- Diverters aren't perfect, sure, but honestly I've found them pretty reliable if you pair them with a decent mesh screen. Haven't had much trouble with finer grit since adding one.
- Inline filters work, but they're another thing to maintain and replace. Not sure I'd call them "easy" exactly—depends on your setup and how accessible your pipes are.
- Keeping spares is good advice though... learned that myself when I had a filter clog up mid-storm. Nothing like fumbling around in the dark with a flashlight between your teeth.
- Personally, I've been thinking about just upgrading my diverter to something with a finer built-in mesh to simplify things. Anyone tried that route yet? Seems like fewer parts to worry about overall.
"Personally, I've been thinking about just upgrading my diverter to something with a finer built-in mesh to simplify things."
I've seen a few setups with those finer mesh diverters, and while they do seem convenient, I'm not entirely convinced they're the silver bullet. The finer mesh definitely catches more debris, but that also means it clogs quicker—especially if you're in an area with lots of pollen or tiny leaf fragments. You might end up cleaning it more often than you'd expect.
I helped install one for a client last spring, and within a couple months, he was already complaining about reduced flow. Granted, his property had a lot of trees nearby, so your mileage may vary. Still, it's worth considering how much maintenance you're comfortable with versus the simplicity of fewer parts.
Has anyone here experimented with self-cleaning diverters or maybe even DIY modifications to reduce clogging? Curious if there's a practical middle ground between ease of use and maintenance frequency...
I've been thinking about those finer mesh diverters too, but honestly, the clogging issue worries me a bit. Has anyone tried adding a pre-filter or something similar upstream to catch bigger debris first? Might help cut down on maintenance...
"Has anyone tried adding a pre-filter or something similar upstream to catch bigger debris first?"
Honestly, pre-filters sound good in theory, but from my experience, they just shift the maintenance upstream. Maybe consider a simple leaf guard instead—less hassle overall and still pretty effective at keeping things clear...
I've messed around with both pre-filters and leaf guards, and honestly, it depends a lot on your setup. Are you dealing mostly with leaves, twigs, or something else entirely? If it's mainly leaves, a simple leaf guard is usually enough—easy to clean and doesn't clog too quickly. But if you're getting smaller debris like pine needles or seeds, a basic leaf guard might not cut it.
In that case, a coarse pre-filter upstream can actually save you some headaches downstream. Yeah, it shifts maintenance upstream a bit, but cleaning out one accessible basket every couple weeks beats unclogging pipes or pumps later on. I've seen setups where folks use mesh baskets or even DIY screens made from hardware cloth—cheap and effective.
What's your roof situation like? Trees nearby or pretty clear overhead? That'll make a big difference in what works best for you...
