How to clean a chlorinator cell/electrode
How do I clean my chlorinator cell?
To clean the cell:
- Turn off the pool equipment and isolate the cell (i.e. close any valves connecting to the cell if it is below water level or if you wish to continue running the pump on a system that has an alternate line).
- Unscrew the cell lid and remove the electrode or disconnect the housing and flip it upside down.
For some units the electrode will need to be cleaned in isolation in a bucket of solution, while some electrodes are inside a housing that can be used to facilitate the cleaning.
- Submerge the electrode in a 9:1 water:hydrochloric acid solution so that the plates are fully covered.
For some electrodes (such as those found on the Aussie XTreme) the cell will need to be submerged horizontally or on an angle to submerge the entirety of the plates. This is because of the design of cap which creates an airtrap around the plates if stood up vertically.
For electrodes that can be cleaned inside the housing, ensure that the housing is supported so that it will not tip over during cleaning and add water to the housing before adding hydrochloric acid.
- Leave the electrode submerged in the solution for up to 10 minutes to dissolve the calcium deposits.
- If there are any remaining deposits you can remove these with a soft implement.
DO NOT USE ANY METAL OR OTHER HARD TOOLS TO REMOVE DEPOSITS. Metal tools will scratch and damage the coating on the electrode plates.
- Lubricate seals, where necessary, and reassemble the cell. Open any valves once the cell is reassembled.
- Run the equipment to ensure everything is working correctly.
