Today’s blog post will cover the five most common Hayward filter repairs made to the Perflex Extended Cycle DE filters, models EC30, EC40, EC50 for above ground pools and EC65/EC75 models used on in ground pools.
Filter Clogs Quickly or Short Cycles
If your Perflex filter runs with good pressure and flow for a short time, and then the water flow slows and pressure rises high (or drops low), first be sure you have done a complete bump and drain of the filter tank, with a full recharge of DE powder.
If your filter clogs up again within hours or days of a bump and drain, or requires frequent pumping to restore flow rates, you’ve got clogged fingers – plugged up with mineral scale and oily gunk.
Like any DE filter, scale and oils can clog up the filter grids or flex tube ‘fingers’. To fix this, you have to get under the hood, and open up the tank for a deep cleaning. To keep your Perflex filter performing well, clean the filter at the close of each season.
- Open air bleeder and Bump and Drain the filter tank.
- Remove the clamp or bolts around the top. Bump handle can stay attached.
- Lift filter lid and pull out the entire filter nest assembly.
- Fill a 5-gal bucket with DE filter cleaner and water, and soak nest assy.
- Clean and lubricate diaphragm gasket and sealing surfaces, then reassemble filter.
Bumping is Too Tight
If your bump handle hardly moves when you try to bump it up and down, that can mean that the filter has too much DE powder, or that powder has become caked between the top and bottom plates, or tube sheets. This can also indicate that the filter is not being bumped frequently enough.
It can sometimes also mean that the shaft o-rings, under the lid, are coated in DE powder or other small bits of debris, and not smoothly allowing the shaft to move up and down full travel, which is normally about 1 inch of vertical movement while bumping.
Try a complete Bump and Drain, bumping the handle while the tank is draining. Run water through the filter for 30 seconds, then Bump and Drain again. Continue in this way until water runs nearly clear, and then add a full recharge of DE powder.
Bumping is Too Loose
If your bump handle feels sloppy without much resistance or weight on the handle, that usually means that one of the two retainer clips have come loose inside the filter.
The retainer clips are connected above and below the upper and lower tube sheets, and connect the shaft to the plates and keep the assembly tight. You may also be getting DE powder into the pool, and filter short cycling.
You can order the clips in a 2-Pak, item ECX1014, or they are also included with the shaft O-rings and thrust washer, in the Perflex shaft kit, ECX1014A.
Filter is Leaking Water
There are several places that a Perflex filter can leak water, but the most common are the air bleeder, pressure gauge, lid or cover or bump handle, and the filter drain valve assembly. Fixing a leak is one of the most common Hayward filter repairs.
The air bleeder has a very small o-ring, not sold separately, but included in the directional vent valve with O-Ring. The Pressure Gauge, a back-mount gauge, has O-ring ECX1287 to seal up the gauge adapter, but sometimes a thread sealant is also needed, like Teflon tape or silicone on the adapter threads, and also needed on the pressure gauge threads.
A leaking filter lid relies on the diaphragm gasket to seal the lid to the tank body. Be sure that it is clean on both sides, and lightly lubricated. If your filter lid has a clamp, tighten all the way, and if you have lid screws, tighten in a star pattern, for equal tightness.
A filter leaking water around the bump shaft, you will need to replace the small o-rings that are on the bump shaft, beneath the lid. Remove the bump handle pins, pull off the bump handle, then lift off the lid to expose the (2) bump shaft o-rings.
If your filter leaks around the Perflex tank drain, you can use the Perflex filter drain plug, an SP1022 threaded plug, to seal up the Hayward valve, or replace the SP0723 Drain Valve.
Filter is Leaking DE Powder
If you discover that DE powder is coming back into the pool through the pool returns:
- Holes in the fabric of one or more of the flex tubes
- Diaphragm gasket not seated correctly or damaged
- Missing bump shaft e-clips, allowing plates to separate
- Loose bolts on top/bottom plates, allowing separation
If you find DE powder is flowing backwards through the pump, and coming out of the skimmer or main drain, be sure the tank check valve ECX4077B1 is intact. Air leaks on the tank can allow the tank to drain down when the pump is off.
