How to Clean a Pentair Chlorine Generator

Keep your pool well sanitized with a clean chlorine generator.

Pentair chlorine generators replace the need to constantly apply chlorine tablets to your swimming pool. Pentair chlorine generators take salt that is free floating in your pools water and uses it to create chlorine that sanitizes your pool's water. Chlorine generators require monthly maintenance to clean and keep the generator operating efficiently. Cleaning the Pentair chlorine generator consists of soaking the cell portion of the generator in a muriatic solution that eats away the buildup that naturally occurs over the generator's lifetime.

Things You'll Need

• Bucket
• Water hose
• Muriatic acid
• Gloves

Instructions

1. Unscrew the chlorine generator from your pool's plumbing. Open the lid of the generator and remove the small rectangle shaped device on it's inside. This is the salt cell. Unplug the salt cell from the wall outlet.

2. Fill a 5-gallon bucket partially with a water hose. Lower the salt cell into the bucket so that the cell is completely submerged.

3. Open a container of muriatic acid and pour a fourth of it into the bucket of water. Wear gloves when handling muriatic acid.

4. Move the salt cell around gently in the water using the cell's power cord. After a few moments lift the cell up and out of the water.

5. Spray the salt cell carefully with a water hose to rinse away debris and to clean it of the muriatic acid. Repeat the soaking and rinsing process until the cell is free of buildup.

Tips & Warnings

• Dump the used bucket of acid mixture in a suitable location. Grass where the mixture is poured will die and leave patches that are unappealing to the eye.

• Always wear gloves when handling muriatic acid. Muriatic acid, as with any acid, is extremely corrosive and dangerous to the skin and can be fatal if swallowed.

References

• Pool Center: Chlorine Generator Info