What Backwashing Leaves Behind - How To Clean Your D.E. Pool Filter THE EASY WAY!!!
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- Опубліковано 27 лип 2019
- Originally recorded July 7, 2019.
This spring, before opening the pool, I replaced the filter grids in my D.E. filter. After opening the pool to find it swamp-like, I went through copious amounts of D.E. and backwashing cycles, sometimes backwashing twice in one day.
Did you know that backwashing isn't getting rid of all of the contaminants in your filter? Your filter needs to be opened up once or twice a season and internally cleaned to keep it working as it should. This video shows you how and what to do.
The filter depicted in this video is a Hayward D.E. 4820 model. Other Hayward filters should be very similar, other brands should open up in a similar fashion. The steps are the same, but your equipment may vary.
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I've been in total panic mode with my pool. I knew the pump needed cleaning but didn't know how to do it myself. I watched several youtube videos and then came across yours. I'm a 60+ woman by myself and can't thank you enough for explaining how to do this in terms even I can understand. The other videos either had audio issues or just didn't take into account you've got people out here who need basic step by step info. You saved me having to pay someone to do this for me and I'm so very grateful. Thank you sincerely for explaining this in such an easy to follow manner. Also loved your tangent on "balls to the wall". Lol.
Thank you SO MUCH! I have been told time and time again that I should be a teacher. I know how to break everything down into clearly understandable parts but without spoonfeeding. That lets the end user still have some input or different methods for doing the same.
And you ended up with a clean filter for a LOT less work. That's another thing, the "pool professionals" will tell you how something is done. I guarantee none of them would do it this way, and will tell you it's wrong. Well I told you it's right, and it certainly worked for me, and worked for you as well. It's certainly not 100% but pretty close to it for a lot less work. I have many other tips and tricks with the pool, I will be opening mine in about a month and a half. I record a series of videos every year. There are tips and tricks and funny anecdotes along the way. I'm sure you will enjoy.
Same here... 63 year old woman who just got the new multi-port system this year & wanted to know ALL the little steps to do to not screw up my new system haha. I specifically needed to know if I should use the rinse cycle since I had DE & not sand. The other videos I watched did not explain this. Also the fact to do Backwash/Rince repeat 3x was very helpful. I had a French drain well dug this summer to allow my backwash water to have a place to go & I think I will find a way to pipe the bottom (bun?) drain to that as well. I hate all that dirty DE water around my pump lol. Thanks again for your very thorough & helpful video.
@@vickidemarco2076 You're very welcome. I can easily make a pipe that will screw in to the bung port and run that elsewhere, but it's not necessary in my area because I'm on an island; it's all sand and drains very quickly. You can do the same with a pipe, you don't even need to know how to do it with PVC, you can just plug all of the pipes together when you need it and pull them apart when done. If it leaks anything it will only be a few drops at each joint, not a big deal.
I want to send you a super HUGE thank you. My husband took care of our pool and he passed away and I’m trying to figure it all out. This video is hands down the best UA-cam video I’ve seen (I’ve had to watch many to fix things around the house). Your explanation is easy to understand and your buddy did a GREAT job with the camera work. Going to tackle this this weekend and hope it helps my pool clear up. Going to watch more of your videos!!
Thanks very much for the kind words! In fact, I shot a re-make of this video which will be posted in the coming weeks. I have also posted a whole series on my opening the pool for this year you can check out. There are a lot of little tips and tricks you can pick up along the way.
I’m in the same position lost my husband that did it and now I’m doing. So glad I found your video it’s helping a lot. May God be with you
@@sharonbrown7422 Thank you.
Wonderful video! Clear, precise and informative... your camera man was spot on. I’ve done my filter for 30+ yrs and it’s not fun but the process is always the same. I like watching others in case I miss something over the years...
Thank you very much, I really appreciate it!
After 5 years of owning a pool, you’re video inspired me to open up my filter for the first time without the professionals. I followed your instructions to a tee and I did it. Thanks for sharing your knowledge!!!
Thanks Tim! I've pretty much done my own maintenance and work on this pool and almost never call the pros. You can do it all yourself and save an absolute fortune.
You do an absolutely fantastic job with your pool I’ve been watching it’s progression from the winter to now and it’s amazing how well you keep it. I am 100% sure that most people don’t go through the process that you do this shows the pride you have in what you do.
Than you for the very kind words! Yes, I'm one of the few who takes pride in what I do, rather than just trying to get the job done to say it's done. Most people either don't do this, or have their pool company do it and pay exorbitant prices. Was there anything inherently hard in what I did? Besides the fact it's a messy job spraying all that stuff off, it was a hot summer's day so who really cares? Afterward, I was very happy I did this, and had the satisfaction of a job well done.
OMG thank you so much for this video. I just let my pool guy go and then got an algae bloom. Did a SLAM to clear it out of my pool but now my filter is not working so well. I was told to clean it. I saw a few videos and got so overwhelmed. But seeing your video has given me confidence on being able to get this done!! I appreciate you!!
