Be consistent with your water chemistry so you don’t get calcium build up inside your filter.
Consistently clean/backwash your filter when the filter gauge reaches 8-10 psi over startup.
A little bit of dirt helps your filter function more efficiently, as dirt helps the filter hold on to more dirt and finer material gets filtered out. (This is the reason for a range in filtration ability to remove particles)
If your pool is really dirty because of a storm or a large gathering or neglect, using cellulose as a filter aid can help improve the cleaning process.
Break down and clean out your D.E. filter twice each year.
When cleaning your cartridge filter, make sure you get all the dirt out between the plates. A surface clean will only clean 10% of your filtration area. Using a high pressure water source, it should take two hours to adequately clean your pool.
If your D.E. or Cartridge filter starts to “short cycle”, e.g. when the pressure rises back up a few days after cleaning, that’s an indicator that your filter needs an acid wash. This can be done by using a spray or letting your cartridges/grids soak in an a large trash can with an acid-water solution. Done too frequently, this can lead to early breakdown of the polymers in your filter, and result in early replacement. Prior to this acid wash, it is helpful to use a filter de-greaser to remove any oils that have built up on the fabric.
Every time your pump turns off, the D.E. falls off the grids. The next time your pump turns on, it re-coats the grid, creating a new cake prepared to trap small particulates. Thus, running your D.E. filter for long periods more than 12 hours is less efficient than running it in multiple shorter periods.
When you take your D.E. filter apart, check your grids to make sure they are holding up. Look for any tears or ripped seams, so D.E. doesn’t end up in your pool. Grids typically have a three year life span. Make sure that when you clean your D.E. filter, you immediately recharge it with new D.E. so that oils in the water don’t penetrate the cloth and shorten future cleaning cycles. FYI, a 44-ounce drink cup holds a pound of D.E. Additionally, when cleaning your cartridge and D.E. filters, every time you open it up, take the time to wash off the large O-ring and apply pool lube to it. It is great preventive maintenance. Last, when tightening up your clamp band, tighten it until all the coils of the spring are touching each other.