Safe Ways to Check a DE Pool Filter
- For the entire cleaning process, you will need a 5-gallon bucket, a milk crate or another type of container in which you can put the parts of the filter after disassembling. You will also need a garden hose and some additional hand tools. The types of hand tools you will need depends on what style of DE filter you use. Filters that attach with so-called "belly bands" are filters you can disassemble by hand (though you may need a Phillips-head screwdriver), but those that attach with bolts will require either a socket wrench or crescent wrench. You may additionally want to purchase some chemical pool filter cleanser from a pool supply store, but typically high-pressure water from a garden hose will work just fine.
- First, shut down your pool's filtering system completely by unplugging all components of the filtering and pumping mechanisms from their electrical sources. For "belly-band" DE filters, open the air relief valve on the filter tank and remove the drain plug. Look for the belly band nut (it will be protruding from end of the belly band) and loosen it. Remove the spring and washers; the belly band should loosen from the surface of the filter. Pry the filter open by hand or with a Phillips-head screwdriver. For non-belly-band filters, loosen any attachment bolts until you can pry the filter open by hand or with a screwdriver.
- First, clean the so-called "grids" or "fingers" (you'll have either one or the other; "fingers" are slender cylinders that protrude upward from the filter, while "grids" are typically thin, rectangular pieces stacked together). Regardless of which style of filter you have, rinse the fingers or grids thoroughly with the garden hose. The fingers and grids are the part of the filter that do the actual filtering, so make sure to spend some time getting them clean. The filters or grids should be white after cleaning and free from any detritus, dust or particles. When you finish, simply reassemble the DE filter in the reverse order of that which you disassembled it.
- Exercising regular preventative maintenance can ward off potential problems with your DE filters, not to mention guaranteeing that you need to clean the filter only when absolutely necessary. Always cover your pool during autumn and any times of the year when the pool is likely to collect leaves and other debris, as this matter can easily clog your pool's filters and compromise their effectiveness. Backwash your pool's filtering system at least once per week or as advised by the manufacturer's instructions. When you have your DE filter disassembled prior to cleaning it, use the opportunity to inspect the O-ring, seals and other components of the filter to make sure they do not need replacing.