DE Finger Replacement
If you have a Perflex DE Filter, you don’t have filter grids, you have flex tubes, aka ‘fingers’. Like filter grids, these deteriorate over time. You can replace just a few if needed or buy the entire filter nest assembly.
- Remove the bolts around the top and bump handle pins.
- Remove filter lid, then lift out the entire nest assembly.
- Slide off the tube sheet top, and pull up the damaged flex tubes.
- Push the new fingers in place snugly, replace tube sheet top.
- With nest assembly in place, secure the filter top and bump handle.
Tip: If your Perflex filter is mounted on a raised base, it is recommended to loosen the pump union and remove the tank to ground level before attempting repairs.
To make your own Hayward filter repairs, we’ve got the parts you need, find genuine Hayward replacement parts (and a less expensive, generic options), in our Hayward Pool Filter Parts Department.
Check that all the bolts that hold the fingers between the top & bottom grids are very snug. Sounds like an issue I have had
On the Hayward EC75A D.E. FILTER. That seems to be pushing DE and Dirt back into the pool, assuming that ALL of the fingers do not have holes, How can I identify the ones that do have holes, and how hard is to replace individual filter fingers ?
Hi Bob, you just have to inspect very closely under bright lights. Also be sure that all of the bolts are tight between the two plates, and the diaphragm gasket fits solid and firm around the edge.
EC 65 filter, high pressure, have acid soaked for 24 hours, 3 times this season, still high pressure. Last nite disassembled fingers & tubes, soaked again. Pool supply co., says buy a different kind of filter. Any help appreciated. Bill
Hi Bill, acid will work to remove scale. The fingers may be clogged with oils, which acid won’t remove. Try a soak in Simple Green or TSP to remove oils. You may also try a different type / brand of DE powder, sometimes there may be batches that contain impurities or oils or are of the wrong graded size.
Thanks Davy,
Tried the Simple Green soak. Reduced a couple lbs., Of pressure, water flow much better, & easier bumping!
Great advice!!! THANKS
DE is coming back into my pool through the returns. I hav replaced the bump shaft O rings, the diaphragm, inspected tube sheets for cracks and loose screws, I also inspected the fingers which are good but I am still getting blowback. Is there anything else that could be the problem.
Hi Frank, it could be the check valve, if damaged or missing, it could allow DE powder to flow backwards when the pump is off, thru the pump and out the skimmer and drains. If you are only seeing it come out of the returns, you have checked all the right ‘boxes’, and also the E-clips are in place I assume? They hold the plates together tightly.
DE only comes back into the pool through the returns. I also replaced the check valve. I am at a loss as what to do. My filter is over thirty years old so could it be it needs to be replaced.
Hi Frank, well then I’d go back to some small holes in one or more of the fingers, or check again the things you have already checked. I’ll be honest, the Perflex filter can be troublesome at times, and there’s a reason why the curved grid style of DE filter has gained dominance. Waterway Crystal Water DE filters are new, and offer a lot of filter for the money.
ec65 filter, my problem is the de powder is not stick to the finger’s. when I take it apart 99% is on the bottom of the filter. goggled till my eyes hurt looking for a answer to what wld cause this
Hi Josh, that is normal, it falls off when the pump shuts off. When the pump is on it will coat the fingers, and water has to pass thru the DE, thru the fabric, to the inside of the finger, to pass thru the plates, to exit the filter. Perfectly normal, thanks good question!
I’ve never seen the fingers almost look like I just took him out of a muriatic acid bath, after taking the filter apart. The water looks sparkling clean during the day but at night you can see fine particles floating in front of the light almost a haze. to my knowledge DE should filter down to 0.5 microns or less which is smaller than the human eye can see? so I don’t feel like it’s properly filtering the water. My original nest was just the mesh and the plastic tube inside. got another finger nest and each one of the perflex tubes has a black plus sign looking stick.
Knickerbocker didn’t know why the DE Powder wouldn’t be sticking. called someone up and they told them that the ends of the fingers are polarized magnetic. and it may have lost polarization? But there’s no metal in DE powder that I know of. Even tried running a magnet across the de powder to see if it would stick but to my knowledge it’s just fish fossils and silica?
