Question re: cleaning salt cell

[kmom]

I'm sorry if this is a dumb question, but I cannot find the answer, and I need to clean my cell this morning.

After you clean the salt cell, how do you properly dispose of the muriatic acid solution that was soaking in the cell?

 

[mknauss]

First, be sure you need to clean the cell. When you remove it and look at it be sure there is visible calcium buildup. The reason is that the acid bath reduces the life of the cell. So do not acid bath it unless it really needs it.

You can pour the leftover acid bath water down a toilet, it will clean it really well, be sure not to mix it with any bleach containing products. Or, you pour it down any other drain.

Be careful with the acid bath liquid, it will still be very acidic unless you have lots of calcium buildup!

Take care.

 

[kmom]

I am actually cleaning 2 different cells this morning. First is mine, which is almost 1 yr old, but I know my water has been balanced since we got it there after start-up. The last time I checked it, it did not have any build-up, so I did not clean it, just reinserted it and cleared the alert on the prologic. Chances are I may not need to clean it again. How long can one reasonably go without cleaning it if it looks like nothing is on it?

The second cell is my mother-in-laws. They just bought the house recently and the pool was a mess when they got it. Her cell is a pentair and is saying low salt even though the Taylor salt test is reading 3600ppm. I suspect her cell is failing, but I am going to clean it first to see if that makes a difference. Her cartridges were an absolute disaster when I cleaned those, so I suspect she has a bunch of build up on her cell. So this will end up being my first experience actually cleaning a cell.

 

[tucsontico]

I am actually cleaning 2 different cells this morning. First is mine, which is almost 1 yr old, but I know my water has been balanced since we got it there after start-up. The last time I checked it, it did not have any build-up, so I did not clean it, just reinserted it and cleared the alert on the prologic. Chances are I may not need to clean it again. How long can one reasonably go without cleaning it if it looks like nothing is on it?

The second cell is my mother-in-laws. They just bought the house recently and the pool was a mess when they got it. Her cell is a pentair and is saying low salt even though the Taylor salt test is reading 3600ppm. I suspect her cell is failing, but I am going to clean it first to see if that makes a difference. Her cartridges were an absolute disaster when I cleaned those, so I suspect she has a bunch of build up on her cell. So this will end up being my first experience actually cleaning a cell.

Due to the multiple variables from pool to pool, there is no real good estimate on time between cleanings of a salt cell. I own a Pentair IC40 and have kept my pool water balanced via TFP methods for 3+ years. I check the cell every time I clean my filters (every 6 months) and I have yet to need to clean my cell. Even with very hard water here in the desert. You can expect to get about 4-5 years out of a cell before the plates will erode and not produce chlorine.

 

[pooldv]

I have never cleaned my SWG cell and it is starting season 6. I checked it a couple of times the first year or two then once a year for a couple of years. I looked at it last September when I installed my heat pump and it was clean as a whistle.

Maintaining your CSI between- 0.3 and 0 will prevent scaling in the pool and the SWG cell in most cases.

 

[kmom]

Is it acceptable to pour the MA solution into the gutter/stormdrain? I don't think my MIL is going to be too keen on me bringing the bucket into her house to pour it down the toilet. What do the pool companies do with it? They usually don't have access to inside the houses they service to dump it down a drain.

 

[mknauss]

I would not put it right into the gutter. Animals or children might contact it. If you have access to a storm drain you can pour it directly into that should be fine. The acid bath will be less potent than most household cleaners but I understand.

I have never cleaned my SWCG in 3 years here in the desert.

FYI -- if a Pentair SWCG is showing low salt but the pool tests proper salt - it could be a failing flow sensor. The flow sensor on a Pentair contains the temperature sensor which is needed to calculate the salt content. If the cell is fairly new there is a process to have the diagnostics test for the temperature sensor. Mine did not have that but since I was within 3 years of purchase Pentair sent me a new sensor. Really easy to replace. If you must buy it, there are sensors on Amazon for $60.

Take care.

 

[Philo]

I had the same issue. I replaced the flow sensor (super easy) and my Pentair IC60 works fine now. Also, I put some soda ash in the acid mixture and toss it on some weeds......they come back the following year.

 

[pooldv]

Just pour it in the pool unless the pH is too low which is unlikely if there is scale in the cell.

 

[Philo]

^^^^ That's the ticket!

 

[kmom]

I was wondering if pouring it into the pool was ok or not. Good to know it is ok.

 

[Chuckiechan]

Is it acceptable to pour the MA solution into the gutter/stormdrain? I don't think my MIL is going to be too keen on me bringing the bucket into her house to pour it down the toilet. What do the pool companies do with it? They usually don't have access to inside the houses they service to dump it down a drain.

No. The safest thing to do is slowly pour powdered baking soda into it to neutralize it. Baking soda is cheap. Then flush it or dump it in the drain. The drain is storm water to the river, the toilet is a sewer line to the sewage treatment plant. Neither likes harsh chemicals. If you have property, pour it in a hole.