A pool salt cell, or salt chlorine generator, can go bad primarily due to improper water chemistry, which directly damages the internal components.
Main Causes of Salt Cell Failure
The primary reason a salt cell malfunctions or fails is related to the condition of the pool water it operates in.
Water Chemistry Imbalances
According to the provided reference, if your pool water is outside optimum ranges for any length of time, it can actually damage the plates in your cell. The plates inside the cell are where the process of converting salt (sodium chloride) into chlorine happens. When water chemistry is unbalanced, certain conditions can accelerate wear and tear on these plates, leading to decreased efficiency or complete failure.
Factors contributing to this include:
- High Calcium Hardness: Excessive calcium can cause scale buildup on the plates, reducing their surface area available for chlorine production. This forces the cell to work harder and can lead to premature failure.
- Incorrect pH Levels: Water that is too acidic or too alkaline can corrode or damage the cell's components over time.
- High Total Alkalinity: Similar to high calcium, high alkalinity can contribute to scaling on the plates.
Misdiagnosis Due to Low Stabilizer
It's important to note that a salt cell might appear to be bad even when it's still functioning. The reference states, "if the stabilizer runs too low your pool won't hold the chlorine the generator produces and it will appear as though the cell is bad when it's not."
- Low Stabilizer (Cyanuric Acid): Stabilizer (CYA) protects chlorine from being broken down by UV rays from the sun. If your CYA levels are too low, the chlorine produced by the salt cell will quickly dissipate, resulting in low or zero chlorine readings. This isn't a problem with the cell's production but rather the water's inability to retain the chlorine.
Preventing Salt Cell Damage
Maintaining proper pool water chemistry is crucial for extending the life of your salt cell.
Here are key parameters to monitor:
- Salt Level: Keep salt levels within the manufacturer's recommended range. Too low can reduce production; too high can strain the cell.
- pH: Maintain a balanced pH level (typically 7.2-7.6).
- Total Alkalinity: Keep alkalinity within the recommended range (typically 80-120 ppm).
- Calcium Hardness: Monitor calcium levels, especially in areas with hard water.
- Stabilizer (CYA): Ensure CYA is at appropriate levels (check your salt system's manual, often 30-50 ppm is recommended).
- Water Temperature: Operate the cell within the recommended temperature range.
Regular cleaning of the salt cell (following manufacturer instructions, often using a diluted acid solution to remove scale) can also help prevent damage caused by buildup, although excessive or improper cleaning can also harm the cell.
In summary, maintaining balanced water chemistry, including proper stabilizer levels, is the best defense against a salt cell going bad.
