How To Add DE To A Pool

As a swimming pool owner do you know what type of filter you have? The most common filter found in swimming pools is sand because it is relatively easy to maintain but Diatomaceous Earth (DE) or cartridge can also be found too. In the industry, if you talk to most people they will say DE Filters are the hardest to deal with but at Weber Pools, we feel strongly about them and want to teach you how to backwash them, give you a step by step process on what to do, the benefits of using them, and what pools they are best used on. First and foremost, backwashing is the act of cleaning your filter after it’s collected dirt and debris from your pool. It works by sending pool water backward through your filter and out the waste or drain.

Benefits of Owning A DE Filter

1. Great for pools with lots of vegetation
2. Cleans the largest surface area
3. Filters down to the smallest micron when compared to sand and cartridge

5 Steps To Backwashing Your DE Filter

1. First and most importantly, turn off your filtration system and put your filter in the proper backwash position
2. Turn on your filtration system and run it for approximately 2 minutes through a backwash hose or PVC pipe that directs the water away from the pool and into a designated area. Ideally, you will want to run the backwash until the water becomes clear.
3. Put backwash valve back into normal filtration mode for roughly 30 seconds and then repeat step #2 again for about a minute or until the water is clear.
4. Turn the system off and then turn backwash valve back to regular filtration mode
5. Turn your system back on and add DE Powder through the skimmer as quickly as possible. It is extremely important for the filter grids to be coated with DE so you must have enough DE on hand. Please note, if you don’t add enough DE to the grids, dirt will attach itself to the grids and not backwash off. This can cause your filter to short cycle or ruin the grids.

How Much DE To Add To your Filter

First, you will need to determine the size of your DE Filter which you can usually locate on the side of the filter. Next, we highly recommend buying a DE Scoop to help measure the amount. If you don’t have a DE Scoop a metal coffee can would be a possible option. Since DE is measured in pounds we ultimately recommend buying a one pound DE Scoop for accuracy.

• 36 sq ft. filter – 4.5 pounds (4.5 scoops)
• 48 sq ft. filter – 6 pounds (6 scoops)
• 60 sq ft. filter – 7.5 pounds (7.5 scoops)

Please note, typically all new filters will have gauges that recommend when it is time to backwash the filter. Typically when you start you will want to manually change the gauge to remind you to clean when it is approximately 10psi above starting the starting point.

 If you happen to own a DE Filter and aren’t sure when it’s time to backwash or take it apart and clean it, please contact the best pool service in Dallas!