or paint coating that I can use to coat it??? Thank you very much. Any advice and tips would be greatly appreciated.

Is there a filter name Dentacr Filter? I could not find a photo to see how it looks like. I have a pool and the pool guy told me that dirty water is returning back to the pool. What could the problem be? thanks.

I replaced all the grids, but now 1 month later I see lots of dirt and green algae flowing back into the pool, why? What do I need to do?

Is it normal for a lot of the DE to be sitting on the bottom of the tank and not on the filters?

I have a torn grid, can I buy a off brand filter grids or should I stick to pentair?

I have DE leaking back into my pool. I have a PLD70 model. The star filter pad looks great. No holes, no tears. Yet, tons of DE is still getting back into my pool. I think the filter module port which connects to the filter holster isn't sealing properly; and thus, DE is bypassing my filter. How can I make this seal tighter? Again, it's that hole I see when I take the filter out which leads back to the pool and I think my filter module isn't sealed well to that port. It never has since I've bought this house. I'm tempted to use waterproof sealant to try and narrow any gaps. What would you recommend? Thanks!

I just switched to Perlite and I think you are supposed to use the same amount (volume) as DE but half the weight. (It a coincidence that it is twice as effective but half the weight. So when they say use half the “amount” I think that means half the weight- which is exactly the same number of scoops- since it is fluffy and takes up twice as much room. When you say half the amount- don’t you mean half the weight? (I guess Same number of scoops- makes sense because you’re covering the same square footage of filter?),

wil a leak at bottom smbw 2060 make spa drain back into pool after shut down,already replace check valve

Hi, When I run the filter the DE powder goes back to the pool. I uninstalled, open the whole thing, clean it, inspected, there;s no rips on the grids anywhere (it's a new set of grids just bought last year). What do I do wrong? what's might be a problem? Thank you for your help.

I cleaned the filter system and put it back together and it’s not building pressure any help?

what do you recommend if you clean your DE filter and the pressure is great for about 2 hours, then the gauge says the filter needs to be cleaned again. Backwashing at this point returns everything to the "green" category, but after about 4 hours, the gauge once again says the filter needs to be cleaned? This has been going on for 5 days with me now.

If I am getting DE back in the pool will that mess up the heater or the Pump?

Great video!!!!

Hi Sir, I have some commercial swimming pools with d.e. elements that are getting clogged with body oils and such, what would you recommend I use for a really could cleaning ? thank you for your site and help.

My filter housing where the grids go has no drain plug, what gives? How do I get all the crap out of my filter housing, by hand?

After add DE on pool i need clean de filter?

Hi, Like how your channel is organized, I have an automotive diy channel very similar. I do my own svc 20+ years. Hayward DE 60 cf filter. The grid always hangs up on the "riser pipe" when I try to pull it out. I am a strong guy. I always lube well with silicone & do this every 6 mos. or so. Any tip on how to lessen the way that top grid sticks to the pipe? When I examine it I don't see anything wrong. Should I replace that o ring every time? Maybe stuff is getting past it and "welding" the id/od of the plastic together? Thanks! froggy47

I'm the new pool girl. learning as I go. I know the DE is carcinogenic dry. And wear mask and gloves, eyewear when adding it. What about all the old DE that kind of got everywhere when I took filters apart and cleaned everything. Since we have no idea how many square feet the filters are-would the lady at leslies know if I measure the unit. We bought a HUD home.

I have a question! I recently bought a house with a pool this is my first one !! The pool has a Hayward pump and DE filter but the pressure is always 20 psi is that normal?

That first opening of the filter showed way to much DE, it was caked on top of the manifold. Looks like excessive DE was put in or it was allowed to accumulate after backwashing.

How can i bleach them. My concrete didnt get put on time so my filters are brown even after putting chemicals on them

Thanks helpful as usual

My DE filter last 2 weeks the it’s clogged. What am I doing wrong

thanks!

What's that tool you used that looked like a BIG wrench

When I put pool filter on filter mode it runs good for awhile and then less water starts to go in basket by filter and water gets weeker coming out of jets. Works longer if I back wash it. 36 square feet de filter. Lost here.

Omg I have replaced EVERYTHING in my Hayward de and taken it apart. Started from scratch. And I am still running at 50lbs pressure. I love my wife she wanted a pool l did not So we compromised and and got a pool. I have a boat {another story} but if it doesn’t go never a peep out of her. But I digress. Can you help me please?None of the “ pool guys in my town “ well,I want to be kind” know there backwash from a whole in the ground.

do you add additional DE after backwashing?

Hello. pool guy here in AZ. where can I find the silicone spray you use? boss 615. I always use magic lube or boss820.