How do I clean a salt cell?

Cleaning a salt cell means getting scale off its plates, and when the cell is badly coated that is done with acid. That is why Loclis treats it as a job for a qualified pool professional. What you can do yourself is watch for the signs, keep the water chemistry in range so the scale forms slowly, and know when to ask for a cleaning.

Why a salt cell needs cleaning

Chlorine production leaves a mineral crust on the plates. Pentair, the maker of the IntelliChlor, describes scale as a white crusty deposit that forms in excessively hard water or from pool water that is out of balance and in a scaling condition.^[1] The unit fights this on its own: Pentair says the SCG has an automatic cell blade cleaning feature (cell reversing) that helps remove scale deposits from the SCG blades,^[1] but it also notes that the self-cleaning cycle tends to reduce the life of the SCG.^[1]

A little scale is expected, and Pentair says a small amount of scale formation is normal.^[1] Debris can also be a problem. Pentair warns that some filters allow debris to pass through to the SCG, possibly lodging between the blades,^[1] so a worn filter can foul a cell as surely as hard water.

Signs the cell is due

On Pentair's IntelliChlor, a flashing green cell light means the unit needs to be inspected because the blades may have calcium buildup and it is not producing chlorine. Other symptoms are less specific: chlorine that will not hold even though the salt level is fine, a low-salt warning that does not match your test (see why a salt system says low salt when the level is fine), or a flow light that stays red.

Pentair's inspection schedule is based on how your water behaves. For its cell it recommends looking inside at intervals, and says that even where no deposits turn up, it is recommended that the cell be removed for inspection at least twice a year.^[1] Your manual may give a different schedule, so use it.

Why this one is for a pro

The manual's own cleaning method shows why. After disconnecting power, the cell is taken out of the plumbing and the plates are treated with a diluted muriatic acid solution. Pentair puts it plainly: working with muriatic acid can be dangerous.^[1] It tells the user to always wear rubber gloves and eye protection and to always add acid to water, do not add water to acid,^[1] and it warns that splashing or spilling acid can cause severe personal injury or property damage. Contact time matters too: do not leave acid in the SCG for more than thirty (30) minutes. Excessive acid washing will damage the blades,^[1] which are a coated metal part that is the most expensive piece of the system.

The electrical side is the other reason. The manual says to disconnect the AC power from the Power Center,^[1] and the cell has to be reconnected correctly afterwards. Get either part wrong and you risk chemical burns or a damaged cell.

A pro also does the part owners tend to skip: working out why the cell scaled. Pentair recommends having a pool professional analyze a sample if an acid wash was needed, because high calcium hardness or poor balance is usually the cause, and says the ideal range is 200 to 300 ppm for pools.^[1] Cleaning a cell and then leaving the hardness alone just resets the clock.

What you can do between visits

Keep the chemistry in the range your manual gives for pH, alkalinity and calcium hardness, because that is what slows scaling. Keep the filter in good shape so debris does not reach the cell, and keep the salt at the level your unit wants. Do not add salt to chase a reading until a separate test confirms it is actually low.

When to call a licensed pro

Call a qualified pool service business to remove, inspect and clean the cell, and ask them to test hardness and balance at the same visit. If the plates are pitted, bare or flaking, cleaning will not save the cell, and the cost question moves to how much a salt cell replacement costs in Virginia and whether to repair or replace the generator.

In Virginia, DPOR says that if the work is valued at $1,000 or more, a valid Virginia contractor's licence is required for the licence category in which the contractor is to work.^[2] Check the licence before you hire.

New to the equipment? Start with how a salt chlorine generator works. Browse pool and spa equipment answers or pool and spa businesses.

To have your cell cleaned or checked, describe the job and licensed local businesses quote it.