De Filter Help Needed, Please!

[Diamond Girl]

We have had our pool for over 20 years and have had our pool problems in the past, but, nothing like this. Saturday, we bought a brand new DE filter with new pump. Pool water was green, followed the advice of the store and put in needed chemicals. Pool water starting to change to blue. Put DE in and started filter. Pressure on the filter starts at 10, within 30 seconds it rises to 14 and within 5 minutes, its at 20 and water returns to the pool with very little force. So, we're bumping the pool every 10 minutes. We did this for a while and then we changed out the DE and put in fresh dirt and same thing happens. We're doing this for a few hours. The next day, we took a water sample to the pool store where we got the filter and we return with more chemicals. Follow store's advice, step by step, change the DE again, run filter and again, same thing. Pressure starts at 10 and raises up to 20 within minutes. We can't make any progress in getting the water any clearer. Pool water is a very cloudy blue and can't see below 4 inches of visibility. Pool store recommended that we vacuum the pool, but if we don't have sufficient pressure, how can we?

Do you think maybe we got a lemon for a filter? We are not new to taking care of pools and we've never had a problem like this before. Certainly not with new one.

Please help! Thanks.

[wsommariva]

Is the HP of the new pump the same as the old one?

When you first turned the pump on was the outflow strong?

As long as the pump has adequate HP and the filter is installed correctly, I think your very dirty water is clogging the filter as it should.

By chance did you add a phosphate remover? When I do I get significat pressure buildup and need to backwash for 7 seconds to bring it down until the phosphates are removed.

[Diamond Girl]

Is the HP of the new pump the same as the old one?

When you first turned the pump on was the outflow strong?

As long as the pump has adequate HP and the filter is installed correctly, I think your very dirty water is clogging the filter as it should.

By chance did you add a phosphate remover? When I do I get significat pressure buildup and need to backwash for 7 seconds to bring it down until the phosphates are removed.

Yes, new pump with the filter is the same as our old one, 1 HP. This is about the 4th filter since we bought the pool. We always get the same type, since it always worked out well in the past for us. Can I mention the brand here, or is it against forum rules?

When we turn the filter on, outflow is strong but only stays like that for about 30 seconds and starts to decrease and after 7-8 minutes there is very little strength to the outflow.

I'm not exactly sure if we added a phosphate remover. I will check when I return home after work.I still have the old boxes/bags. I presume that the analysis of the water sample would have shown if we needed that, no?

Anyway, my husband was going back to the pool store to see what our next step will be. If needed, the owner will take the filter apart, but I really don't want that. Since it's not even a week old, I would prefer a new one. I appreciate you answering.

[wsommariva]

Is it a DE filter sand or cartridge?

Seems like the pool store will be able to diagnose and fix.

Phosphates can be checked by a water sample. Mine were extremely high and therefore the pressure problem until removed.

[wsommariva]

Sorry I see it's DE.

If you have the filter set on mostly drain and you have severe debris on the bottom of the pool, like a dead animal, that could be the problem.

[britinusa]

Regarding the pressure increase, double check the amount of DE you are supposed to add, sounds like you have too much in there.