D.E. Powder is Leaking into my Pool!
There are three main types of D.E. filters on the market today. The most common is the traditional grid type D.E. filter which consists of a Top Manifold, 8 grids in a circular pattern, and a bottom manifold. This is the type made by Pentair, Jandy, and Hayward as well as off-brand makers like Waterway. Pentair makes a unique D.E. filter known as the Quad D.E. Filter and this filter consists of up to 4 cartridges instead of vertical grids. They also make a Quad D.E. Filter for their Sta-Rite brand. The last type is made by Hayward and is often referred to as a “Bump D.E. Filter” and is their Perflex D.E. Filter. These filters are usually found in above-ground pools and are not very popular in my area.
If Your D.E. filter is leaking D.E. back into your pool here are the possible sources:
1. Air gets into the system allowing the filter to drain back into the pool when the pump turns off. You will see D.E. leaking back into the pool through the skimmer and main drain. Find an air leak and repair it.
2. The top manifold has a crack in it. For the Pentair 2000 and 4000 series note that the top manifold is actually on the filter bottom. Replace the top manifold to stop the leak.
3. The Air bleeder assembly is missing the screen or cloth cover, replace that and the leak should stop.
4. The stem o-ring (Stand Pipe o-ring) is missing or loose. This will let D.E. back into the pool and replacing it is the solution. ALA-601-4608 0-24-9 O-RING AMP/PUR/HAY/PAC/SAU (STEM)
5. A grid has a tear in it or the top portion that goes into the manifold is broken. Replace the grid and this will fix the issue.
6. Under rare situations, the Stand Pipe itself has come loose from the filter. Replace the Stand Pipe and the leak will be fixed.
What makes the D.E. filter so effective is the D.E. itself or Diatomaceous Earth, which is used to coat the grids. This white powder material will filter out dirt, viruses, and bacteria as well as fine particles allowing for crystal clear water to flow back into the pool. If you have ever cleaned a D.E. filter you will notice that the D.E. will be coated with dirt and algae as well as fine debris, leaving the grids clean and white underneath. A cartridge filter cannot do this by design as the dirt, algae, and debris will stick to the pleats in the cartridge material themselves. The D.E. acts as a type of secondary media or you can even look at the D.E. as a shield that absorbs all of the filtered particles allowing for clear water to return to the pool.
There are some drawbacks to D.E. Filters that you need to be aware of. The first drawback is the D.E. powder itself. It is messy and if you have an all-cement deck it can be a pain to clean up after cleaning or backwashing your filter. D.E. is also banned by many cities and if they find you expelling D.E. into the street they will fine you anywhere from $10,000 or more. Some cities even ban the installation of D.E. filters entirely.
Another drawback is that if a grid or manifold has a tear or crack, the D.E. filter media will blow right back into the pool (see above points to correct a leak). Even the smallest tear will allow large amounts of D.E. back into your pool. This will turn the water cloudy and also create poor filtration leading to algae growth and the chlorine zeroing out. A simple fix is to take the filter apart and replace all of the torn or broken parts. But be aware that a D.E. leaking back into your pool is a common issue with a D.E. Filter.
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