| Author | Message | ||
     Xl1200r |
Just bought a house and it has an above ground pool in the back yard. Cool. I've never owned a pool or taken care of one, so this is all new to me. The bottom of the pool has some sand on it - the previous owners left a note for me and said the sand showed up when they had a new liner put in the spring, and no matter how much vacuuming they do it's still there. My girlfreind started to vacuum it up and I noticed everything she was taking up was just being spit back into the pool in a cloud of sand through the return nozzle. I have a Diatomaceous Earth filter, but it's obviously not doing its job. I'm trying to read all I can online, but none of the "How To" pages have any pictures what-so-ever, so I don't even understand how this filter is really supposed to work. Any ideas? | ||
| Herobluebuell |
Depending on what kinda filter you have you may want to try flushing the filter out. | ||
| Xl1200r |
You are supposed to "backwash" it, but that's what you do because it gets clogged up. To me, a clogged up filter would filter more (at the expense of flow) than a clean filter. Right now, the sand is just passing right through it. | ||
| Greenlantern |
A lot of "backwash" filter systems are designed to bypass( relief or return loop) automatically when clogged though I am speaking from a potable water/ plumbing view point and frankly know squat about pools or pool filters. | ||
| Etennuly |
I have a sand filtration system so this may not transfer. Does the pump have a knob to switch it from filter to backwash to rinse to bypass to pool to winterize? They can get messed up inside if they are not used or cleaned properly, is it possible they let the pump freeze last winter? Sounds like it is in bypass mode. That will let it pull water in from the pool, bypass the filter, and launch it right back into the pool. | ||
| Ourdee |
I had the problem. Inside the sand container are pipes that have slits smaller than the sand. That is what keeps the sand from getting into the return to your pool. If the filter is handled with the sand in it (moved around). The pipes can be broke loose and then you get water passing through the filter without being directed through the sand. That is how you get the cloud. The water stirs up the sand and some of the sand will come out the return with the cloud. You will have to take the valve head off the sand container and fix the internal plumbing in the tank. May as well replace the sand while you are there. My experience was on a Jacussi sand filter. | ||
| Xl1200r |
There's no knob to switch for filter, bypass, backwash, waste, nothing. It's not a sand filter, and seeing as how those typically have these valves I have to assume this works differently than a sand filter. They left me a bag of the filter material, so I'll just have to dive in, take the thing apart and see what the deal is. | ||
| Sayitaintso |
I have a pool with a DE filter. My suggestion would be to open up the filter and clean the filter cartridge with you garden hose. (Its gonna be a messy job so dont wear anything you dont mind getting dirty) Then try to get as much of the "mud" out of the bottom of the filter before putting it back together. After the filter is back together run it on backwash for a minute or two to finish clearing out anything left behind. Then run the filter normally and add the DE powder like you would after any normal backwash. If you have any other questions drop me a pm and maybe I can explain it better. Edit: I open mine up to clean the filter cartridge every spring. (Message edited by sayitaintso on July 13, 2009) | ||
| Deltablue |
a DE filter is half the battle, what type of DE filter is the next step. Most above ground pools had finger filters, which are crap, my $.02. It sound like one of the filers is cracked or missing. Usually they are covered with a fine mesh which hold the DE and provides fine filtration. Open up the filter and inspect carefully. Once I know more I can hopefully help from there. Did pools for 10 years. Hope this helped. | ||
| Pammy |
If stuff is coming back into the pool with a DE filter then that can mean one of two things. The control is not on "filter" but on "circulate" or you have a hole in one or more of the filter panels inside the unit. My guess would be the latter. | ||
| Skntpig |
youtube DE filter backwash. | ||
| Vortec57 |
Why bother? there's some sand in the pool. Heck there isn't even water in my kiddie pool this year! | ||
| Xl1200r |
Well one night this week I'll open it up and see what the deal is. Sayitaintso - how do you add the DE powder? The directions on the bag (going off memory) saw to put a thin coat on the filter screen, and then dump a bunch into the skimmer. | ||
| Sayitaintso |