Josh, there is no magnet or polarization going on, it is just water pressure, when the pump is on, water enters the tank at the bottom and must pass thru the fingers, in order to get into the upper area of the tank, where it can exit. In passing thru the finger, it must first pass thru the DE powder which also tries to exit the finger, but can’t make it thru the fine mesh fabric covering the finger. The plastic black stick inside is just the frame that the filter fabric is wrapped around, to give it structure. When the pump shuts off, there is nothing to keep the DE attached to the fingers, so it falls off, to the bottom of the tank. DE filters can filter down to a small particle size, not quite .5, but between 2-4 microns, still well below visibility by the human eye, which falls off around 35 microns. Particles visible at night near the light are normal on all pools, it’s the stuff that has not been filtered yet.
I have had my EC75a for eight years now. I am finding that the flex tube material is breaking down and needs replacement. The problem is the cost of the flex tubes. The price for just one is outrageous!! What kind of material is used? Can I get the material and fix the tubes myself?
They are woven from pure gold thread. Just kidding. It can be cheaper to buy an entire new filter. And if you are going to do that, look at the Waterway Crystal Water DE Filter, better and cheaper than the EC75. You can buy a 5-Pk of the EC75 flex tubes (pn ECX1032, 16-1/4″ long), or you could buy the entire ‘Nest Assembly’, with all the tubes but we are out of stock, and at over $600, well geez… The fabric is some sort of polyester, not sure if you could successfully repair them even if you had the fabric, unless you are a master sewer.
I’m having trouble replacing the body gasket on a Hayward Perflex ec65 de filter. Does the gasket need to be stretched before trying to get it on?
HI Jamie, no but it is a tight fit. Try leaving it in the hot sun for a half hour to warm up, then it will be more stretchy, to fit around the plate.
Hello, 1 month ago, I had a Hayword EC40 Perflex filter replaced with a new one. The tech said the old pump was good and left it alone. I added the recommended 4 lb of DE. The problem is the pressure is very high (slightly > 20 lb) and the circulation flow weak. What are the possible causes and remedy? Thanks.
Hello, are your DE “pounds” actually 32 oz of dry measure? Because of the lightweight, 1 lb of DE is not 16 oz, but 32 oz.
Finally found the guy who knows pools. New to this as my father recently had a stroke and I am taking over pool duties. EC40 runs strong for an hour or so. I have removed pvc connections and added new Teflon, tighted, backwashed, cleared strainers, propeller spins freely. Would a small drip leak from filter to pool jet allow enough air to loose pressure in about an hour or so? I am at a loss. Thought I had it all working today, I do see that my DE amount was more like 4 16oz cups but doubt that would be the cause.
Thank you very much for any assistance
Hi Kevin, the small leak will not be a problem, but increase your 4 cups to 8 – 16 oz cups, but after you pull out the nest assembly by loosening all the screws around the lid and then spray off the fingers clean. Then soak in a TSP solution, rinse then soak in a 10% acid solution, then rinse. Or just use DE Filter Cleaner Chemical. Then recharge with DE powder.
Hello, I just brought a new ec50A and lube the gasket. It is still leaking from the lid
Hi Dave,
I have a Hayward etc 65. Pressure was running high. Took the fingers out last night and did a deep clean. After restarting Pressure was really Good for about an hour and then it started climbing again. Now it is starting out at 20-22 PSI again. Where would you recommend I look next?
Thanks
Pat
Hi Pat, did you added the correct amount of DE powder, noting that 1-lb of DE powder is actually 32 oz of dry measure, (not 16 oz). Did you do a degreasing/descaling with some chemical soaking? Algae, cloudy water, oils and mineral scale can all clog up the fingers pretty well.
One of the bolts with the nut came loose and out of the hole, along small amounts of de powder into my pool. But trying to put the bolt back by prying open the gasket plate to get in there is IMPOSSIBLE.
How the heck do I get that bolt in the right way??
HELP!!
Hi Michael, loosen the top E-clip on the center shaft, to allow some room to lift the top sheet?
Is there supposed to be a retainer clip on both sides of the top tube sheet? We have a Hayward EC50C90 Perflex. I can’t find directions on exactly how to put the top and bottom tube sheets together!The pump is not filtering the pool water, PSI stays at 12 and we just opened the pool. Water is cloudy after 3 days of pumping. Most of the DE is out of the filter tank. Thank you!