You're welcome.
Your pool guy might have been doing the right thing for you, because this happened as soon as you let him go. Keeping the pool maintained is what prevents the algae in the first place. I can do my weekly pool maintenance in about 15-20 minutes a week. If I skip it for some reason, algae will start. So it is imperative to keep on top of it during the swimming season. If you can't, you'll need somebody, and help doesn't come good, nor cheap these days.
Omgosh. You are a blessing. Thank you so very much. Very detailed and easy to understand everything you did. No more monthly payments paying the pool guy. Much blessings.
Thanks very much! Happy swimming!
Thank you SOOO much. Straightforward no excess rhetoric (yet entertaining). 🥰
You're quite welcome!
Very detailed and easy to understand everything you did. I spent 4 hours getting one back together lining up the filter grids TOTAL PAIN. Next time your way! Looks FINE.
Thank you!
Thank you for this video! I cleaned out the filter this morning! I had your video playing and was following along. It was super helpful and straight forward. Thanks again.
You're quite welcome!
Dang that’s nasty. I’ve been running a sand filter for 25 years and on the few occasions I’ve had to open it up I never had sludge like that. I guess you’ve saved me from ever considering DE. Great vid, thank you.
DE still works better than sand. If you have to open your filter up anyway with sand, it's no different with DE.
Great video, thanks for sharing and breaking this down into simple steps. Just managed to do mine the first time after watching this.
Great to hear!
this video is fantastic for a first timer.. I will help my brother-in-law who has no clue how to clean his filter... we will watch this a couple of times then attack the filter.. thank you soooo much.. he is a first time pool owner.... thank you again.. Buddy S.
You're quite welcome!
Nice job. I just went through and cleaned mine. Was getting slightly cloudy and after 2 years of use after construction Dion I decided to clean filter. It was pretty nasty. I ended up taking it apart and thought I was mindful of how it came apart so when I put it back together it would be easy. Well it wasn’t so easy after a few swear words and sore hands, I eventually managed to get it back together. Hopefully all is good and it clears up in a few days. Well done and definitely taught me tricks for the next time I do this!
Thanks!
Sure, no problem! That was exactly why I DIDN'T take mine apart. Even if I only did a 75% job on mine, it's still 75% better than it was, and a lot less work!
This video it's awesome,and gives you so much information and makes you think I can do this, thank you so much because of you I clean my pool filter today, so easy
You are so welcome!
Thank you for making this video as it was incredibly helpful! 😊
You're welcome.
Very instructive, indeed! Thanks. Good job.
Thanks Miguel!
Was cool to see that on backwash with the top off. Been a pool tech for a decade and never thought to even try that lol.
Thanks very much!
Same here lol. Nothing wrong with that we learn something new every day
Cleaned my filter for the first time after watching this!
Great to hear!
Thanks for the informative video! This helps a lot. Im glad you ran the backwash with it open. I was curious about that.
You're welcome.
It was absolutely funny when you turned the pool pump on while the top half of your filter was off LOL😂😂😂.
Had to see what was going to happen!
What great tutorial you explain everything to the T... I was always curious what happens inside now I know I always clean my filters the time consuming way each grid I wash I really appreciate this video thanx for the lesson it was excellent 👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼
You're welcome.
This video is incredibly helpful, thank you!
You're welcome.
Wow, thanks so much for this video. We just purchased a home with a pool, and I'm trying to learn the specific equipment we have. Now I'm going to open the DE filter to see the condition before starting the pool for the summer. I'll also watch your other videos and subscribe.
Thanks very much! My yearly pool opening videos start some time in May each year.
I was helping my uncle clean out his tank and this was very helpful thank you I appreciate the content it was very good thank you.
You're welcome.
if i was to give stars id give 4 nice step by step explanation..good job sir !
Thanks. Before likes and dislikes, UA-cam had a star rating system for videos. Then the went to likes and dislikes, then got rid of the count for dislikes. And look at how society has changed over those same years since UA-cam started until now, and it makes perfect sense as to why.
EASY PEASY VIDEO! Tytytyty! Trying this exact method first time tomorrow 🤗🙏
Great to hear, thanks.
You're a lifesaver and a $$$ saver. Thanks!
You're welcome.
I was a fanatic. I used to take my Hayward 36 sq ft filter apart balls to the wall lol including taking the grids from the manifold to wash them thoroughly couple times a season. Had good lower pressure and had longer filter periods before having to clean again. Once a season did a chemical cleaning of the grids ( placed the grids in a 30 gall trash can in the chemicals)
If you want to go the extra 56 miles, you're more than welcome to. This way gets very good results and saves all that mileage. A very good thing with the price of gas these days.
