Should I repair or replace my salt chlorine generator?

Repair if the problem is salt, scale, a flow issue or a worn cell on a generator that is otherwise young and reliable. Replace the whole generator when the cell is at the end of its life and the control box is also old, or when repairs keep stacking up. Many pools sit in the middle: a new cell on an older controller. Diagnose first, because the commonest "failures" are cheap to fix.

Rule out the cheap causes first

Before anyone prices a cell or a new unit, check these.

• Low salt. Pentair says a low salt concentration below 2600 ppm will cause the unit to turn off.^[1] Add salt only after the water is tested, and use the amount in your manual.
• Cold water. Pentair says that when the pool water temperature falls below 11° C, ±1.67° C (52° F, ±3° F), the temperature sensor switches the generator off.^[1] A generator that quits in late fall is behaving normally.
• Scale. The Cell light flashes green when the generator needs to be inspected because the blades may have calcium buildup and it is not producing chlorine.^[1] A cleaning by a pool professional often restores output.

If none of these explains it, the cell, the control board or the flow switch is the suspect.

Read the hours before you decide

Many generators count run time. Pentair's has a built-in cell usage hours meter that reports how many hours it has been operating, and it says the cell is designed to operate for approximately 10,000 hours before replacement is needed or roughly five (5) years of average use.^[1] Use that as a guide for any brand, then check your own manual's figure.

• Cell near its design life, control box in good shape: replace the cell. Pentair says to use only a cell labelled as a replacement for its device,^[1] and the same rule of thumb applies elsewhere, so the part number matters. See how much a salt cell replacement costs in Virginia.
• Cell young, output weak: look for scale, low salt, poor flow or a worn electrical part before buying a cell.
• Cell and power supply both old, or a repair bill that is a large share of a new system: replace the whole generator. A new unit brings a new warranty and a controller sized to the pool.
• Pool size has changed or the generator is undersized: replacing, rather than repairing, is the way to fix output.

Corrosion is part of the decision

Salt is an inherently corrosive material, according to Pentair's manual.^[1] If a generator is surrounded by corroded fittings, a pitted heater exchanger or rusting handrails, repairing the generator will not stop the underlying damage. Factor that into the whole-system plan, and compare it with other equipment decisions such as whether to fix a pool heater or buy a new one.

What to ask for

DPOR advises getting at least three written bids or estimates using identical plans and specifications so you can compare prices and contractors.^[4] For a repair-or-replace question, ask each business to quote both: the repair with part numbers and warranty, and the replacement with model, pool-size rating and warranty. Ask what they found, such as the salt reading, the hours on the cell and its scale condition.

When to call a licensed pro

For any repair that involves the generator's power supply or wiring. In Virginia no individual may work, or offer to work, as an electrical tradesman without a tradesman licence, unless working under the supervision of a tradesman licensed in that specialty.^[2][3] DPOR also 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.^[4] Check the licence in DPOR's lookup before you agree to a price.

Pentair also says service should only be performed by a qualified pool service professional.^[1] To see how the unit works, read how a salt chlorine generator works. Browse pool and spa equipment answers or find pool and spa businesses.

To get a diagnosis and quotes for your own system, describe the salt system job and licensed local businesses respond.