I just add straight into the skimmer never any directly on the filter, but I'm careful not to just dump it in one big clump. Just add a little at a time giving the skimmer a chance to keep up with sucking it down. When i got the filter it came with a scoop that is about 1/2 gallon size (I guessing here cause there are no measurement markings on it) and I usually add 2-3 scoops after each backwash. The amount of powder to add is probably based on the size of the filter and cartridge inside, and mine is fairly big. When i clean the filter in the spring there is a big buildup of the DE "mud" all through the filter and the bottom of the canister. It makes me wonder how any water gets through the filter cartridge. I am probably putting too much in, but the pool is always REALLY clear so I've stayed with it (imo, if its working don't F with the process). Usually much clearer than public pools. (Message edited by sayitaintso on July 14, 2009) | ||
| Doon |
yepper. WE just dump it directly in the skimmer of my dads pool.. (DE that is..) | ||
| Pammy |
You need to find out how much DE powder your filter requires and once you getit repaired/cleaned, make a slurry (water and appropriate amount of DE) and pour it into the skimmer. Close the skimmer flap while you are doing it so it doesn't get into the pool. | ||
| Etennuly |
Hey wait a minute. Why is there sand in a pool that uses a DE filter system?? Did some unknowing person put sand in a DE system perhaps? | ||
| Sayitaintso |
Etennuly, that sounds like a very plausible explanation. Taking it apart and cleaning it should show if that is what happened, or if it needs a new filter cartridge. | ||
| Xl1200r |
The sand got there when they had a new liner put in in the spring. I'm guessing it's the sand from under the pool. | ||
| Etennuly |
I have set up and relined pools four times now. Never ended up with sand of any amount from doing that. If you tracked more than a cup full in while doing it, that would be really sloppy work. | ||
| Mr_grumpy |
We have a in-ground pool with a sand filter & 6 position valve, when the pressure gauge is reading over 1 bar (14.5 psi) it's time to backwash & rinse the filter. We don't get sand in the pool, sounds like your running on bypass & just recirculating rather than filtering. What's this DE stuff? we still on chlorine. | ||
| Xl1200r |
"What's this DE stuff? we still on chlorine." DE replaces the sand, not the chlorine. The material is actually the skeletons of prehistoric miscroscopic crustations (wild stuff, I know), and the advantage is that it's a much finer filter than sand, so it can trap smaller particles. The trade-off is that it isn't as maintenance free as sand. I know you guys all think I have thing running on bypass, but there is NO multi-position valve anywhere on the thing. There is an air-release at the top, a bump handle also on top, and three hoses at the bottom - one in from the pump, one out to waste and one back to the pool. That's it. | ||
| Mr_grumpy |
Seems fairly evident that your filter isn't doing it's job. Therefore... a. The filter is not in the circuit for some reason. b. The filter is blown & the circulation is just going through it. c. There's a break in the filter housing allowing a flow past the filter. d. There's an internal bypass valve that's open for some reason, blocked filter or broken spring whatever. Any way you cut it you're going to have to take the filtration system down & go through it. It should be possible to do so without draining the pool. I'd be happy to come & take a look, but I'm not sure you'd like the call-out costs,  (Message edited by mr_grumpy on July 16, 2009) | ||
| Pammy |
Okay at this point, I'd like to see a picture. For the record, I think there is a breach in the filter unit(s). But I can't for the life of me understand how you would backwash the filter if there is no directional valve of any kind. Can we get a picture? This is like CSI. HA Ha | ||
| Sayitaintso |
I think when he says "bump handle" he is talking about the handle that turns to switch from filter to backwash to rinse. My guess is that the filter element/cartridge is in need of replacement. | ||
| Xl1200r |
I'll be at the house tonight (still moving in and not living there yet) and I'll snag some pics to post up. To backwash the filter, you just close open the waste line. Backwashing on a DE filter essentially removes all of the DE material, so you have to add it back when you're done. | ||
| Sayitaintso |
Backwashing on a DE filter essentially removes all of the DE material, so you have to add it back when you're done. It get most of it but some stays hung up in the filter. Over time more and more will build up. Thats why you have to take it apart occasionally and clean it manually. I don't think I said it earlier....congratz on the house. (Message edited by sayitaintso on July 16, 2009) | ||
| Xl1200r |
Say - correct. Just trying to point that it works different than a sand filter, where you essentially loosen up all the crap and drain it out, leaving the filter medium in tact. | ||
| Etennuly |
I think an airplane flew over at 30,000 ft and dropped what used to be "blue ice". Only now, with cut backs and budget tightening they used a cheap brand of kitty litter. Your pool was the "lucky" LZ! Did you see any 'Zag-nut' candy bars floating around without their wrappers? | ||
| Xl1200r |
No, but I have noticed a peanut or two! |