Thanks 4 the video! Some additional notes: Premix that DE in a 5 gal bucket w water first before you pour it in, shouldn't use a scoop directly. Also I recommend taking out the grid, once you get the pattern, it's actually quite easy. Also makes a big difference if you wipe down the large rubber gasket before putting it back in. Thanks again!
Thanks. Heard of premixing the DE, heard of not premixing the DE. With a lot of pool stuff, some people say do it this way, some say do it that way. Basically, nobody quite knows what to do, they can only tell you what has worked for them.
I said, plain as day in the video, that you can take the filter grids out, take it apart, and clean them, but that I was doing this job in the least invasive way possible. If taking it apart achieves 100% clean, and my way does 95% clean, that's a lot less work for that measly 5%. Once again, nobody quite knows what do do, they can only tell you what they did that worked. This is my way, and it worked.
Thank you I learned a lot with your video Thanks again
You're welcome.
Thank you so much!!! You made this so easy for me to do myself.
No problem!
Give the top half of the filter a good coat of exterior paint. It covers the fiberglass fibers and gives the filter a smooth surface so you you dont get the nasty fibers in your skin.
That's what the gloves are for, but thanks.
Thanks, I tried it with spray paint and it didn't help so much I will try the exterior paint and a paint brush next time
You are so right it is not perfect but it is better than no doing it ,and it is 10 times easier thane taking every filter out and then 30 minutes realigning all the filters in there proper place. Great video
Thank you so much!
Great video. Very helpful. Thank you.
You're welcome.
Great video! Very thorough!
Much appreciated!
OmG thank you so much for this awesome video!!
You're very welcome.
This is the real world of pool maintenance. There are all sorts of things the guy could have done better, but each of those things take more time, effort, and brain cells. When the kids are whining because the pool is green, it's 95 degrees, and the mosquitoes/gnats are attacking you.....this is the way to go because doing it the "right way" just makes an already hard job just that much harder.
Thanks very much! Yes, I wanted to do this in the least invasive way possible. If doing it this way gets the grids 90% cleaner than they were, that extra 10% isn't even worth it, I'd rather do this again a little sooner. It's all about saving time and effort while still achieving exemplary results.
This video helped me with my pool thank you so much!!!
You're welcome.
Nice video, I don't even have a backwash valve anymore. About every 2 months I remove all the grids to clean, not as bad as you think. Lay the manifold on a concrete surface, that will help you with a grid orientation. Taking a picture before you tear down always helps. Usually there's one short width grid, and all the rest are usually the same. Not as difficult as you think it just takes a little patience.
Thanks for the additional information.
i pay 150 a year for them to come out and do that !! now i do it ,,thanks very much.
You're very welcome!
Thank you so much this helped me out a ton!
You're welcome.
Great video. I just switched from a cartridge filter back to a DE. Had one for 10 years then switched which was a mistake. My pool guy charged my 48 sq. ft. Hayward with 7 lbs DE and suggested charging with a full 7 lbs after only a normal backwash ( wash, rinse 3 times) Seems like that will result in excess DE unless I do your method. Thanks for posting this 3 years ago. Timeless wisdom.
Thanks. A lot of people are under the assumption that unless a video was made this very week, the information contained it it is outdated,but nothing could be further from the truth.
I would see what the manual for your Hayward filter says as far as how much DE. 7 for an initial charge, I can see, after a regular backwash, maybe 5. Long and short of the story is you can charge with more DE and get better filtration, but backwash more frequently, or charge with less DE and still get good filtration, and backwash less often.
For the large 0-ring leaking issue, simply use some Magic Lube on it when reinstalling it. Then tighten the long screw a few turns(but first make sure you can rotate the bracket and filter top assy to ensure the cover and o-ring seats properly. Then the final piece would be to use a rubber mallet or hammer to tap around all around the band clamp as you tighten it. It will not leak anymore. That method seems to work with this common leaking issue. Good video, thanks.
Thanks, I used lube on the gasket and put text on screen stating that the leak stopped later in the day.
Backwashing is so satisfying
Thanks.
Excellent, thanks!
You're welcome!
Good job; I normally pull out the entire set of grids and hose them off and then put back in.
Thanks, that's why this is the easy way.
I made a tool to wash out the filter. 1/2''CVPC (!!) plastic pipe about 3' long, (tan in color). Glue a cap on one end and on the other fittings that will accommodate a garden hose.
I also added a shut off valve here. On the capped end drill 1/16" holes on the bottom side(12 to 15). Wash outside of filters as shown in film, then you can get in between filter elements
to wash out. Never have to remove entire filters. Has worked for past 20 years! Also when wife isn't looking grab her jar of Vaseline and put a light coat on all "O"-rings.
Excellent idea, I may just do that. Homemade tools, made for a purpose, work the absolute best. Thanks!
Do not use vaseline on pool o-rings. Research the reason why. Instead, use Magic Lube.
@@warriordugan7236 I have NEVER had a "O" ring go bad using Vaseline. The same rings are what came with DE filter over 20 years!! Magic Lube ?? You don't need the expense!
