How To Clean Pentair De Pool Filter

DE pool filter cutaway D.Due east. pool filters are superior filters, as compared to sand and cartridge filters, which cannot come up close to D.E.'s ability to remove particles as minor as 2 microns.

However, D.E. filters are known to crave more maintenance, and non just considering you have to add more D.East. powder after backwashing, just mainly because there are just more than parts inside the filter tank.

One of the all-time things you can do to maintain proper DE filtration is to open up up the filter tank and clean the filter grids. This is done during pool winterization, or every half-dozen months of use, for sunbelt pools open all year.

TYPES OF DE FILTERS

Hayward Perflex Nest Assembly, containing 120 Flex Tube 'Fingers' Today there are 2 types of DE filters in use, Vertical Filigree filters, and Hayward's 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 small enough to let water to pass through, but not the DE powder.

HOW DE FILTERS OPERATE

Pentair / Hayward Curved Vertical DE Grid Assembly The material covering the grids or tubes serves to concur the DE powder, which covers the fabric. Equally the water passes through the powder, the dirt is trapped in the pulverisation's microscopic pores. The pulverization is the filter, not the grids.

Over time, the DE pulverization volition trap so much dirt, oil and debris that h2o will take a harder fourth dimension passing through, which will enhance the filter tank pressure and reduce the flow charge per unit. Eventually it becomes necessary to flush out the dirty DE powder in a backwash process.

WHY A 'DEEP CLEANING' IS NECESSARY

Anthony Filter Grids Backwashing does non flush out all of the powder, sometimes merely half of it is actually removed. Adding a total dose of DE powder afterwards tin can lead to bridging between the grids, resulting in less constructive filtration.

Opening up the tank to hose off all of the pulverization every six months, is important to maintain filter performance. And for pools that winterize and bleed the filter tank, allowing the DE pulverization to dry onto the grids creates clogging bug the following yr.

Minerals and Oils too build up within the filter fabric of a DE grid or Flex Tube, which backwashing does not remove finer. Hosing clean volition remove some (even if using the Mega Blaster DE Cleaning Tool), but for best results a chemic soaking is used to remove mineral scale and oily deposits.

CLEANING VERTICAL DE GRIDS

1. Open air bleeder and remove filter drain plug to drain water from the tank.
2. With the proper wrench or socket, loosen the commodities and remove the clench.
3. Loosen the lid and pull information technology straight off. A apartment tool may be needed to pry it off.
4. Spray grids with a hose, to remove well-nigh of the heavy DE powder.
5. Lift up on sides of top manifold, with a slight twisting motion, to costless the grids from the standpipe. Two people may be needed, to lift the grid assembly out.
6. Place grids on a stable area, being careful not to let the assembly fall over, which can crack the top manifold.
7. Practice not take the grid associates apart, but spray water fully in-betwixt the grids, to completely clean grids on both sides.
8. Replace grids carefully back into tank, applying a small-scale amount of lube to the standpipe o-ring, establish on Pentair and Hayward filters.

CLEANING PERFLEX FLEX TUBES

i. Shut off the pump, push bump handle downwardly slowly and upwardly speedily, 8 times.
2. Open up vent valve and remove filter bleed plug to drain h2o from the tank.
3. Subsequently draining completely, turn filter pump on for v seconds to flush tank.
4. Shut vent valve and bleed plug. Plow on pump to fill tank. Repeat steps 1-iii.
5. If non winterizing, restart pump to fill up filter with water, adding new DE powder.

DE FILTER Chemic CLEANING SOLUTIONS

Hosing off the filter grids, or performing the Perflex cleaning procedure equally described in a higher place is suitable in most cases, however a chemical cleaning may be necessary from time to time to remove mineral scale and oily deposits.

Mineral Deposits: Primarily calcium calibration from pools with loftier levels of calcium hardness, or from improper h2o remainder. Calibration will quickly clog the pores of DE grids and Flex-Tubes, causing short-cycles to occur.

Acid Magic Scale can be removed by soaking the Flex Tube Nest Assembly or the DE Grid Assembly in a 20% solution of H2o and Muriatic acid (5:1 ratio). Soak Flex Tubes in a big bucket and DE Grids in a large (clean) trash can for several hours, and and so hose off thoroughly.

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

in-the-swim-de-filter-cleaner Oils can be removed by soaking filter grids in TSP and hot water, using ane/2 lb. per 5-gals of h2o. You tin can also use our DE Filter Cleaner or Natural Chemistry's Filter Perfect chemical to spray or soak the DE Grids or DE 'Fingers'. For pools with continuous bug with oils, try Jack'due south Magic Filter Fiber every bit a replacement for DE powder.

Stains: It'southward not uncommon to meet DE grids or fingers plough a yellowish color, or even a rust colour over time. In most cases this will not affect the filtration too much, but some stains can also contain other particles, which can reduce the small pores of the DE filter fabric.

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

REPLACING DE FILTER GRIDS

If during your cleaning and servicing, you find several holes or the threads beginning to unravel or the filigree cloth deteriorating, it may be time to supersede the filter grids, which is the subject of this related mail, DE Filter Grid Replacement.

For Perflex filters, you lot can buy the Flex Tubes individually or in 5-Packs in our parts department. Y'all tin also buy the consummate Flex Tube assembly, chosen the 'Filter Nest', or you may consider buying an entire new Perflex DE Filter.

INSPECTING DE FILTER GRIDS

To Audit your DE filter grid assembly, look for:

Tears or rips in the material, especially at the seams and the bottom center.
Cleaved tabs on the top, where the grid 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 associates; missing through wing nuts 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 keep your DE filter running in tip-summit shape. But don't look if your filter starts acting funny – you can practise this anytime!

That'due south all for now! If y'all have any other questions regarding cleaning or servicing your DE pool filter, leave a answer beneath – I answer these questions personally! 🙂

Davy Merino
In The Swim Blog Editor