Hayward 22 Inch Retainer Rod for 36 sq ft DE Filter, DEX3600R

The Hayward DEX3600R is the 22 inch retainer rod for the 36 square foot DE filter, listed for the DE3600 and DE3620. It is the genuine Hayward part.

What it does

Inside a DE filter the grids are not loose. They are stacked in a pack held to a fixed spacing, and the retainer rod is what runs through and clamps them. That spacing is what lets each grid seat against the manifold. Once a rod bends, corrodes or loses its threads, the pack goes slack, grids move, and diatomaceous earth starts coming back through the returns into the pool.

When to change it

The rod is buried in the middle of the grid pack, so it only gets looked at when the tank is already open. That makes the annual grid cleaning the moment to check it. If it is bent or the ends are chewed, replace it then rather than closing the tank around a part you already suspect.

Note that the model coverage in the source varies. The part is listed specifically for the DE3600 and DE3620, while the broader Micro-Clear and Pro-Grid families include other tank sizes that take their own rod lengths.