I'll admit I don't use Vaseline in my cars engine or transmission or "Magic Lube" they hold up just fine with Petroleum oils.
@@chuckredd9131 The chlorine reacts with the rubber and vaseline. Just an idea that I found always prevents leaks
.
Great video!
Thank you!
Excellent tutorial video.
Thank you.
Just picked that same filter second hand I will be getting it running it tomorrow 09/02/2021. Florida. Thanks
You're welcome.
Great work
Thank you.
Holy crap watching this made me so happy I have a cartridge filter. Takes me about 20 minutes to clean it, reassembly is simple and I do not have to manage the flushed and new DE.
Great for you, but DE filters better and cleaner.
@@jaykay18 How often do you need to preform this task that you show in this vid?
@@Ronhithcox Once a season or less, I haven't even needed to this year.
Never EVER get a DE filter. I don’t care what anyone says about the water and filtration quality..the constant maintenance headaches outweigh any (minimal) benefits. My filter is constantly clogged. Always something wrong. From day 1. I’ve never noticed any of the alleged benefits of it. Only the headaches.
Seems removing the entire grid would make cleaning it much easier with less mess, but adding only a couple minutes to the process. Also, I NEVER add lubricant to the seal, and have been using the same seal for many years. But I agree about tightening the bolt. It feels almost like something's going to break if you try to get all the coils to touch. For what it's worth, my pool supplier said that I need only 4 scoops for my size 60 filter grid.
I thought it was better still inside the filter since it contains most of it, which was another reason I did it that way. Removing it would allow you to clean even better, again, I was trying to do this in the least invasive way possible.
I've always read to use the lube, I've always heard to use the lube, and the general consensus is to "never install a dry seal". Your mileage WILL vary.
The bolt needs to only be tight enough for it not to leak. Being that it's a belt clamp, and is "molded" to the lip of the filter, it's not going to come off or apart by itself.
Everyone nowadays has their own ideas about everything. My recommendation is to read the manual (or look it up online) for the filter you have, and then follow that. They designed the filter, they should have tested it as well and found what works best. After that, you can always tweak the amount up or down as you see fit.
Great video, it helped a lot. Quick question, when I put the band back on and tightened, there was a small leak. I took off and made sure the seal was tight but still a small leak. Any suggestions?
Clean, clean, clean. Clean the bottom half of the filter, the top half, the gasket top and bottom spic and span. Any DE or other particulate matter means it won't make a seal. Been there, done that. You can also use some pool lube. If your gasket is old, it may be time for a new one.
Great video
Thank you.
Thank you for the knowledge, I have a DE filter system. I need to replace the parts inside, the top plastic piece is broken and one else is not holding. What company or where I can get parts to replace the holding section?
I bought mine off of Amazon. Otherwise if you have a local pool store they should have a catalog and either have the part in stock or can order it for you, but you will pay a premium for buying retail.
Thanks you for this video because, I was taking one by one 😆, to clean them, so Thanks and more video's please 🙏
You're very welcome. Please stay tuned, my pool opening process for this year will start in a couple of weeks.
Sp you were excellent and funny to................thanks so much for your help
Your're welcome!
This is way better than removing the panels. It should go the rest of the season.
Thank you, without a doubt! Stay tubed to my channel, my annual pool opening video series starts early June.
Great video!!! I make my helpers (son) watch because it demonstrates so much. Do you know what it means when you can see plumes of DE coming out of the return inlets in the pool?
That generally means this procedure needs to be done. I was getting DE into the pool, but not anymore after doing this. Other thing it could mean, is that some of the filter grids are no longer in good shape, you should be able to see that with it open like that.
Novice question here, but where do I connect the backwash hose? My hayward system doesn't appear to have a big drain opening for that. It does however, have a pipe that goes underground where it appears most people connect the hose.
That's what I have, a pipe that goes underground. Mine goes to a drywell somewhere in the yard. Perhaps yours does too.
Nice job. I did mine before I watched your video. I just removed the entire filter from the housing. Made it easy to hose off. I carefully turned it upside down and hosed it from top to bottom. I don't have a drain plug on my filter canister at the bottom. That would be nice to have using your method.
Thanks.
Cleaning the filter balls to the wall helped developed my character. It taught me patience and I no longer cuss as much. Now I take my time doing things. You just have to be determined and have the right mindset; put on a good cd, maybe Stevie Ray Vaughan, take your time and go slow, and expect the worse.
My method avoids the risk, no need to expect the worst. You can get almost the exact same clean with much less time and effort. Then on to another project, where you can spend more time.
@@jaykay18 I will try it today. Thank you.
@@David-fc1uf I opened my filter up again this year, when I first recorded this video it was 4 years ago. There was nothing much to speak of inside to clean, it really didn't need it. So this isn't something that necessarily needs to be done as often as most people think.
