Take the salt cell inside for winter

Your saltwater chlorine generator cell should be removed and stored indoors for the winter. Leaving it out in the freezing cold is how you crack it.

The reason is simple: the cell holds water inside its housing. When that water freezes, it expands, and the ceramic plates inside the cell crack. Once those plates are cracked, the cell is done. That’s a few hundred bucks you don’t want to spend.

The process is straightforward. Turn off the power to the system, unscrew the cell from the plumbing, and set it aside. If it’s dirty from the season, give it a quick rinse — or use a diluted acid wash if it’s scaled up, but only what the manufacturer recommends. Let it dry completely, then wrap it or put it in a plastic bin, and store it somewhere that doesn’t freeze: a garage, basement, or utility room works. Keep it away from the pool chemicals, especially acid, because the fumes can corrode the cell. Also check the o-rings and lightly lubricate them so they don’t dry out.

If you absolutely can’t remove it, at least blow out the lines and make