Calling all pool experts...

[Code510]

Hey all,

I bought a house a few months back with a pool. Never owned a house with a pool before. It's been quite the learning experience. I'm determined to figure it all out by myself instead of paying for a weekly/monthly service.

While my chemicals have been in check, I can't seem to keep the damn thing clean. There's an excessive amount of dirt that settles/builds up on the bottom of it every week. WAY too much.

I don't know the terminology here, so bear with me...but it has the canister filter, with individual filters in there that are radius in shape. It does take the diatomaceous earth. I've taken the filters out, hosed them off, hosed out the canister, put in new DE, everything. But it's still pumping a lot of dirt back into the pool.

For example. This first shot, I turned on the filter, and swept this half of the pool, the shallow end. The filter ran for a few hours after this. I didn't sweep the deep end, as to not disturb that sediment.


Came back a few hours later, and this is how it looks:



Obviously, something is wrong with my filter. I'll have to take some pictures of that tonight. Anything popping out to anybody what might be wrong? All the wings of the filter looked like they were in great shape, no tears or rips.

Thanks for the help!

[cluxford]

repeat the process but remove the filter, see what happens.

I replace my filter annually. It gets thoroughly hosed out monthly

I also run a vacuum for 2-3 hours in winter and around 4-5 hours in summer

Pool remains spotless.

BTW is it a concrete or fibreglass pool ?

Reason, fibreglass are much much easier to maintain. Chemical balance is more easily retained and also they tend to stain less and have less mould growth.

Having had both and having fibreglass now, I'll never have another concrete pool.

[dhutton]

It looks like your DE grids are worn out. When they wear out the DE can pass through them. At least that is my guess based on your description. Post up a picture of your filter. How are you adding the DE?

Don

[Code510]

Originally Posted by cluxford

repeat the process but remove the filter, see what happens.

I replace my filter annually. It gets thoroughly hosed out monthly

I also run a vacuum for 2-3 hours in winter and around 4-5 hours in summer

Pool remains spotless.

BTW is it a concrete or fibreglass pool ?

Reason, fibreglass are much much easier to maintain. Chemical balance is more easily retained and also they tend to stain less and have less mould growth.

Having had both and having fibreglass now, I'll never have another concrete pool.

It's fiberglass. Not that I have experience, but I have noticed the chemical end of this is cake. The filter is set to run 6 hours each night. Not sure if that's right. I was researching that it needs to run long enough to cycle the water in the pool two times. Is that correct?

Originally Posted by dhutton

It looks like your DE grids are worn out. When they wear out the DE can pass through them. At least that is my guess based on your description. Post up a picture of your filter. How are you adding the DE?

Don

They very well could be. They look like they are in great shape, but who knows how old they are. I'll get some pictures of that tonight or tomorrow. But that would explain too why I'm seeing a lot of DE in the bottom of the pool.

I added the DE into the skimmer, with the filter running. That's what the instructions said to do on the box. Is that correct?

I did notice that the very first time I took the filters out to hose them out, they had a nice, uniform layer of DE. After I did that, I added DE to the skimmer. Fast forward a few weeks or so, the pool wasn't getting cleaned so I popped the lid off the canister. All the DE seemed like it was at the top of the elements, not very uniform.

Thanks again for the help!!

[dhutton]

Do you have an automatic pool cleaner?

Yep, add it to the skimmer slowly.

Don

[Code510]

Originally Posted by dhutton

Do you have an automatic pool cleaner?

Yep, add it to the skimmer slowly.

Don

I don't, but want to invest in one.

Speaking of cleaners and skimmers....how should I have the water flowing? Whoever cleaned/set up the pool before I moved in had it set to 100% skimmer. It's an older style skimmer where you turn the valve to active the main drain. I put it on 100% main drain while experimenting playing with the cleaning, which didn't work. Had it on 50/50 as well.

Does one setting work better than another?

[Vegas69]

A couple other things. I had a diaphragm failure in one of my filter housings and it let some of the water return unfiltered. I believe the filters rest on top of it. Without a automatic pool sweeper, it will get dirty fast with any wind. Your pool should be filtering 8 hours a day this time of year.

I'm with these guys. Pools are a money pit. Wife had to have one...

[GregWeld]

If you have paper pleated filters (probably 4 of them) inside the filter housing -- that's NOT a diatomaceous filter. Clean them all up and DO NOT add any earth.... and your pool will be fine.

[Yelcamino]

Originally Posted by Vegas69

I'm with these guys. Pools are a money pit. Wife had to have one...

Not trying to hijack the thread, but what about a hot tub? Is it just a smaller money pit or worth the hassle? We don't have any kids so a pool isn't needed but the thought of relaxing in a hot tub is enticing.

[Ron in SoCal]

I worked my way through college running a pool company. As others mentioned, you have DE there on the bottom. This again comes from a tear in the crescent shaped filers or one of the filters is not seated correctly in the manifold. Super simple to take apart inspect and replace bad filters or reinstall if there's a seating issue. Make sure you reinstall the filter lid carefully and completely. Those are under pressure and I've seen them blow 50 feet in the air when the band clamp fails. Typically about a quarter to a half inch separation on the band clamp when tightened will do (don't over tighten). Step back after turning the system on and observe the pump/filter getting primed and pressurized.

The skimmer should be at least 50/50, sometimes more when the wind blows to keep the pool clean and water as healthy as it can be. Chlorine sanitizes, filtration keeps the water nice and clear. Skimming breaks the water tension where bacteria builds up and allows the chlorine to do its job. Keep the chemicals balanced via testing, never too much acid (!) and add conditioner once a year which allows the chlorine to do its job and not dissipate right away. Done right, pool water is more bacteria-free than tap water (assuming all the kids in the neighborhood aren't swimming in it, lol).

Oh, and they are a PITA.

Happy to help via PM if you have any more questions.