@@jaykay18 Honestly, I always considered it and thought it was a good idea, but I thought I may be missing something that would compromise the equipment, etc. But I haven't seen anyone teach this method except for you, so now I am willing to give it a try.
@@David-fc1uf In my years owning a pool, I discovered a lot of tricks that the business uses to get you to spend money on stuff, especially chemicals. Then there are all sorts of rules--rules which oftentimes contradict themselves, depending on who you ask--about what you can and cannot do with the pool equipment, valves, fittings, filter, pump, etc. You will find many of my teachings to be out of the mainstream. That's because I have an acute sense for BS, can analyze the heck out of anything, and have a very keen understanding of how the world works, that is to say, physics. I take the entire industry, and throw science at it. Try my method, then let me know how it worked.
Jay, after you added the DE, how long will the pump running for? 1 hour or several hours? Thank you.
The DE is essentially distributed and all set after only about 5 or 10 minutes. My feeling is that now that the filter is clean and new DE added so it can actually do it's job, wouldn't you want it to? So I'd leave it for several hours. My pump runs 12 hours a day, so I leave it for the rest of the day.
Is it a bad idea to mark with paint where it lines up to ensure it's facing the correct way when you put the top back on?
Of course you can do that, if you want to.
Great video! I usually just remove my filter and clean It outside. Man what a mess this DE makes! I realized today that i have been under feeding my filter the DE. I also have the DE 4820 model, and I believe it calls for 6 lbs of DE. Is that all you would normally put in it?
Thanks very much! The general rule of thumb is to take the square footage of the filter, round it off, and divide by 10. So a 4820 is 48 square feet, round off to 50, divide by 10, 5 scoops. You can adjust you DE more or less depending. More DE means better filtering, but more often backwashing, less DE means worse filtering but less backwashing. Just play with it, plus or minus 1 lb, and see what it does for you. If you can get away with less, do that. Save on DE, save on water backwashing.
Hi, thanks a for this great video! Please one question - I’ve never done this before so I’m quite a newbie. When initially you say to backwash then rinse then backwash again and then rinse again, etc how do you know when each individual step is over? Like how do I know after how many minutes has the first backwash finished? And then how long am I supposed to rinse for? Thank you!
Simply watch the sight glass. When the water is running clear, that step is over. For rinse, usually the water will run clear, I usually leave that for 20-30 seconds. How long the backwash cycles take depends how dirty the filter is. Of course, if you're opening it and cleaning it anyway, there's no real need to do that; it was done in this video just to show what is left behind.
Thanks for clearing that 'Balls to the Wall" phrase for me, I always wondered about that.... Great video... ..I was thinking about switching over to this from Sand...
Thanks very much!
I cleaned follow your instructions but my de filter is operating at zero psi. Water is circulating . I added enough de that when I turn off the pump some DE comes back into the pool . Should I keep adding until psi jump to 10 psi? Thanks. I replace the pressure gauge.
Open the manual air relief valve, water should shoot out forcefully. If it's not, there could be a problem with the top part of your filter, or maybe a plumbing problem elsewhere in your system, which is diverting a lot of the water not through the filter.
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?
NEVER vacuum to the filter. Vacuum to WASTE. Yes, it uses a lot of water, but that's the best way to get it clean. Water's cheap, the filter costs a lot more to replace.
Replace DE in the filter after each backwash.
Awesome! I have had a DE filter for over 16 years and would always take it apart to clean. Never really knew about backwashing. Would take 2-3 hours each time!
I'm going to start doing it your way! Thanks for the info!
Glad I could help!
Great video on DE
grid cleaning! Which plant is next to filter? It is beatifull!
Thank you! I have no idea what that plant is called, so I just call it "tropical plant".
Jay, What kind of chemicals you put into the basket? Where did you get it? Thank you.
In this video, the only thing I used was new DE to replenish what was washed out of the filter. That is, in essence, the only thing that should go in the basket.
There are other chemicals used, such as shock, chlorine tabs, and sometimes pH Plus and Alkalinity Up. I buy all my chemicals online, you get the best price that way. I've found that currently, intheswim.com has the cheapest prices, although doheny.com is also close in price.
Awesome ty
You're welcome.
That was extremely helpful and I finally found someone with the same filter model as us, at least it's very close looking. My only concern would be that you wear something to protect from DE dry particles. They are a carcinogen and until they come in contact with water they can be very hazardous. Be safe and thank you!
Thanks, I have heard that before. Quite honestly I am not concerned. From OSHA: Diatomaceous earth has been tested as a whole and evaluated as a Group 3 carcinogen by IARC. A Group 3 listing indicates that diatomaceous earth is not classifiable as to its carcinogenicity to humans, since definitive conclusions cannot be drawn from the research conducted to date.
@@jaykay18 I would strongly encourage you to redo that research.
SUMMARY Food-grade diatomaceous earth is low in crystalline silica and considered safe for humans. The filter-grade type is high in crystalline silica and toxic to humans.
