Pool Salt Cell Cleaning in Boyds
Salt water pool systems are very popular. The system creates chlorine automatically and keeps your pool clean and clear.
But, sometimes, the salt cells become covered in calcium byproduct and the cell becomes less efficient.
How to clean your pool salt cell
Follow these simple steps to clean your pool salt cell.
- Turn off the power to the salt system.
- Remove the salt cell.
- Inspect the salt cell for deposits.
- Manually pull out any large debris or loose chunks of calcium.
- Spray salt cell with high pressure nozzle attached to a garden hose.
- Inspect the salt cell again. If it is clean, reinsert the salt cell into the system.
If the salt cell still has deposits, you will have to take further steps.
Salt cell cleaning with muriatic acid
Occasionally the mineral deposits will not be completely removed by the high-pressure spray. In this case, you will have to use a chemical cleaning method.
Carefully follow these steps for chemical salt cell cleaning.
- Use safety gear! Put on gloves, safety goggles, and a coverall. The acid used in the chemical clean is very dangerous.
- Mix the muriatic acid. Use five parts water to one part acid. **Always add the acid to the water. Never add water to the acid.**
- Cap the end of the salt cell.
- Pour the muriatic acid mix into the salt cell.
- Allow the acid to soak the cell for three to five minutes. When the acid stops bubbling, it should be finished cleaning the deposits.
- Pour the acid mixture back into the original mixing bucket.
- Very thoroughly rinse the acid from the salt cell. Muriatic acid should never mix with chlorine, so be sure that you have rinsed all of the acid from the salt cell.
- Replace the salt cell.
- Carefully and properly dispose of the acid mixture. Check with hazardous waste disposal sites in Boyds for proper disposal locations and methods.
There is an alternative to muriatic acid
There is an alternative to using muriatic acid, but it takes significantly longer.
Distilled white vinegar will remove calcium and mineral deposits from salt cells as well as muriatic acid. However, the salt cell must soak in the vinegar for 24 hours—instead of the three to five minutes with the acid.
Follow these steps to clean your salt cell with distilled white vinegar.
- Cap the end of the salt cell.
- Pour the distilled white vinegar into the salt cell.
- Allow the vinegar to soak the cell for 24 hours.
- Pour out the vinegar. Don’t pour vinegar into your flowerbeds or lawn, as full strength vinegar is not good for plants.
- Thoroughly rinse the vinegar from the salt cell.
- Replace the salt cell.
Not using your pool for 24 hours might be a difficult choice for your family, but using distilled white vinegar instead of harsh acid might be a healthier choice.
Common Pool Salt Cell Cleaning Questions from Boyds Pool Owners
How often should I clean my salt cell system?
Most pool owners clean the salt cell once every three months. However, based on the softness or hardness of your local water, you may have to clean it more often. You should inspect your salt cells every month until you know how quickly deposits build up on your salt cell.
What is muriatic acid?
Muriatic acid is another name for hydrochloric acid.