Advice #5

Proper Maintenance of Your Electrolysis Cell:
Key Practices to Adopt

Advice #5

Conditions of use of an chlorination cells

Advice #5

Conditions of use of an chlorination cells

To ensure effective disinfection of your pool and extend the lifespan of your salt chlorinator, a few precautions are necessary.

HERE ARE THE MAIN FACTORS TO MONITOR, ALONG WITH OUR TIPS TO OPTIMIZE YOUR DEVICE’S PERFORMANCE:

Regularly Monitor the Salt Level

Salt is essential for the proper functioning of your chlorinator. A salt level that is too low can prematurely damage the cell. For example, at 1 g/L, its lifespan can decrease by up to 25%!
💡 Our tips:

  • Maintain a salt level around 4 g/L

  • Check the level using test strips or an electronic tester, especially after fresh water is added (refills, rain, filter backwash)

  • If your device doesn’t have a built-in salt sensor, be extra cautious. If possible, add a salt sensor to your system

Salt rate

At a constant current intensity (without activating the Low Salt function), salt rates below 3 g/l will cause a significant drop in electrode life span (e.g.: -25% at 1 g/l). Devices without a salt rate sensor present a risk for this point if the client does not pay attention to their salt rate. Regular top-ups with unsalted freshwater will lower the salt rate in the swimming pool.

Polarity inversion

Adjusting the device to a polarity inversion of 2 hours (the standard being 4 hours) will reduce electrode life span by almost 30%

Adjust the Polarity Reversal Frequency

Polarity reversal helps prevent scaling on the cell plates. At Pool Technologie, the default setting is every 4 hours.
💡 Our tips:

  • Do not reduce this interval to less than 4 hours (reducing it to 2 hours may shorten the cell’s lifespan by 30%).

  • Choose a device with automatic reversal (Smart Reverse technology) for hassle-free maintenance.

Plate production and surface area

The choice of cell (number and surface area of the plates) and the production level, determined by the intensity of the current sent to the cell, have a major impact on the life span of the latter. The higher the number of plates and their surface area, the longer the cell life span will be. We can offer cells with low current densities and thus guarantee high life spans. These cells are more expensive, in line with the size of the electrodes they use.

Choose the Right Cell

The performance and longevity of your chlorinator also depend on the titanium plate surface area and the current used to produce chlorine.
💡 Our tips:

  • The larger the cell (in terms of plate number and surface), the more durable it will be.

  • Match the device to your pool size: an oversized cell will operate at a lower intensity, enhancing its lifespan.

Cold water operation

It is not rare to see clients leaving the chlorinator running in winter in order to skip overwintering. At a water temperature below 15°C, the electrodes deteriorate rapidly. We highly recommend not doing this.

Avoid Operating in Cold Water

Keeping your chlorinator running during the winter is becoming more common, but it does come with risks.
💡 Our tips:

  • Below 15°C, electrode wear increases significantly

  • Prefer a traditional winterization or use an “active winter mode” if your unit is equipped with one

Influence of global warming

Seasons are starting earlier, ending later, and chlorinators are working a lot more because warm water requires greater disinfection. It is therefore normal for the cells to last for a lower number of seasons than they did 10 years ago.

Take Climate Changes into Account

With longer swimming seasons, chlorinators are being used more than they were 10 years ago.
💡 Our tips:

  • Don’t be surprised if the cell’s lifespan is slightly shorter

  • Regular maintenance will still help extend its useful life

Operation with scale

A cell that operates with scaled plates will see its life span reduced. Consequently, regular cell maintenance (scale removal with acid) in pools that have a high level of water hardness is extremely important.

Prevent Limescale Build-Up

Limescale is one of the main enemies of your cell.
💡 Our tips:

  • Clean the cell regularly (using a specific product or a mild acid solution). See our article on descaling

  • Pay special attention if your water is hard (high mineral content)

Other factors

We are detecting an increased presence of contaminants in swimming pool water (water from private artesian wells is often high in metals or minerals). Some contaminants, particularly metal ones, inhibit and destroy the ruthenium.
This phenomenon can only be detected through a laboratory-performed water analysis.

Be Cautious with Well Water

Water from private wells may contain metals or minerals that can damage the cell—especially Ruthenium, a valuable component.
💡 Our tips:

  • Have your well water analyzed

  • If in doubt, use an appropriate treatment to neutralize metals

Taking care of your chlorinator mainly involves monitoring salt levels, preventing scale build-up, and adjusting usage based on pool conditions. These simple steps will extend your cell’s lifespan and ensure optimal water disinfection throughout the season.