Salt Cell Maintenance: Fix Before Replace

Saltwater pools are hugely popular across Sydney for their low maintenance and gentle swimming experience. But when your salt cell starts playing up, too many pool companies jump straight to recommending a full replacement—often costing $800 to $1,200 or more.

At Swim City, we think differently. In many cases, repair is not only possible but far more cost-effective.

Understanding How Your Salt Cell Works

Salt chlorinators rely on two main parts: the salt cell and the control unit. The salt cell contains metal plates that use electrolysis to convert dissolved salt into chlorine. The control unit manages the process, ensuring consistent chlorine production.

Here's the cycle in action: Salt dissolves in your pool water, forming sodium chloride. As water passes through the salt cell, an electric current runs across the plates. This converts salt into chlorine gas, which sanitizes the water. Over time, the chlorine reverts back into salt, and the process begins again.

It's simple and elegant—but when something in this chain breaks down, performance suffers.

Signs Something's Wrong

If your system isn't keeping up, you might see warnings like "Low/No Output" despite good salt levels, or notice inconsistent chlorine production. Some pools turn green even though the chlorinator appears to be running fine. A high salt reading when your actual levels are normal can also be a red flag.

Visually, you might spot calcium crust building up on the plates, signs of corrosion or staining, or even physical damage like cracked housing or loose terminals.

Our Repair-First Philosophy

We don't believe in rushing to replacements. Our team runs a full diagnostic process to understand what's actually going wrong, including testing your water chemistry, accurately verifying salt levels, examining the salt cell itself, checking the control unit's performance, and making sure water flow through the system is sufficient.

This lets us target the problem directly—saving you hundreds.

Common Repairable Issues

Calcium Scale Buildup

By far the most common issue, especially in hard water areas. This happens when high calcium hardness or pH causes deposits to form on the metal plates. You'll usually see reduced output or error messages.

Our solution? A professional acid wash, typically costing $150–250. With proper balancing and regular cleaning, recurrence is easy to prevent.

Control Unit Faults

Sometimes, it's not the cell at all. Faulty sensors, misreadings, or circuit board errors can all lead to poor performance. These repairs usually cost between $100–300—far less than replacing a salt cell unnecessarily.

Water Chemistry Imbalance

Even a perfectly functioning cell can fail to produce chlorine if your pool chemistry is off. High pH, elevated cyanuric acid, or too many dissolved solids can all block chlorine generation. A full water balancing service costs $50–100 and can solve the issue outright.

What Our Professional Acid Wash Involves

When we clean a salt cell, it's not a quick splash of acid. We fully shut down the system, remove the cell, and inspect it before beginning a controlled acid treatment. Once cleaned, we neutralize and safely dispose of the acid, reinstall the cell, and retest for performance.

We take care to protect you, your pool, and the environment—no shortcuts.

When Replacement Really Is the Better Option

Sometimes, a replacement is the smart move. If your plates are heavily corroded, the housing is cracked, or internal wiring is damaged, repairs may not be viable. Salt cells that are 5–7 years old and showing multiple signs of failure often aren't worth the investment.

We'll recommend replacement when repair costs are more than half the cost of a new unit, you're experiencing repeated breakdowns, a new unit offers major performance upgrades, or warranty coverage makes replacement more cost-effective.

Preventive Maintenance: How to Make Your Salt Cell Last

With the right care, a quality salt cell can last over 5–7 years. We recommend monthly checks for scale and damage, regular water testing, and periodic flow rate reviews. Seasonally, a full system inspection and professional cleaning will keep everything running at peak performance.

Why Sydney Pools Need Special Attention

Our local water and climate create unique challenges. Western Sydney's hard water increases scaling risk, while coastal areas are more prone to corrosion from salty air. Heavy rainfall can dilute your chemicals, and dust, debris, and heatwaves put extra stress on your equipment.

We tailor our service to these Sydney-specific conditions, helping you get ahead of problems before they start.

Repair vs. Replace: A Quick Cost Breakdown

Typical Repairs

• Acid wash: $150–250
• Control unit repair: $100–300
• Minor parts: $50–150
• Full service: $200–400

Replacement Costs

• New salt cell: $400–900
• Full system: $800–1,200+
• Installation: $200–400

In most cases, professional servicing solves the issue for a fraction of what you'd pay to replace the unit.

The Swim City Difference

We don't push replacements unless they're truly needed. Our job is to diagnose what's wrong and offer the most efficient, affordable fix possible. That means thorough, honest assessments, clear upfront pricing, quality parts and professional cleaning, and backed work with ongoing support.

We've helped Sydney pool owners save thousands while keeping their water crystal clear.

Before You Replace Your Salt Cell—Call Us

A sluggish salt cell doesn't always mean it's time to throw it out. It could just need a clean, a tweak, or a minor repair. Swim City's repair-first approach can save you hundreds and extend the life of your existing equipment.

Reach out today for a comprehensive diagnostic and honest advice tailored to your pool. We'll help you get the most out of your saltwater system—without unnecessary costs.