Cleaning a Diatomaceous Earth (DE) Pool Filter

A clean swimming pool filter is a key element for having a clean and sparkling pool all year round. When the swimming pool filter is neglected, the result will be constant struggles with the pool and may cause many other costly problems. Keeping up on the filter maintenance can be easy if done routinely. Following are the basics of cleaning a diatomaceous earth (DE) swimming pool filter.

Turn off the pool equipment - turn off the main circuit breaker for the swimming pool equipment or the circuit breaker at the pool equipment if needed, but make sure the pool equipment does not start up while the filter is apart.

Relieve the pressure from the filter - open up the pressure relief valve on the main filter in order to release all the pressure from the pool system.

Drain the water from the DE filter - unscrew and remove the drain plug from the filter housing in order to drain all the water from the filter.

Open the filter housing - once all of the water is drained and pressure released from the filter, carefully remove the tank clamp and then remove the top of the filter tank.

Remove the dirty DE grids - carefully remove the dirty DE grids from the filter housing.

Thoroughly clean the DE grids - using a high pressure spray nozzle on a garden hose, thoroughly spray the DE filter grids down until the grids are clean. In some cases, it might be necessary to disassemble the grids in order to get them clean. If so, pay close attention to how they come apart so putting them back together is easier. In most cases disassembly is not required to get the grids clean. After the grids are clean, carefully inspect each grid to make sure there are no rips or tears in any of the grids. Replace any grids that have rips or tears.

Clean the inside of the filter tank - spray down the inside of the filter tank until all the dirt and D.E. is gone. Also, clean the main filter o-ring in order to remove any dirt or debris and allow a good and tight seal when the filter is reassembled.

Re-insert the clean DE grid assembly back into the filter - carefully re-install the clean and/or reassembled DE filter grids back into the filter tank.

Close and secure the filter tank.

Restart the pool equipment - when restarting the pool equipment, leave the pressure relief valve open until all the air has been purged from the filter. Observe the filter running for a few minutes to make sure there aren't any leaks.

Add diatomaceous earth - once the filter is up and running, add the appropriate amount of DE back into the filter. The DE can be added slowly through the skimmer while the filter is running. Make sure the proper amount of DE is added. The filter size should be labeled by square feet on the outside of the filter tank. Follow the directions on the diatomaceous earth packaging for the proper amount of DE to add. After adding one or two scoops, watch the return lines and make sure DE is not returning to the pool. If there is DE returning to the pool, there is probably a breech in one or more of the DE grids or the grids may have been installed improperly.

Note the pressure - once the filter is up and running again, make a note of the pressure on the pressure gauge. When the pressure goes up 10psi, it is time to clean the DE filter again.

Establishing and sticking to a routine cleaning schedule for diatomaceous earth (DE) pool filters is half the battle when it comes to keeping the pool sparkling clean. DE filters typically need to be cleaned 2 - 3 times per year.

Remember, for best results when cleaning a diatomaceous earth (DE) swimming pool filter, read and follow the manufacturer's instructions carefully. If the instructions have been lost or misplaced, contact the manufacturer for replacement instructions. Often times the manufacturers provide easy access to downloading the instructions from their web site.

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