Pressure increase over the red line on pressure gauge while we were away for a weekend. Now pool is cloudy white. I am assuming this is DE. Back washed and cleaned filter twice. However, after running for about an hour the pressure goes over the red line. Is my filter done? Do I need new finger/gasket? Let me know. Thanks russs

A weak pool jet is one of the most frequent problems for pool owners. If you ask a pool professional “Why are my pool jets not working?”, you may receive a blank stare and a pause. This reaction is due to the fact that we know the solution could be simple, but narrowing it down is time-consuming. We’ll separate the cause of low pool jet pressure into two parts. This will hopefully save you time from reading a section that doesn’t pertain to your situation. Part I will discuss low jet pressure when the filter gauge has a low PSI reading. In Part II we’ll discuss low jet pressure when the filter gauge has a high PSI reading.

what is the water like?
Dirty? Green? Murky? Cloudy?
Something is clogging the filter!

Let me ask this, you said: "Pressure drops Off" ???
Do you have a pressure guage on the filter?
Does the pressure increase? Or does it Decrease?
This will be an important piece of information!!!!

• If pressure increases on the pressure gauge...
  • then filter is working and filtering out dirt and filter is clogging up.
• If pressure decreases on the filters pressure gauge,
  • then the basket, or literally anything that is decreasing or stopping the water from getting to the pump, or more precisely to the internal impeller of the pump!

Most commonly - plugged impeller, baskets need to be checked, enough water in pool? etc.

The de coming back into the pump isnt anything serious, there may be a small air leak causing the water in the filter to drain into the pump.

As far as having to bump every couple of hours... is the pool really dirty?

Is your pressure gauge broken? Turn off the pump, does the gauge drop to zero? Alot of times they dont drop to zero, so when you hit 25psi it may really only be 15. Happens alot actually.

If pool is clean and clear and the gauge is fine... have you ever taken apart the filter and cleaned the de fingers? If not, i would take it apart, rinse all of the fingers and then let them soak over night in a filter cleaner solution. This cleans them much better then a plain garden hose spray. After they soak, spray them down again, add new de and you should be good to go....

First I'm assuming we're talking about a sand filter. Back washing is the right thing if pressure increases.A 8-10psi pressure increase is the magic number where you must backwash. Be sure to run a rinse cycle too before returning to filter. If you want to clean filter you can buy chemicals that you add to your skimmer as you backwash. Follow their directions. If you do want to drain the water, open your basket cover on the pump and remove plug, this will allow air to enter the filter, so it will drain. It drains slowly. Not really necessary, except to winterize.l

I'm assuming the pump runs, and the water is circulating from the skimmer back to the pool. Do have the pump running when checking pressure? Second be sure "filter" is selected on multi-port valve. Third, remove gauge with pump off and test gauge with compressed air and be sure gauge is working (don't overpressure gauge depending on gauge scale) If gauge is defective replace. If you still have no pressure on gauge, you might be "bypassing" the filter media (sand) due to a broken pipe from the bottome of the multi-port valve. You sould still see some pressure though as your pump should have some back pressure to the pool.

Is this your first time using the pool filter? There are several things that you will want to check. Make sure that the pump is primed and running. Make sure that all air has escaped the filter and that you have a steady stream of water from the return line. Then, you need to pre-coat the filter with DE. This is an important step. Scoop 5 lbs. of DE into you skimmer as fast as the plumbing will take it. You will also need to regenerate when your pressure drops off. Stop the pump. Move the bump handle down slowly, then up briskly. Repeat 3 times. Restart the pump and filtration will resume at near the original flow and pressure. After each regeneration, and until the filter is cleaned, there may be a slight increase in the starting pressure. This is the result of dirt accumulating within the filter and is completely normal.

Is the pressure High or Low on the filter gauge?

backwash the filter from main drain until sight glass is clear-this will reduce filter pressure. After backwashing return gate valve to filter position, then filter from main drain only. check water chemistry. add a clarifier to water

fix any air leaks on suction side of pump. Check valve positions.
Clean filters...may need to replace cartridges in cartridge filter, or take out D.E. grid assembly and clean it on a D.E. filter, or change sand in a sand filter...