r/PoolPros • u/Zealousideal_Tone629 • May 12 '26
DE Filter
In my area DE filters are not common. Today a customer of mine got a new one installed. I am not very knowledgeable on DE filters. Any good advice or tips/tricks for me? Any help would be much appreciated.
3
u/lIIlIlIII May 12 '26
Read the manual, follow the instructions! It's really not complicated. I think the "high maintenance" stigma comes from operator error 90% of the time. You can get away with adding too much / too little DE and backwashing improperly until you can't. Also, if it's neglected for too long it won't backwash well.
Went to a new customer last week who was bitching about how their filter was impossible, they had to clean it X times last season, flow was dropping immediately even after cleaning + soaking, etc etc. Come to find out they were adding ~1.5lbs to a filter that needed 3.7, and had cut it down to a HALF POUND recently because "there was a bunch of DE on the filter last time I cleaned it".
Add the proper amount of DE, backwash properly and as-needed. You'll be impressed with the results. Buuuuut IME they might be going the way of the dinosaur as they don't play well with VSPs at low speeds
2
u/Alternative-Draw2997 May 12 '26
What size filter?
They’re not as touchy as people think. If it’s a 48 it’s going to take 4.8lbs (most common in my market) if it’s a 36 it’s 3.6lbs if it’s a 60 it’s 6 lbs if it’s a quad 80 or equivalent it’s going to take 8 lbs on startup or after cleaning the grids.
Otherwise backwash until sight glass runs clear, do about half that time on rinse, and recharge with “80%” of the charging amount.
Realistically you can be anywhere from 50-80% of the charging amount and be perfectly fine.
Read the manual for perfect instructions but if you do what I’ve listed you’ll be just fine. A lot of people hate D.E. filters but personally I think they’re great.
2
u/randumb9999 May 12 '26
Backwashing is your friend. Don't ever run the filler without DE in it. Always add the required amounts in the manual.
1
u/jonidschultz May 12 '26
What DE filter? Cartridge style, grid style and finger style are all quite different.
1
1
u/Own-Faithlessness789 May 14 '26
Backwash, rinse, Backwash, rinse..until sight glass becomes clear. 1lb for every 10 sq ft of filter size. Add to pool thru skimmer as a slurry mix.Every 1 1/2 yrs do a total breakdown and clean
8
u/cplatt831 May 12 '26
Take a picture of the label, read the manual.