The DE swimming pool filter can be one of the most effective types of swimming pool filters on the market today if they are used and cared for properly. The problem is that most swimming pool owners do not realize that they will have to actually not only backwash their pool filter weekly, but they will also have to take the filter apart and actually clean the filter grids as well.
Cleaning your DE pool filter is easier then you think and can be done using a few tools that you will probably have right in your tool box. The tools you will need are an adjustable wrench, Flathead screwdriver and garden hose that is connected to a water supply. Before working on your swimming pool pump or filter, you always want to make sure that the power is off to the pump and also that the pump is unplugged.
Step One:
How To Remove the filter from the swimming pool system:
The first thing you will want to do is to remove the swimming pool tank from the pool system so it gives you more room to work on the actual filter Vs being all jammed up. You will now want to take a large pair of channel locks and loosen the bulk head nuts that connect the multiport of the pool filter to the pool tank. These bulk head nuts are made from plastic so be careful when loosing them because that can become brittle over time and crack. Also always remember that you will want to always turn to the left (counter clockwise) to loosen and to re-tighten later on you will want to turn these nuts to the right(clockwise).
Step Two:
Loosing and Removing the Hayward Belly band clamp:
Now that you have the filter disconnected from the multiport and the filter system you can start to take your Hayward DE 3600 filter apart. The first thing you will want to to is to loosen the belly band nut as you see pictured above. The belly band nut is made from brass so be careful when using pliers or a wrench as you can strip out this nut of you are not careful. To remove the belly band nut, turn the brass nut counter clockwise until it is fully removed from the threads. Once you loosen and remove the brass belly band nut you will be able to remove the belly band spring and then remove the Hayward 3600 belly band from the filter.
Step Three:
Bleeding the air & opening the Hayward Grid filter tank:
Once you have removed the belly band from the filter tank, it will now be time for you to open the Hayward 3600 DE Filter so you can complete your goal and clean the filter grids. Even though most of the water has drained from the bulk head fittings, it is still a good idea to open the air bleed screw a few turns so that and extra water can drain from the filter. But chances are your filter tank is most likely empty by now. You also could remove the bottom drain plug if you like to get all the water from the tank, or you can just wait until you remove the top half of the tank and then you can just dump the rest of the water out of there is any.
Step Four:
Washing out the tank and inspecting the o-rings:
Once you have the top half of the filter tank off you can pull the filter grids from the tank. The way to safely remove the filter grids from the tank is to grab the two small handle shaped parts you can see in the picture below and then twist and pull up at the same time. This can take a bit of strength if the filter is older or has not been taken apart in a while. Once you remove the filter grids you will want to inspect all o-rings for wear and tear. You also will want to wash all parts of the filter tank to make sure you wash all the debris out.
Step Five:
Cleaning the Hayward filter grids will help improve the overall performance of your swimming pool filter, In simple terms, your pool will be blue and clean more often then not. To properly clean your filter grids you will want to get a garden hose. Once you have a garden hose with a high powered nozzle you can begin spraying the grids down. You will want to spray all of the grids, from top to bottom, inside and out. The better you clean the filter, the better it will work.
If you have a tough time getting in those hard to reach spots you can use something called a “filter cleaning wand” that will attach to your garden hose and fit nicely between the filter grids. Filter cleaning wands can cut the time you spend cleaning your pool filter in half.
Step Six:
Re-assembling the Hayward Grid D.E. swimming pool filter:
Now that you have washed all the filter grids and the tank, inspected all seals and o-rings on your Grid Hayward DE Filter, you can now put it back together. To re-assemble the filter you can just reverse the way you took it apart. Also make sure to tighten the air relief screw and prime your pool pump before you start the system.
Good summary a little short on reassembly where errors can make the filter ineffective. I was told to soak the filter overnight in a phospate solution (dishwasing powder will do ) Any problem with this?
Thanks for your help
Joe Visconti
Joe,
You can also soak the grids in Vinegar for a few hours as well.
The swimming pool professionals use acid, but vinegar is the safe acid, that will clean the grids, just make sure to rinse them off after soaking.
Hope that helps, Thanks for the kinds words about the summary,
~Wet Head
After I have added the DE how do I backwash the system? I do not see anything on my pump or filter unit to reverse the flow of water. I am dealing with an older filter but a new hayward pump. I would love to get this fixed so that I do not have the lovely green pool.
Can muriatic acid be used to clean this filter?
I followed your directions to the “T” but when reassembling, I now how some water marks coming down the outside of the filter by the belly band. Could I have tightened the belly band too much? How do I know if enough is enough? I get high pressure in my tank after about 1 hour of operation and find the only way to relieve this is to back wash. Yes, I put in a new o ring with plenty of sealant too. Please help.
when you tighten the belly band go a little at a time also take a pair of channel locks and tap all around the belly band but be careful not to hit anything else or you could have a big problem also it is not good to back wash you should take completely apart wash out tank or filter bottom and open small pulg on the bottom of filter wash out .then clean oring and lub with magic lube and start tighting keep the air valve open when reinstalling when every thing is tight the start the pump wait for the water to spill out from air valve locted on top of the filter then tighten and go to the skimmer make sure to swirl the de when putting it into the skimmer and only one at atime you should use a de cup 3lb in a de cup your pressure will go down with the proper amount of de make sure to mark the gauge at clean for example if at clean it is 18 pounds it is dirty at 28 pounds well good luck
Lee,
What Model do you have the 3600 or the 3620?
Are you aligning the “notch” on the bottom of the tank with the indent on the top of the tank?
Also make sure your not “pitching” the o-ring in anyway,
How tight are you making the belly band? Maybe its not tight enough? Are the spring coils touching?
Let me know,
1. What kind of container can I soak the grids in? I have the Pentair FNS Plus vertical grid (FNSP48).
2. Instead of backwashing once a month I actually take the grids out of the filter and hose them down. Does this cause any harm as opposed to backwashing the system?
Hi John,
1. “I” like to use a 55 gallon plastic barrel/ drum that you can usually find at a local car wash, or sometimes even a food plant. You can also look on Craigslist for people selling 55 gallon plastic barrels and then you would just fill that barrel as its plenty big.
2. Yes, That is actually better then back washing in my book, I have seen many filters that were still dirty after back washing.
If you have any other questions, please feel free to ask,
Joseph
The manufacturer suggests 1 part acid to 6 parts water. Do I need to disassemble the grids for the acid bath or can I just place whole unit in the wash. I know there a 2 metal rods holding the grids together.
Hi John,
I have “seen” some mechanics dip the whole thing and it was fine, well as far as I new, gawd knows how long it lasted after they re-installed it. I worked for this one pool company at one time that had like 50 guys. BUT I like to take it apart and just let the grids soak, and that’s the best and proper way.
Let me know, if there is anything else.
Joseph
I just bought this house with a Hayward DE3600 filter, I am getting DE in the pool, so I took it apart to clean. The top was loaded with DE so I cleaned it all out and hosed off the grid. I noticed that there are holes worn in the mesh at the top where it is held in the plastic grid holder. Will this cause the DE in my pool? Also your site says to inspect o’rings, where are they besides the big one between top and bottom? Also do they have a convertion kit to convert this DE3600 to a filter cartride type filter?
Thanks for all your help, this site is great for a newbie!
Ron
Hello Ron,
I have responded to your questions on this page to make it simple:
http://wetheadmedia.com/hayward-de3600-filter-inspection-rebuild/
If you have anymore questions please feel free to ask on that page in the comment form.
Thanks
Joseph