@@jaykay18 There are two major grades, one is harmless and actually beneficial to humans, the other is toxic. We use the ladder in filters.
So OSHA knows nothing. OK.
@@jaykay18 From OSHA "Therefore, there is no requirement under the HCS to state a definitive finding of carcinogenicity on the label or MSDS for diatomaceous earth products containing less that 1% crystalline silica. However, the principle of "one positive study" applies here as well, and the results of any study conducted in accordance with scientific principles which shows statistical significance of carcinogenicity resulting from exposures to this product must be included for discussion on the MSDS. This enforcement policy does not apply to products containing greater than 1% crystalline silica, and cancels and supersedes all prior interpretations on this issue."
DE used in filtration contains far more than 1% crystalline silica. Stop being thick headed and read it. The DE that OSHA is referring to is Food Grade ONLY. Furthermore, only 1 study was conducted in OSHA's findings as stated. A revised letter also defends your argument, but OSHA never conducted a follow up study either.
Lastly, The US National Library of Medicine
AND National Institutes of Health both conclude differently, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1035494/
So you add DE to the skimmer? And do you have the main drain turned off until the DE has been pulled in? I don't currently have one of those scoops.... how many cups would that equal to, I also have a 48sf filter. And if I do the backwash and my pressure drops could could I just stop at that instead of tearing down the filter?
Yes, DE is added to the skimmer. No need to shut the main drain off. I'd suggest you get one of those scoops, you can find them online for a couple dollars. In a pool retail store, about $10. They claim a DE scoop is 1 pound, so allegedly that's 2 cups, but it quite honestly seems larger than that.
When you backwash, your pressure is going to drop. Backwashing a dirty filter does that. But even though I had been regularly backwashing and doing everything as you're supposed to, just LOOK at what the filter looked like in the video. Those were brand new filter grids as well. Anyway it should give you a good idea that it's not a bad idea to take apart the filter and clean it. The way I showed was the least invasive way to do it. Others may tell you to take the grids assembly out and hose them off that way. Yet others will tell you to take the whole assembly apart and clean each grid individually. I figured I was getting at least 90% better doing just this, so that extra work for another 10% wasn't worth it.
Hi Toni... I give Jay a 👍up! ...I’ve just started doing self maintenance.... everything I’ve read & watched stated 1 pound of DE per 10 sqft of pump filter.... your pump filter is 48sqft... so, right at 5 pounds of DE after backwash. (I am unfamiliar with the main drain question... that’s for Jay!)
I thought after cleaning the grids out like you did it should be 10 scoops of DE. You put in 4 like after a regular backwash. How come?
If you've watched many more of my videos, you may have discovered that I don't do anything in a conventional manner. I have many more videos describing DE. Most people put way too much. Yes, on an initial charge you'd use more. 10 scoops, that's WAY too much. However, how much you add is dependent on your filter square footage. A larger filter will take more than a smaller one, but even at those numbers, people still have a tendency to put too much.
Regardless of everything you've been told or have learned, the general rule of thumb is to add more DE, get better filtering, and backwash more often, or use less DE, get filtering that's not quite as good, and backwash a lot less. I can tell you that once I get my pool up and running for the season, I almost never have to backwash for the season, maybe once or twice. So I'd imagine I have it dialed in pretty good, with the amount I use.
The most important thing I can teach anyone about "pool rules", as far as what you can and cannot do, and certain ways of doing things, is that bending the rules is cool. They can be bent pretty far as well. You bend them to fit your particular pool and use case. Please feel free to see some of my other videos, every year I do an entire series on the pool.
Does anyone know if you have to backwash the filter after you've cleaned it and put new DE in?
If you've cleaned it like this, and put new DE in, it doesn't need to be backwashed until the gauge is reading higher than normal, just like always.
It might be overkill but I always remove the grid assembly and take it apart to clean the grids individually. This way I don't waste perfectly clean pool water and I can inspect the grids and manifold. I use a wet vac to remove as much water out of the of base before lifting out the grids, otherwise it's pretty heavy. It takes longer but the results are better by far and considering it's only done every 6 months it's not that big of a deal.
Yes, but this is far easier and faster. Not to mention, if I can cut out all of that work and get 90% better than it was, it's worth the shortcut.
Thank you
You're welcome.
That shirt he’s wearing is straight 🔥 my man so dry yet has so much drip 💦
Thanks.
I'm watching this video and considering replacing my sand filter with a DE. Obviously you will say it's worth it but I have to ask, does this filter better to warrant me spending $1400 and is this less maintenance.
New to owning a pool and appreciate your honest perspective.
No way, don't bother wasting your money if what you have is already working. It filters better, but not 1400 dollars better, if you know what I mean.
This is a wonderful wonderful video! You'd said "It was going to hurt later." Now I'm curious about the story behind that statement! I LOVE to back wash the campground's filter.