Hi Lee, yes there should be a retainer clip or E-ring above and below the tube sheets, to hold them tightely sandwiched together. Pull it all out and clean out well, there may be DE powder inside of the fingers. The clips are available in a kit that includes the small o-rings and washers also used on the bump shaft. See pn ECX1014A.
Our EC50AC filter is over 20 years old. This season, trying all available tips, tricks, repairs, and maintenance, we cannot get the filter to maintain suction. the local pool guy says we need to replace the filter. How many years should a EC50AC last assuming average care over 20 years?
Hi Chris, perhaps it is an air leak on the pump, or a clogged pump impeller, and not a filter problem? Or it could be that the filter fingers are clogged with oils, mineral scale, or both. Try a Filter Cleaner chemical, or soak the filter in a TSP solution then rinse, followed by a 10% acid solution, then rinse. Recharge the DE filter, with the required amount of DE powder, noting that 1 lb of DE powder is actually 32 oz of dry measure, not 16 oz.
hi davy i am running a ec 40 bolted tank style de filter i have de appearing in the top of my hayward power flo matrix motor.. what do u think is causing that, and what is the remedy? thanks jerry
Jerry, usually that would be from an air leak around the filter, when the pump shuts off the air enters the filter and some water drains backwards into the pump. Sometimes the DE can go all the way back to the pool drains. Look for a small drip of water when the pump is running, that is likely the spot where it is leaking AIR, when the pump is OFF.
Hello I own a Perflex 65 and I am Starting it for the first time. The System is Loud And Where the water returns The Pressure is High and seems like its loaded with Air. Someone suggested the system needs to be bleeded of excess air. How can I tackle this issue to get it working normally. BTW I do not see any leaks in system.
Thanks
PJ
HI, if the system is loud, that could be the pump motor. Or it could be vibration, or a small amount of noise can be from hydraulics, or water in the pipe. If there is an air leak, that will always be before the impeller. There are some ways to locate the air – see this post https://blog.intheswim.com/air-in-pool-pump-or-bubbles-in-the-pool/
Hello my Hayward perflex Extended Cycle DE filter drain line is leaking water while the pump is running. What do you suppose the problem is? Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Hi Mike, some filters have a valve on the drain line, and some are union valves, that can be opened up to expose a ball and two teflon rings. It can be just a loose union nut, or a worn teflon ring, or worn union o-ring. It could be the valve is not closed all the way, and perhaps the handle is a little stripped. If you don’t have a valve, but just a threaded plug, it may have a bad gasket or o-ring. Teflon tape can also help on the threads.
Leaking DE for 30-60 seconds after regenerating. Any ideas. It no tears in fingers. Also what do I lube main gasket with?
Hi, perhaps a missing shaft o-ring or E-ring? You can lube the gasket with Teflon based pool lube. Magic Lube, Jack’s Lube, and others
Hi. How do you take the check valve out of the elbow assembly in an EC75? I’ve got the elbow assembly apart, but not sure how to remove old check valve and insert a new. One. Any help would be appreciated. Thank you.
Hey, use a small screwdriver, flat head, or an o-ring pick, and push around the lip to pry it from the elbow. You can also yank it out with needlenose pliers
What kind of acid solution?
If using muriatic acid or dry acid (pH decreaser), about a 10% solution, or about 2 cups per gallon of water.
Hi Davy,
We have a hayward-perflex-filter EC 50 filter. We opened the pool on Memorial Day. The pressure is running at 25# and when I bump it it only drops to 21# and it still does not filter. When I try to empty the filter along with bumping, I usually get grayish water. I am getting clumps of DE instead. I have never seen this in 27 years.
Thanks,
Jeff Loose
Hello, time to open that filter up, hose it off, and soak it in a Chemical for cleaning DE filters. Or in lieu of a DE filter cleaner, soak in TSP, and then soak in acid solution, Rinse and reassemble, then charge with de powder.
How hard is it to replace a diaphragm gasket in a Hayward DE pool filter EC65
There are simpler jobs! You first take off the ‘100’ little screws around the lid and lift off the top. then you have more little screws to remove to separate the top and bottom plates, then remove the e-clip so you can pull up the top plate, and then you can pull off the gasket. Should take less than 1 hour..?
