Diatomaceous Earth filters also know as DE filters are a common type of filter which uses a very fine powder called DE to coat internal grids or plates to help capture dirt and debris as they pass through a filter tank or vessel.

DE filter are available in many sizes usually noted in square footage. The most common sizes are 24, 36, 48, 60 and 72 square feet of surface. Most filters are rated at 2 gallons per minute of flow per square foot of surface area. An example would be a 36 square foot filter would be capable of up to 72 gallons per minute of flow. This is important so as not to attempt to use to large of a pump which could cause internal damage to the filter grids and the filter tank itself. DE filters have been manufactured in many different materials plastic, fiberglass and stainless steel.

Most DE filters required a type of control valve, usually a valve known as a Multi Port Valve or a Slide Valve. Both types of valves allow the water inside the tank to be reversed as needed to “backwash” the grids when required. Multi port valves offer more options, such as bypass, rinse, waste, closed and recirculated modes where as slide valves usually only have filter and backwash modes.

How does backwashing work? Backwashing allows the reversal of the water inside the tank to flush out captured dirt and debris. The “spent” DE is flushed outside the tank and caught in either a separation tank bag or another method for disposal. Once the backwashing has occurred the filter will need to be re-energized with fresh DE powder. The valve position is moved back to the standard filter mode and pool water is moved through the filter in the normal operating flow pattern. The skimmer valve of the pool is opened and fresh DE powder is added to the filter through the skimmer allowing the pump to pull the powered back into the tank and allowing the grids or plates to be recoated.

Will the filter need to be disassembled and cleaned at some point in time? Yes, the method of backwashing the filter to remove debris will only be effective a certain number of times. Shorter and shorter filter runs will be noted and this will signal that the filter will need to be taken apart and completely serviced. Servicing a DE filter will require removal of the internal grids or plates, cleaning of their surfaces, flushing out of the tank, reassembly, and addition of fresh filter powder directly inside the filter. Remember to lubricate o-rings before reassembly to allow for water tight seals.

How much DE will need to be added to a filter? Filters which are produced in various square footage sizes and will require a certain number of pounds of DE per square foot of filter area. Consult your filter owner’s manual for manufactures recommendations.

Please keep in mind to use caution when working with Diatomaceous Earth, eye and nose protection along with gloves should be used when ever working with or handling DE.

DE filters are an excellent method of filtration and when these filters are maintained and serviced on a regular basis crystal clear swimming pool water can be expected.

These swimming pools are a kind of lifeline to the people of Austin and they need to be maintained so that the people can use them.

It is not that in every case there is some kind of leakage which is needed to be controlled by them, but sometimes it has been found that there is no leakage at all and the main reason for the lowering of the water level is the evaporation, it is a quite natural process which will take place in all circumstances.

But there are a number of other things as well, when there is indeed some kind of problem with the system which is giving problem to the swimming pool resulting in the leakage of water from them and when these problem occur on a real basis then it becomes quite necessary for the maintenance personnel to take due consideration to it and call some professional to get rid of the leakage problem.

Pool leak detection in Austin is not a new phenomenon but it is old one and the only thing, which has changed in the process, is the kind of method, which is used to prevent leakage of water from the pools.

If you are facing similar problem of water leakage then you should not worry at all, as in most of the cases the pools can be easily repaired for the leakage and this could be very helpful to you as well. The most prominent reason for this is the fact that the pools are usually made up of materials like vinyl, concrete and sometimes fiberglass and all these things are repairable with no difficulty at all.

It is not easy to determine the exact cause of the leakage, as the owner himself is sometimes unable to determine the exact reason of the lowering of water in the pools because of the uncertain atmospheric condition, which is responsible for the loss of water due to evaporation.