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filter without DE

17 years ago

This morning I backwashed my filter before I realized we ran out of DE. I went out to pick some up and run other errands and when I got back found that someone had disregarded my note to leave the filter off. It ran for two hours without DE. What now?? Should I just put DE in and see how it goes or is there something that has to be done to it. thanks

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Comments (5)

houseful
17 years ago
I shouldn't be a problem because the DE just coats the filters that are already in the tank. It provides for filtering those extra-fine particles. Hopefully someone else will post and verify this, because I ran mine for a couple hours without DE as well.
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Lisa_Jones
17 years ago
I may be mistaken, but I thought I read somewhere that running your filter without DE can damage your grids ...
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houseful
17 years ago
You're so right, Lisa. I was questioning myself so I found the online PDF owner's manual and copied this:

"Never operate filter in excess of three (3) minutes without use of diatomaceous earth. Diatomaceous earth is the substance
that filters the water, the filter cloth merely supports the diatomaceous earth. Operating without diatomaceous earth will
damage filter elements and shorten filtering cycles."

My DH told me mine didn't run nearly as long as I thought it did -- it was more like thirty minutes. Still longer than it should have, but he's not worried about it.
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johninsocal
17 years ago
it's unlikely you flushed all the DE out with your backwash procedure so you are probably ok. Take off your filter cap some time after backwashing and you may be amazed how dirty it still is and how much DE is still in there. I was and this is why I always just break down the filter and clean it when it's needed. Also this way you know exactly how much DE to add. Backwashing is obviously much easier though.

If after putting the DE in you don't see any coming back into the pool then you are probably fine.
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tbenton
17 years ago
I have an issue that this forum might be able to help with. We are having a problem with DE leaking into pool. We have had the pool 20 yrs and are pretty good at fixing stuff. This has happened before but it was because there was a tear in one or more of the filter grids. This time we replaced the one torn grid, checked/cleaned the air bleeder in the tank, checked the manifold elbow where the grids hook up and changed the 'O' rings in the push-pull backwash lever. That all we know to do. The DE leaks into the pool in intervals and not all the time which is really strange. Looking for help on this AND since some DE is leaking into the pool every so often I wonder how much is really being lost? Should I add more every now and then until we figure out whats wrong? We are trying to clear up the pool water after opening so I need to run it as much as I can but of course am not leaving it on all day/night as I usually do to clear it.Its all very distressing. Any help would sure be appreciated.

Terri
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