We have tightened all the screws around the top but still have dripping in two spots
Pam, if you are certain that all the screws are tight – give it a few days to see if it seals up on its own. If not, take it back apart and clean and lube the diaphragm gasket. If it still won’t seal up, replace the gasket.
Hi Davey,
I have a Hayward EC50 filter. What is the best way to secure the retainer clip on the bump shaft. (What tools to use?) Also, should I lube the bump shaft?
Thanks,
Jeff
Jeff, yes you can lube the shaft where it passes through the lid. And for the clips, I just use straight pliers, or needlenose.
I need a repairman forour EC -75 Hayward filter. Can you recommend someone in area 07054, Parsippany, nj
Bonny, you could try the Leslies pool supply in Morris Hills shopping center, 07054, Parsippany, nj, or I see Custom Pool Services Co., in Parsippany (973) 599-9282
I have a Hayward ec40 de filter (Almost 5 yrs old) that has a slow leak coming from the bottom area of the pump. I can’t seem to spot where it coming from. But it’s somewhere between the filter and pump.
Hi John, most likely that would either be coming from the exit port pipe connection, or the motor shaft seal. If there are union connectors, pump to filter, tighten the union nut. If the leaks looks to be coming from under the motor, and is not dripping down from above, it is likely the shaft seal, which can be DIY replaced. Seals for PowerFlo LX and PowerFlo Matrix are here: https://www.intheswim.com/p/pool-pump-shaft-seals
We have a Hayward Perflex EC50C90 and need to replace the diaphragm gasket. We removed the 12 nuts but still do not have access to the gasket.
Hi – after removing the screws that hold the top and bottom plate together, remove the E-clip just above the top plate and you can slide it up, to remove the diaphragm gasket.
I just changed my diaphragm gasket. When I lined up the top plate screws with the bottom , I could not get the big holes to line up exactly with the finger holes are they supposed to line up?
Hi Bob, no that’s oK, they dont need to line up exactly.
I have a er65 Hayward Preflix. I replaced the plastic in the fingers and I’m having a hard time getting the cloth fingers over the tube. Did the cloth finger shrink? Is there a secret to get them back together?
Thanks
Carl
Hi Carl, I did not know that you could replace the plastic, we sell the Hayward Flex Tubes (Fingers) already covered in fabric. There are two sizes, 13″ and 16″, maybe you have the smaller cloth, trying to go over the larger plastic? For the EC-65, the Flex Tubes are 16-1/4″ long.
We have a pebble Crete pool and a rust stain coming through that looks like it is from the reinforcing steel. We have had one company say that we may need to drain the pool and have that spot fixed, others say the whole reinforcement will need to be replaced so stain don’t return and then one company said just to clean it and see if it comes back. What would you suggest we do?
Hi, I like all 3 ideas! 🙂 But seriously, you could just clean-it with a “Stain Sock” (pH decreaser in an old, thin sock), or by holding a pipe over the area and pouring in pH decreaser into the pipe, or by using a Jandy Stainmaster device, to deliver liquid acid to the spot. If it is indeed a piece of rebar tie wire, it will bleed thru again within a few weeks/months. You can also determine if it is a piece of random steel that fell in the pool, or rebar tie wires, by swimming down and investigating it closely. A surface rust stain will rub off with pumice stone, or scrape off the surface, but if it looks like a blistering sore, that’s coming from inside out, then it probably is… If it is a rebar tie wire, the only way to fix it permanently is to cut it out, just a 2″x3″ square spot, does not need to be a large area, cutting right through the rebar, then sealing the ends with a rubber epoxy, then filling the hole with hydraulic cement, and topping with a close matching pebble plaster mix.
I purchased new stairs and you have to put sand in them for weight. When it comes to closing the pool how can I get them out. I am 63 with back issues. Is there another way to weigh them down so I can remove the weights so the ladder comes out easier?
Hi Gary, yes it would likely take two people to lift out the ladder when filled with sand (or one very strong person!). There are other ballasts we sell, that are square shaped containers, not sure if they would fit on your certain step, Anchor Universal Step Weight. You could also use Diver’s weights, one weight belt per ladder side, or some other way… If you had an easy way to pump them out again, you could fill the side rails with water…