My DE pool filter it not really filtering the water. What should I check?

Question

My chemical levels are good and well within the normal ranges. The pool water is not clear and the pool turns green in a matter of two days and it takes 4 days to clear it. The sides of the pool are dirty and the vacume doesn't work well. My return valves and the intake drain is working. My problem seems to be that the filter is not really filtering. If I put the filter on recirculate and then back to filter dirty water shoots out of the return valves. Backwashing has not helped. When I add new DE via the skimmer cloudy water then comes from the return valves as if I had too much DE but I am adding and maintaining the same as I have every other year. Help! I can't afford to hire someone to come and work on this.

Answer 1

It sounds like there is damage to the grids (or fingers) inside your filter, or some other internal filter or valve damage.  DE should not be returing to the pool at all if the filter is working properly.  It would also not let the water clear up, as you're also experiencing.  Let me know the make and model of the filter, and I can tell you specifically what to look for. (See below)

Answer 2

If you get cloudy water while adding DE, your filter fabric has become perforated  or split.  The DE should not come thru into the pool water.  Replace or repair the fabric.  That should take care of your other problems also.

Answer 3

Is it a sand filter?... sorry, i see you said DE about 5 times.  I know with my sand filter I have to completely replace the sand about every three years or I get algae.  And that does slow everything down, but I've never had dirty water come back into the pool.  Have you ever had the DE in the filter completely replaced?  Also, there is a sand cleaner I have to run through the filter every so often.  this may not apply to you but i'm just trying to be helpful.

Answer 4

I am not a expert, but If I had this problem I would check the pressure on my pool filter, I find mine runs good under 20lb's. Also, back-washing is good, but you may want to take your filter apart and give it a good cleaning. Make sure when you put it back together everything is seated right.  

As for the green, I had my pool turn green once.  All I did is added more chlorine and ran my pool filter allot longer. This allowed for the pool water to circulate more through the pool filter.

You may also want take a brush to your pool a couple times a day. Brushing removes some of the growth to allow the chemicals to get in to kill growth.

Answer 5

your problem is algae. you need to ad a good algaecide  to your pool it will take  a couple of days for it to clear up but it will, your filter is working fine it is just being overloaded. clear the algae and your filter will be fine. just follow the directions closely or you will have a large bubble bath instead of a pool