If you've ever touched fiberglass with bare hands, you'd know what I mean. Gets very itchy and uncomfortable.
jaykay18 Great video!!!!
@@ventilator98 Thank you very much!
jaykay18 You Are very VERY Welcome!!!
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 info. I purposely did NOT take the filter grids out (and apart) to avoid any and all of that. I figure if I get it 90% better than it was, I'm 90% better off.
So when you put it in 'backwash', where does that backwash go? Do you need to be hooked to a discharge line to run out to the street? Drain line? Just let it flood your yard?
Any of the above, actually. My system is hooked into a dry well so I don't have to worry about it. It can most certainly be run out to the street, or flood your yard, it's all natural stuff anyway. As for the (sewer) drain line, that might be illegal in certain jurisdictions, but as the saying goes, cop didn't see it, I didn't do it.
Thanks a lot for great video, I have exact same system, really helpful!
No problem at all!
Why not hook an 1.5" fitting to the filter drain and use a 1.5" vacuum hose to drain it down your sewer. Back washing is not designed to completely clean the grids this is why when you recharge with DE its about half of what you would use. I had a Hayward DE 6020 for 10 years until the manifold broke from removing it time after time. Now I have a S7MD60 DE and the grid is an actual filter works great. Still it was a good video for those who need the help.
No sewer available there. It's also against code to do that, not that I care; cop didn't see it, I didn't do it.
Thanks. This was my first time actually doing it.
Yeah backwashing into public sewer is illegal where I live fwiw
My Hayward top is usually hard to remove by hand. After removing the steel band, I turn on the pump which pops the top loose. When you get too much algae, you "slime" the filter so must open it to wash the grids. I remove the grid assembly, but don't take it apart unless a grid needs replacing. I need to hose it from both ends to get all the mud off. I do so annually if >10 psig back-pressure and unable to lower that via back-washing. Leslie's recommends opening it up every month to clean, but seems excessive.
That's a great idea to turn the pump on to pop the top.
I don't remove mine unless it needs servicing, spraying it as I showed in the video gets rid of a good 90% of the crud. It's the absolute least invasive way in. Opening it every month is way excessive. I go entire seasons without opening it.
@@jaykay18
If in FL or the coastal plains of AL to NC where the ground is sand, no worries about the flushed water as it will quickly sink into the ground. Where I live in Sacramento, w/ black loam from the river bottom, the flushed water builds up, but we need all the water we can get, so the neighbors would appreciate any that flows under the fence. I have begun draining most of the pool water every April, using a small 120 VAC portable pump, putting the water on my garden and lawn. I leave water in the deep end to assure the pool won't pop out of the ground (40 ft x 20 ft x 9ft deep w/ epoxy walls), adding fresh water as I keep pumping out old. If not, I found it is hard to counter the nitrates and phosphates from earthworm guts and leaves which enter during winter, which algae loves. There are special Phos-Free chemicals which are supposed to eliminate phosphates by coating the filter with a fine substance, but they are expensive and cause high pressure drop. Since I need to water the lawn then anyway, I figure why not put the new water in the pool. I have seen a company who parks a van at your house with large hoses and filters to rejuvenate your existing pool water, but my method is much simpler and cheaper.
@@williamgrissom9022 Here on Long Island, it's all sand, because _Island,_ so it's not a problem.
Jay ... great video ... thank you! I opened mine up after I noticed a lot of de blowing back into the pool after a backwashing and the addition of de. I have been doing the same thing (6 scoops after a backwash on a 60 sf filter set) for the last two years with no issues. A week ago I started having the de blow back in. I removed the filters, washed them off very well and put them back in. I then ran a backwash with the lid off like you did ... but had ALOT of water coming out where the manifolds connect to each set of filter grids. When I closed up and put the unit back online ... I still had a lot de returning to the pool. Am I correct to assume that I should not see water coming out around the manifold during a backwash (with the lid off) except off the air relief? And what should be the target pressure on my 60 sf filter after a backwash/new de, with the vacuum off? Thank you!
Thanks for watching. What you saw in this video is the way it should be--water NOT leaking from the manifold. You can try taking it apart and see if the grids perhaps were not seated correctly. Or maybe your manifold was cracked. I had replaced the entire inner assembly, manifolds, grids, and all, just recently.
If you're lucky just the grids are dislodged. If they are not but there's still leakage, it's probably best to just replace the entire assembly.
Target pressure varies from pool to pool. This one's around 20-22 with everything working correctly, after a backwash.
thanks Jay! Are there supposed to be gaskets between the plastic manifold and the connectors on the filter grids?
@@whitdavis8486 That's a great question, and I'm afraid I don't know the answer to it. I never took mine apart as I saw no need to. My old filter grid assembly that I replaced was actually missing the nut that holds it together, so all the grids fell out of it, but I didn't really pay enough attention to notice it. If I did notice it, I probably would have peeled all of them off and saved them, just in case...
