Salt cells fail gradually.
North Texas brings its own variables: oak pollen for six weeks, calcium-rich source water, sub-freezing nights every winter, and summers that crank chemistry usage. The advice below is calibrated for those realities, not a generic national pool blog.
The 5 signs
- Salt reading drifts upward even after no salt addition
- Generator percentage climbs to 100% to hold chlorine
- Warning code on automation panel
- Visible scaling on the cell plates
- Chlorine production drops on hot days
Once 2+ signs appear, plan a replacement within 30–60 days. A reactive failure during a heat wave or party weekend is the worst outcome.