How To Clean The Hayward DE 3600 Series Pool Filter

If you are a homeowner with a clogged Hayward DE pool filter or even a pool guy that has never worked on this type of pool filter before, no worries. This short and easy to read guide with picture will show you how to open, wash out, and inspect the Hayward DE 3600 series pool filter.

Okay, Lets get right to it. You are going to need some basic hand tools like a socket set and a pair of open end wrenches. You are going to also need a garden hose with a spray nozzle and a place to wash all of the DE out of the filter grids. You will also need a regular hammer and a Flat head screw driver. One last thing you will need is a tube of Vaseline or something like Jack’s magic lube for pool o-rings, this is to lubricate the o-rings inside of your pool filter.

Special Note: Before washing out your Hayward Pool filter, regardless of the model. You will always want to shut the pool pump down and disconnect the pool filter from the filter plumbing. You are not only going to be washing the filter grids but you will be also washing the pool filter tank and also inspecting the fittings and o-rings inside of the filter tank.

Hayward DE 3600 Pool Filter With Loosened Belly Band

The first thing you will want to do is loosen the pool filters belly band with a socket or open end wrench. You may need to use the open end wrench at first, then you can switch off to the socket. The belly band is held on by a brass nut that you are going to remove. Once you remove the brass nut you will want to tap on the belly band with a hammer and remove it from the filter tank.

Now that the belly band is removed you will want to to take your Flathead screwdriver and pry open the filter top from the filter bottom. You may need to wedge in the screw driver with your hammer. Once you open the top of the Hayward 3600 you will see the filter grid assembly inside that you will want to pull out and wash.

Hayward DE 3600 Pool Filter Grids Washed

Once you have removed the grid assembly from inside of the filter tank you will want to wash them thoroughly with your garden hose with the spray nozzle on the highest pressure setting.

You can see above that the grids will start to appear while looking or almost new in nature once all of the heavy algae and debris are washed off of the grids surface.

Hayward DE 3600 Pool Filter Grid Assembly Bottom

After you have washed the sides of the Hayward 3600 series filter grids you will want to make sure that you wash the bottom of the filter assembly really well. You will want to spray your hose in all side of the grid assembly grating to make sure that all of the DE is washed out and not clogging any part of the filter or the grating.

Hayward DE 3600 Pool Filter Grid Top Manifold

The top of the filter can also be caked with lots of DE powder from a long seasons use of the filter. Make sure that you also wash out the filter manifold to be sure it will not clog in the future. Take the spray nozzle and make sure to wash all of the DE from all opening of the filter manifold.

Hayward DE 3600 Pool Filter Belly Band O-Ring Inspection

Now that you have completely removed and washed the DE from the filter grid assembly and also the bottom grate and top manifold, you will next want to inspect the belly band that seals the top and bottom of your Hayward 3600 pool filter tank. You will want to check this belly band for cracks, flat spots and also want to give it the stretch test. Take the belly band stretch it with you two arms and see if it breaks or has any cracks. If the belly bad has cracks or looks like it is going to break, you will need to replace the belly band.

Hayward DE 3620 Inspection

The next thing you will ant to inspect is the o-ring that is on the stand pipe of the filter. This o-ring sometimes drys out and cracks and then will swell up. Please inspect this o-ring as well. If the o-ring is dry or damaged you will want to replace it. A swollen stand pipe o-ring can give you a hard time when re-installing the 3600 pool filter grid assembly back into the filter tank.

Hayward DE 3620 Pool Filter Stand Pipe Inspection

The last thing you will want to do before reinstalling the grid assembly is to visually inspect the stand pipe and the inside of the filter tank bottom for any cracks or debris. If everything in the filter tank bottom looks good, you can start re-assembling the filter and re-install it onto your pools filter system.