This past week I've been a little worried about why it was taking so long for the pool water to go from cloudy to clear after I removed the winter cover. The filter wouldn't self prime either although all the fittings and tubing were water tight. It would start and run fine as long as I was there to prime it. Well, it appears the two problems are related. I was using leftover DE that was stored in the same shed I store my outdoor stuff like lawnmower, chainsaw, snowthower, and spare gasoline and K-1. I should have investigated why the one pound scooper felt much heavier when filled with DE but I simply passed it off as maybe water moisture, much like flour will have on some days more than others (explains why your favorite pizza shop screws up the crust once in awhile). DE is inert. It is not combustible. It doesn't carry the same safety warnings as, let's say, storing chlorine or acid. But it does absorb contaminants from the air as when it's put to use filtering water. So I'm happy to pass on to you my experience by saying keep your DE tightly wrapped in a plastic bag or transfer it to a large bucket with a tight lid.
I'd also like to pass on some advice given to me about electronic robot cleaners. Just about anyone who has one probably noticed it gets sluggish and won't climb the walls when the pool water is cold. A tech told me the motors aren't designed to operate in water less than 60 degrees and the oil inside the motors thicken hampering it's performance which conceivably could shorten it's lifespan.