Salt Cell Not Producing Chlorine? Troubleshooting Guide

Quick answer: If your salt system is not making chlorine, check the salt level, water flow, water temperature, and cell scale before replacing anything. Many bad cell calls are low salt, low flow, or cold water.

Common causes

• Salt below your manual range
• Low flow or a dirty filter
• Cold water, which can reduce output or cause false low salt errors
• Scale on the cell plates
• A cell near the end of its life

What to do

• Test salt with an independent test
• Check flow, baskets, and filter pressure
• Inspect the cell for white scale and clean it only as the manufacturer directs
• Reset at the breaker per the manual
• Keep chlorine up with liquid chlorine or tablets while you troubleshoot

When to call a pro

If errors continue after these checks, the cell or controller may need replacement.