@@jaykay18 gotcha ya ... thanks again Jay! I really appreciate you taking the time to answer my questions.
@@whitdavis8486 No problem. It's rare these days to find video creators actually answering their comments. I always hated that, when I had a valid question about a video, and never got a response. So I make it a point to change that.
I have this same Hayward filter on my 40,000 gallon pool and it works great. I think I’m going to start cleaning it as you do here as getting the grids out as an entire unit is rather heavy for me. Once the DE drys a week or so later, it can usually be scooped up and discarded. Just watch where you’re emptying a lot of water and running a pump at the same time. Electricity and water is a hazard especially if there’s any short in the system. A little bit of DE left in the bottom of the filter is not that big of deal.
Water and electricity likely wouldn't be much of a problem. The circuit breaker would trip. Had it happen after a rainstorm overnight and the pump wiring was frayed (which I knew about.). Pump started in the morning and shut off less than half a second later. It tripped the circuit breaker not only in the sub-panel but in the house as well. So I know they're working as designed.
@@jaykay18 water and electricity do not mix. If your pump has an unknown electrical short in it, and you touch it standing in pool of water, that’s not good for your health.
@@loreall.2461 There are people who tell me I'm going to die by not wearing a mask when I administer D.E. I've lit myself up with electricity quite a few times in my day. I don't seek it or enjoy it, but it's happened.
@@jaykay18 Ha! I don’t wear a mask either with the DE, but I do try not to inhale it when I’m adding it to the skimmer. Be well, and don’t hit your head on the way into the pool!
@@loreall.2461 That's funny! With the amount I drink, I'm surprised it hasn't happened yet, though it did happen to someone else who was over. Generally, I keep myself together. I know just how far to push something so it just teeter-totters on the edge. More importantly, I know to go no further!
After cleaning my grids the pressure is down to about 600. My DE filter is a newer model where the gauge is marked normal-clean and clean starts at 2,000. so it appears your pressure is still too high.
No, every pool is different and has its own range of normal.
How much DE powder this needs? I have sort of similar size but I don't see on it how much DE
Sort of similar doesn't mean the same. You need to find out which filter model you have and then you can look up how much DE. The general rule of thumb is 1 scoop per 10 sq. ft. of filtering. But without knowing what filter you have, it's pointless.
Great job. Tedious, but great.
**One thing I do to make it easier for clean-up is attach a vacuum hose adapter (we all have them) to the bottom of the filter housing where the drain water exits and then attach a blue discharge/backwash hose to it. (have that also) Make sure to attach it with a hose clamp so that it stays on when the water flows out. This will divert the "green gunk" away from where I'm working. That way I'm not stepping in it when I'm working and the clean-up is all in one area. Hope you find this useful.
Thank you. Excellent tip. I unfortunately don't have the "luxury" of such a hookup, I don't own the equipment, as this pool has a drywell for it to backwash into. I'd have to buy said hose and adapter. But everyone's setup is a bit different, all performing the same basic functions.
I always have an issue getting my top back on and getting the ring on. I have no pressure (I leave the the bun out and the gage open) and I seem to need to use the rubber mallet to shimmy the ring on around the pieces to get screw on. Yours just went on easy...
And you must be a lucky for me. I went out and put the ring on and lubed up (and it didn't pop off like it normally does).Got the ring on the easiest I ever had by "myself"!- Put the bun back in and Boom.
12 PSI and running great! THANK YOU!!!
You're welcome!
It’s so easy to do.
Hi there my filter is a little different , mine doesnt have that plug in the drain opening but it has a metal knob at the bottom and you can turn to drain or backwash ,and it just started to leak from the opening of the drain , is there any kind of seal there ? thanks
Chances are it's probably a valve of some kind; without seeing it, it's impossible to tell. Chances are good, it can be removed, and replaced. You may wish to find the brand and model of your filter, and look it up on the Internet, chances are you'll find information about it, maybe even the manual, and it may just have the information you're looking for.
@@jaykay18 thank you
@@tulio3571 Sure thing, best of luck.
Good job and you seem like a nice person. Grids are a real pain but I am having to replace my filter so I may go to cartridge style. I have done what you have done here but I never used the backwash while doing it and that seems to really help.
DE filters offer the best filtration you can get, but also take some extra work. I'm not adverse to the extra work, when this operation really only takes 15-20 minutes and I do it once every year, or sometimes once every 2 years.
Very detail, really helpful.
Thanks Carol.
Good video, we use to pull our filters out and lightly power wash them, once we learned how to replace them it wasn’t that bad. It is a pain though.
That's exactly why I didn't pull them.
I coated my filter with the clear flex spray sealer. Keeps that fiberglass down.
I like the idea. Gloves work fine for me.
@@jaykay18 I do both..
I cut a square of the old solar cover, cut a hole in the middle and pop it over air nozzle. I can lean an elbow on it now without going crazy itching later.
@@worthington5687 Interesting idea. I simply respect it and don't touch it.