How Much DE Powder

by J.P.
(Stockton, Ca.)

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