Several years ago we replaced the pump on an in ground pool with a DE
filter. The new pump does flow more water and things were fine for the
first season and then pressures would go up, output would decrease and the
pool would get green. The DE would get changed with a grid cleaning and
things were OK for a mounth or so then green pool. The grids were changed
as we noticed DE in the bottom of the pool. Now we are back to high
pressures, low flow, air on the suction side (the leaf trap on the pump
has an air pocket), geen pool. The pump is just barely below the water
level in the pool. Did I get sold a pump that is to big? It is a Whisper
Flow 3/4 hp with 1&1/2 inch piping. Tom

--
posted from
http://www.homeownershub.com/mainten...em-761242-.htm
using HomeOwnersHub's Web, RSS and Social Media Interface
to home and garden related groups

On Wed, 28 Aug 2013 20:44:01 +0000, Tom
wrote:

Several years ago we replaced the pump on an in ground pool with a DE
filter. The new pump does flow more water and things were fine for the
first season and then pressures would go up, output would decrease and the
pool would get green. The DE would get changed with a grid cleaning and
things were OK for a mounth or so then green pool. The grids were changed
as we noticed DE in the bottom of the pool. Now we are back to high
pressures, low flow, air on the suction side (the leaf trap on the pump
has an air pocket), geen pool. The pump is just barely below the water
level in the pool. Did I get sold a pump that is to big? It is a Whisper
Flow 3/4 hp with 1&1/2 inch piping. Tom

Fill the pool with dirt and make a garden to grow fresh vegetables.

Tell how the pump could possibly be to big. A bubble or two under the
leaf basket lid is not a real concern unless air is being introduced
some how.

A "green pool" is not a filter / pump problem best I can tell. Maybe
those on the Home Groaners Hub can chime in to help.

On 8/28/2013 3:44 PM, Tom wrote:
Several years ago we replaced the pump on an in ground pool with a DE
filter. The new pump does flow more water and things were fine for the
first season and then pressures would go up, output would decrease and the
pool would get green. The DE would get changed with a grid cleaning and
things were OK for a mounth or so then green pool. The grids were changed
as we noticed DE in the bottom of the pool. Now we are back to high
pressures, low flow, air on the suction side (the leaf trap on the pump
has an air pocket), geen pool. The pump is just barely below the water
level in the pool. Did I get sold a pump that is to big? It is a Whisper
Flow 3/4 hp with 1&1/2 inch piping. Tom


You should have a air release valve on the top of the tank.

http://www.azpoolcare.biz/graphics/de-filter.jpg

If you do have air in your system it's most likely a gasket, cracked
valve lid, or a leak in a union.

With all that said: I'm not sure you'd have high pressure if you have
air in the system. Seems counter intuitive to me but, I don't have a DE
filter. I have a sand filter.

As far as your pump, have you had this problem since you purchased the
pump? Sounds to me more like a filter issue. Are you still getting DE in
the pool?

Tom wrote:
Several years ago we replaced the pump on an in ground pool with a DE
filter. The new pump does flow more water and things were fine for
the first season and then pressures would go up, output would
decrease and the pool would get green. The DE would get changed with
a grid cleaning and things were OK for a mounth or so then green
pool. The grids were changed as we noticed DE in the bottom of the
pool. Now we are back to high pressures, low flow, air on the
suction side (the leaf trap on the pump has an air pocket), geen
pool. The pump is just barely below the water level in the pool. Did I get
sold a pump that is to big? It is a Whisper Flow 3/4 hp
with 1&1/2 inch piping. Tom

If the pressure starts rising, doesn't that indicate that the filter is plugging
up? I thought that when that happens with DE, you were supposed to reverse flush
the filter, then add new DE to the intake to re-coat the filter. I haven't had
a DE filter in 20 years, so I'm no expert.

A little bubble in the trap is probably not a big problem. If there's
continuous air coming in, you have an intake leak which should be fixed. The
pressure going up would reduce the flow into the intake and lessen the air
problem, so the filter plugging up is probably not increasing the air problem.

“,… air on the suction side (the leaf trap on the pump
has an air pocket)”

I assume that you mean the skimmer is sucking air. Have you tried overfilling the pool or removing the weir? Is the main drain on the bottom of the pool blocked somehow?

On Wednesday, August 28, 2013 4:44:01 PM UTC-4, Tom wrote:
Several years ago we replaced the pump on an in ground pool with a DE

filter. The new pump does flow more water and things were fine for the

first season and then pressures would go up, output would decrease and the

pool would get green.


You have an algae problem and it's probably not caused by the
filter, but it's clogging it up quickly.
Are you maintaining the pool chemistry? Checking it 2x a week,
daily if it's not right until you get it corrected? Shocking
periodically? What is the CL level? I recommend getting a
Taylor test kit that does
all the necessary tests and doing it yourself. It's easy,
you can do it any time, a $50 kit will last several years.


Any exceptional runoff going into the pool when
it rains, eg from some shrub beds or similar? How many hours
a day are you filtering? Rule of thumb is you want to filter
enough to equal the volume of the pool each day. I've seen
pools that could get away with less than that and still not
have problems.

You need to deal with the algae. First rule is to make sure
you keep the chlorine level in line. But once you have algae,
normal levels won't eliminate it. You need to shock it and
depending on how bad it is, I'd take the chlorine up to 10ppm
to 25ppm level. The other approach is chemical.
There are two chemical approaches. You can either add a phosphate
remover to eliminate the food source for the algae, or you can
add a algaecide that kills it. I prefer the copper based ones,
they have worked for me. But then I rarely have an algae
problem. A lot depends on your environment.



The DE would get changed with a grid cleaning and

things were OK for a mounth or so then green pool.

