How Much DE Powder Do I Need To Recharge Filter?
by J.P.
After washing panels and putting back together, how much DE powder do your pour into the skimmer basket? Two cups, three cups, 4 cups, 6 cups? My swimming pool DE filter is 18" diameter, panels 25 " high, circumference 52". Thanks for your question J.P. Many people think it's a simple calculation of Length X Width X Height. This calculation is for cubic feet, not square feet. Length X Width is square footage but many De pool filter grids have pleats, so that throws us a curve ball. But you can still hit it. The material for your DE filter started as a flat sheet. If it were still flat it would be easy to measure the length times the width to get the square feet. If the DE filter is pleated to allow for more filter surface area so you have to know how deep the pleats are, and how many. Example: If you have 2" DE pleats, 2" from the outside fold to the inside fold, each pleat would equal 4", 2" in and 2" back out). You can count one outside fold as one 4 inch pleat. If you have 51 pleats, then multiply the 4" times the 51 pleats. That would give you 204 inches of material, or 17 feet. If all of the material is 2 feet tall, multiply the 17 feet X 2 feet, and you will have 34 square feet of DE filter. Swimming Pool DE Pool Filters..Care..Maintenance DE Pool Filter Maintenance..Problems.. It's not the amount of "cups" but the number of pounds of DE powder you put in the skimmer. Normally, 1 pound of pool filter DE per 10-12 sq. ft. of filter capacity. If you have a 48 sq. ft. filter, then you would add 5 pounds of DE. I would encourage you to get a DE scoop and use it for this step of your DE pool filter maintenance. This is much better than using a coffee can. If you don't add the right amount of DE, your pool filter will be ineffective and will require more cleanings. I know this sound a little confusing but it's well worth the time invested in learning how much DE powder to use. You can always contact the DE grid manufacturer as well. Best of luck Robert New QuestionBy: James Riffle Date: May 20, 2011 Title: How Much DE To Recharge A 48 sq. ft. KDI American DE FilterOn my KDI American DE filter (1986) it says to use 10 Scoops (1 lb. coffee cans) to charge my 48 sq. ft. filter. Everywhere else says 1 Lb. per 10 sq. Ft. or 5 scoops! Am I wasting DE? Thanks for the question James As it says in this post and also on my DE filter pages, it's not the number of cups, but pounds, for a DE filter. But...this needs to be from an actual DE scoop and not from a coffee can or something similar. You need to use an actual DE scoop to get the right measurement of DE, regardless of what anyone else says. That's why these scoops are made. Measure the DE powder as you would flour. You can take the coffee can full of DE and gently pour that into the DE scoop. This will give you the correct measurement. What I've written is what I've personally done over the years, but I always say when in doubt, always go with the manufacturer's recommendations. I've come across many DE filters that I've had to charge differently. Some take less DE and some take more. If you're pressure is good and the water is clean, and you're going by what is recommended by the manufacture, you should be alright. Hope this helps and have a fun and safe swimming season. Robert |
