With proper care, a cell will last about five years. Eventually, though, it will need to be replaced. The trick is, it's not always easy to know when it's time.
Unfortunately, a salt cell is not an unlimited and infinite supply of chlorine. The process of generating the chlorine naturally wears down the titanium in the cell, slowly and over time. That means the salt cell is a consumable part, at some point in the the future it gets used up.
The easiest way to ascertain if the chlorinator is working is to make sure the cell is clean by checking the needle or production lights. Ensure there is enough salt in the pool. On the chlorinator box there should be a light or dial that indicates it is working.
Salt Pool Maintenance Must-Do
The plates inside the electrolytic chlorine generator (ECG), use electricity and dissolved salt (sodium chloride) to produce chlorine for the pool. If left undetected, the scale build-up will lower the effectiveness and shorten the lifespan of the cell.
Salt Cells Can't Work in Cold Winter Temperatures
When the temperature gets below 50–60ºF or so, your salt cell will most likely shut itself off automatically. This is because the ability of the cell to produce chlorine through electrolysis drastically decreases the lower the water temperature gets.
you know it could malfunction it might not turn the system off it could continue to create chlorine. even though there's no water flow. and then you run the risk of the gas building up and potentially causing the cell to explode. so that's the real reason you want to put the salt system on a timer.
A salt chlorinator's “cell” is a consumable item. It is the part that does all the work to clean the pool and it gets wear-and-tear as you use it. The bigger your salt system, the longer it will last you because it works proportionately less hard to do the job.
When you are ready to begin, you will need to turn off the salt chlorinator before adding salt to the water. Don't turn it on again until the salt reaches the proper concentration; if the salt chlorinator is running before dissolving the salt, the pool will have uneven salt concentration.
It is best practice to remove your salt cell during the colder winter months. By removing your cell, you limit the potential damage that may occur to the unit during cold or freezing temperatures. The cold water and temperatures can damage the plates and stop the salt cell from functioning as intended.
Be sure that the pump is running and the turbo cell is clean (buildup of calcium or debris in the cell can cause erroneous salt readings) and that the salt level in your pool water in within the recommended range of 2700 to 3400ppm. A salt level of 3200ppm is considered ideal.
What happens if I add too much salt? Over-salting will not harm your chlorine generator, but it will lead to salty tasting water. If levels exceed 6500 ppm the chlorinator is programmed to protect itself by alerting the user that there are high salinity levels in the pool.
You should check your salt cell weekly to ensure that there are no problems and rinse off the plates as soon as you start to see scale formation. Every salt cell should be chemically cleaned at least once per season, usually after the pool has been closed.
Rock salt is a staple for most winter maintenance deicing programs, but at what temperature does it become ineffective? Salt will “work,” i.e. it will melt ice, all the way down to its eutectic temperature of -6 0F.
Since it's summer, set your salt water chlorinator to 80% to 100%.
Maintain proper salt level in the pool. Low salt levels will destroy the coating of the electrodes and high salt levels will overload the chlorinator. Inspect the cell regularly and once you notice scale build-up on the electrodes clean it with an appropriate Salt Cell Cleaner.
An excess of salt in the water increases the water's conductivity, which can allow the cell to form a short circuit and ruin your salt cell, the power supply, and in extreme cases even potentially the pool pump (if running through the chlorinator).
N.B. Whilst Salt Cell Cleaner can be re-used, for the best results with heavy scaling, a fresh solution is recommended. If you are operating your system in a hard water area, then we recommend use of No More Scale in conjunction with Salt Cell Cleaners.
If your salt cell shows low flow, the first step is always to clean or backwash your filter. Next make sure your pump is able to reach full prime. If you still have no luck check your skimmer, main drain and any possible obstructions.