Do you mean backwashing? Normally you backwash as needed
when the pressure rises to about 10psi over the level it
starts at when it's clean. And the filter gets taken apart
for a manual cleaning once a season. Since you're having
problems, I'd probably deal with the algae first, get the
pool mostly cleaned up, then take apart the DE filter for
a manual cleaning and inspection.




The grids were changed

as we noticed DE in the bottom of the pool.

Grids should last many years. Here the filter is now about
8 years old. It's about due for replacement. I think it's also
possible for DE to get into the pool if the multi-port valve
is bad. That valve controls where the water goes and I think
if it's bad then when you're backwashing for example, some
of the water could go to the pool instead of to the waste.

If you have the typical kind, they are easy to take apart
and check. Should be a bunch of bolts holding the top on.
You remove them, then the lift the whole thing out. Don't
worry, there aren't a lot of little widgets that are all
going to fall out At the bottom of the housing there
should be a spider gasket. Makes sure it's where it belongs,
not torn, etc. Also make sure the shaft of the valve is
lubed with some Teflon spray. It's spring loaded and if
it's not free, the plate won't seat against that spider
gasket and water can get anywhere in the valve.





Now we are back to high

pressures, low flow,

Sounds like the algae problem is clogging the filter. As soon
as the pressure rises 10psi, it should be backwashed. Are you
doing that correctly? You backwash until water runs mostly clear,
then go to rinse for maybe 15 secs, then back to backwash.
Repeat that cycle until it runs clear. Only move the valve with
the pump off.

Is the flow OK after backwashing? Or is there something else
going on?



air on the suction side (the leaf trap on the pump

has an air pocket), geen pool.


The most common source of air is the strainer top not being
sealed. Take if off, remove the rubber o-ring, clean it all
and try again. Make sure it's tight. If you still have a problem, try putting a thin coating of Teflon lube on the o-ring.

I wouldn't be worried about a quarter size bubble at the top.
If there are no leaks at all, normally you would not have even
that. But if there is a significant leak somewhere, then you
will see more air and even bubbles coming in.





The pump is just barely below the water

level in the pool. Did I get sold a pump that is to big? It is a Whisper

Flow 3/4 hp with 1&1/2 inch piping. Tom




I guess that depends on how big the pool is. Hard to imagine it's
too big. IDK if they come any smaller, that's probably more common
in an above ground. The ingrounds that I've seen typically use 1hp,
some more than that.

On 8/29/2013 9:17 AM, wrote:
On Wednesday, August 28, 2013 4:44:01 PM UTC-4, Tom wrote:
Several years ago we replaced the pump on an in ground pool with a DE

filter. The new pump does flow more water and things were fine for the

first season and then pressures would go up, output would decrease and the

pool would get green.


You have an algae problem and it's probably not caused by the
filter, but it's clogging it up quickly.
Are you maintaining the pool chemistry? Checking it 2x a week,
daily if it's not right until you get it corrected? Shocking
periodically? What is the CL level? I recommend getting a
Taylor test kit that does
all the necessary tests and doing it yourself. It's easy,
you can do it any time, a $50 kit will last several years.


Any exceptional runoff going into the pool when
it rains, eg from some shrub beds or similar? How many hours
a day are you filtering? Rule of thumb is you want to filter
enough to equal the volume of the pool each day. I've seen
pools that could get away with less than that and still not
have problems.

You need to deal with the algae. First rule is to make sure
you keep the chlorine level in line. But once you have algae,
normal levels won't eliminate it. You need to shock it and
depending on how bad it is, I'd take the chlorine up to 10ppm
to 25ppm level. The other approach is chemical.
There are two chemical approaches. You can either add a phosphate
remover to eliminate the food source for the algae, or you can
add a algaecide that kills it. I prefer the copper based ones,
they have worked for me. But then I rarely have an algae
problem. A lot depends on your environment.



I agree with the environment comment. I seem to have more algae issues
around this time of year but the trees here like to dump stuff almost
year-round here. I never have used algaecide. I don't even think about
it. I'll check the phosphates, balance the chemicals, then shock. If
that doesn't do it, it's got to be a filter issue. Which I have had.

Once he does get the algae controlled he'll have to remove the
itty-bitty dead algae carcasses. I've never used DE but I did just
recently add 3 cups of Zeofiber to my sand filter. The stuff works well.
Cleared my pool in a couple of days and it's a pretty cheap fix. It's
supposed to work in DE filters too.

http://www.poolplaza.com/mm5/graphic...EOFIBER3-F.jpg

I got mine at the pool store for about $13. There appears to be enough
in a bag for a few years. But the OP needs to get his pool chemicals
right first. It's not a miracle cure.

Sniped the rest, but it all seems like good advice to me.

The color will work well for camouflage when WW3 starts. Prepare yourself.


Christopher A. Young
Learn about Jesus
www.lds.org


"Tom" wrote in message
roups.com...
Several years ago we replaced the pump on an in ground pool with a DE
filter. The new pump does flow more water and things were fine for the
first season and then pressures would go up, output would decrease and
the
pool would get green. The DE would get changed with a grid cleaning and
things were OK for a mounth or so then green pool. The grids were
changed
as we noticed DE in the bottom of the pool. Now we are back to high
pressures, low flow, air on the suction side (the leaf trap on the pump
has an air pocket), geen pool. The pump is just barely below the water
level in the pool. Did I get sold a pump that is to big? It is a
Whisper
Flow 3/4 hp with 1&1/2 inch piping. Tom

--
posted from
http://www.homeownershub.com/mainten...em-761242-.htm
using HomeOwnersHub's Web, RSS and Social Media Interface
to home and garden related groups