A salt chlorine generator produces chlorine by passing pool water with dissolved salt over a metal-plated cell. It's a low-maintenance way to sanitize a pool compared to manually adding chlorine, but the cell inside the unit wears down over time and needs periodic attention.
Signs the cell needs cleaning
Florida's hard, mineral-heavy water speeds up calcium buildup on the cell plates, more so than in most other regions. If your control panel is showing lower-than-normal chlorine output, or the pool is struggling to hold a chlorine reading despite the system running normally, calcium scale on the plates is the most common cause. Most cells are designed to be pulled and inspected without tools; a light coating of white, flaky buildup is normal and can usually be cleaned with a mild acid-water solution. Heavy, crusted buildup that doesn't come off easily is a sign to clean more often going forward, generally every 3 months during peak season in Florida's warm water.
Signs the cell needs replacing
Cells are a consumable part, not a permanent one. Most last 3-7 years depending on usage, water balance, and salt level. A cell nearing the end of its life shows a few patterns: chlorine output stays low even right after cleaning, the unit's error light for "low cell" or "check cell" comes on more frequently, or the metal plates visibly show flaking, pitting, or exposed base metal rather than an even coating. Running a pool on a failing cell strains the rest of the system, since the control board and pump often work harder trying to compensate, so it's worth replacing rather than pushing a worn cell further.
Keeping the water balanced helps the cell last
Salt level, pH, and stabilizer (cyanuric acid) all affect how hard the cell has to work and how fast it wears. Salt outside the manufacturer's recommended range (too low makes the cell work harder; too high accelerates corrosion) is the most common shortener of cell life, so a salt test every few weeks during swim season is worth the five minutes it takes.
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What we carry
We stock Hayward AquaRite salt systems and replacement TurboCells, along with Jandy AquaPure salt systems built to handle Florida's water conditions. If you're not sure whether your current cell needs cleaning or replacing, send us your system's model number and we can help you figure out which one you need.
