How often to clean DE filter during SLAM

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thedeependent

Active member
Jun 30, 2024
38
SoCal
Started my SLAM process yesterday and my SPA area has completely cleared up (the SPA water spills into the pool). The primary pool area seems to be getting less green (was murky green before). My question is how often should I be backwashing or completely changing my DE media? I did it once already today since the PSI on my pump went from 12 to 20. After cleaning and adding new DE, the pump registered 8 psi and is slowly climbing back past 15 PSI.

I do notice the return jets from both the spa and pool area are not as strong as I remember them to be. Not sure if that is related to the PSI increase.

TIA for any tips!
 
We recommend you clean a filter when your filter pressure is 25% higher than the pressure with a clean filter.

If your clean pressure is 8, you clean it at 10 psi.
 
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mknauss said:
We recommend you clean a filter when your filter pressure is 25% higher than the pressure with a clean filter.

If your clean pressure is 8, you clean it at 10 psi.
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Does that mean to backwash or do I need to open up the filter and wash it down and replace DE every time? And is it normal to have to do this multiple times a day during the slam process?
 
You can back flush. Though that will have diminished success over time.
That is the scourge of how well a DE filter filters. You can bypass the filter (do you have a MPV?) to allow circulation when you cannot clean the filter.
 
You can bump DE filters to redistribute the DE but it only works so many times (3 or 4) before needing to backwash and recharge the filer with DE. When I had a DE filter I never opened the filter mid season to wash the grids but I guess if you can't get the pressure to be close to what you started at then doing that may be necessary.
 
VinnyinNJ said:
You can bump DE filters to redistribute the DE but it only works so many times (3 or 4) before needing to backwash and recharge the filer with DE. When I had a DE filter I never opened the filter mid season to wash the grids but I guess if you can't get the pressure to be close to what you started at then doing that may be necessary.
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How do I "bump" DE filters? I have an old Pentair.
 
was running the pump all night and noticed that the pump basket area was running dry (not sure for how long). I restarted the pump and it seemed to have water flow through again. The return jets have even less flow now. I’ve also noticed that the check valve cover seems to be pooling water. Does that mean the cover is cracked? Could that be causing the slow water return as well as the dry pumping?
 
Please show us a picture(s) of your equipment pad. I have no idea what you described above.
 

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Where is the valve for the filter? I think it is behind, need a picture of that.
If the check valve is leaking it would be wet underneath it. Or it was just dew that built up on its lid.
 
mknauss said:
Where is the valve for the filter? I think it is behind, need a picture of that.
If the check valve is leaking it would be wet underneath it. Or it was just dew that built up on its lid.
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the only valves I am aware of are the return and intake valves (black pieces). The filter has a backwash lever on the bottom.

And the check valve definitely isn’t dew. I’ll wipe it off and the water would pool up again (maybe a 1/8” worth)
 
A picture would help, I do not think a slide valve would be on the bottom of the filter housing.
 
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