My DE filter works fine for like 10 min and then the pressure goes up

[fog80]

Thanks for all your help guys. I do this every year. I keep forgetting that it takes a my pool a while go get in good shape (thats another issue) and for the de usage to calm down.

[Rbrenton]

I learned the slow way that there is no alternative to vacuuming to waste with a DE filter. It simply becomes overwhelmed much more quickly than one might expect, and my pool is always a pea soup mess in the spring.

I don't like doing that because I feel enormous pressure to get done before wasting more and more water.

[fog80]

ok yesterday I backwashed completely and added fresh de. I thought I was good because the psi dropped to 10-15 from 30.

I go inside and come back 30 min later and the psi is up to 25. So i bump and start again and the pressure only goes down to 20 and then goes back up to 25 within minutes.

The pressure is not the problem, its when the psi hits 25 the water flow almost stops, i see nothing going into skimmer and nothing coming out of the returns.

I backwashed and filled de three times yesterday and my pressure starts out at between 10-15is getting up to 30psi within an hour.

What do I do now? vacuum to waste? My water is more blue than green, but wont hold chlorine overnight, and i cant see the bottom.

[anotherpyr]

When you test your water do you have a lot of combined chlorine? I'm guessing you're killing algae and that is why you can't see the bottom and the filter is clogging.

[fog80]

ok bad situation is even worse now.

i was vacuuming to waste today and making good progress because I was emptying the filter basket like every 5 minutes.

However towards the end i started losing suction and now i have a pretty serious clog in my skimmer line. I tried to force it through with a garden hose and that didnt work. Then i tried using a stick and it sort of pushed the clog down even further.

when i turn the other skimmer on and run the filter the clogged filter doesnt do anything. but when i close the other skimmer the clogged skimmer will work (but very slowly)


what should i do?

[ivyleager]

You could use a pipe snake, like plumbers use. I'll bet you can rent one for the day. Home depot would have one, but unless you think you'll be using it more than once, then not worth the $$.

I've always vacuumed to waste without taking out the skimmer basket. That way nothing gets into the pipes. Is yours set up that way?

Good luck.

CaryB
(The Cup stays state-side!)

[fog80]

You could use a pipe snake, like plumbers use. I'll bet you can rent one for the day. Home depot would have one, but unless you think you'll be using it more than once, then not worth the $$.

I've always vacuumed to waste without taking out the skimmer basket. That way nothing gets into the pipes. Is yours set up that way?

Good luck.

CaryB
(The Cup stays state-side!)

I wish I could have done it that way, but I have to take the skimmer basket out and put the hose directly into the hole. All leaves get trapped in the pump basket. I was filling up that basket every 7-10 minutes!

Last night I went to home depot to try the bladder thing I saw mentioned on this forum. However the thing like busted inside the skimmer and didnt remove the clog. I then took a super long drill bit and slowly tried to break away the clog in the skimmer and it seems to have done something because its not "squishy" anymore when I poke it with the bit. However I cant tell where the 90 degree turn is so I think i got the trash that was in the "straightaway" part of the pipe, but theres got to me more in the 90 degree elbow.

Today I think I am going to have to cut the skimmer line from the pump side (where it sticks out of the ground) and try either a snake or another one of the bladder things to force the clog out of the line.

Any other suggestions?