How long does a salt cell last?
Expect a salt cell to hold up for 3 to 7 years, according to River Pools and Spas. Measured in operating time, that works out to 8,000 to 15,000 hours. Type in how long your pump runs and your output percent, and the calculator shows the years you'll get.
How long does a salt cell last in hours and years
Overall salt cell life falls between 8,000 and 15,000 hours of run time, Discount Salt Pool points out. Type in how many hours the pump runs and your output percent, and the calculator converts that into years.
Picture a cell built to handle 10,000 hours. Now imagine it operates 4 hours daily.
Working 4 hours daily, 10,000 hours adds up to 2,500 days. With year-round pool use, that works out to roughly 6.8 years.
What shortens a cell's life?
Every hour the cell operates eats into its 8,000 to 15,000 hour total. Low salt makes it wear out sooner: Jandy's manual cautions that salt under 2.0 gpl (grams per liter; 1 gpl is 1,000 parts per million) leads to premature cell failure.
Make sure the plates stay clean. Jandy's manual states the system washes them at 3-hour intervals. The cleaning happens by reversing the current. Pentair's guide has you acid clean the cell every 3 months.
At what point should you plan for a new cell
Expect 3 to 7 years of service, or 8,000 to 15,000 hours, when the cell is maintained properly. Keep a record of how long the pump runs each day. Once you're nearing the hour limit, start planning to buy a new cell.
Every 3 months, do the acid clean that Pentair's guide calls for. Size the new cell to your pool, like 15,000, 25,000 or 40,000 gallons.
Questions people bring to the counter
What's the right cleaning schedule for a salt cell?
An acid wash every 3 months is what Pentair's guide asks for. The Jandy system washes its plates on its own every 3 hours. Put a reminder on your calendar so none slip by.
What's the lifespan of a Hayward salt cell?
In years, a salt cell gives you 3 to 7; counted in run time, it's 8,000 to 15,000 hours. Hayward sells cells rated for 15,000, 25,000 and 40,000 gallons. Choose whichever matches how big your pool is.
Why does a salt cell fail?
A cell is done for once it has run for 8,000 to 15,000 hours. An acid clean every 3 months is what Pentair's guide says to do.
How can you tell your salt cell is due for a new one?
Expect 3 to 7 years of service, or 8,000 to 15,000 hours, when the cell is maintained properly. Buying a replacement runs $700 to $1100. Check your pump's daily run time and output percent to find out if the hours are gone.