Possible PVC glue in salt cell

[dup2869]

My salt cell stopped working this week so I removed it and noticed what I first thought was calcium buildup. Two acid baths did nothing so I posted to Reddit and a user said it was probably PVC glue. It's been less than a year since it was installed and I haven't had any other work done on the pool plumbing. Any suggestions on how to remove the glue would be very much appreciated. Thanks in advance!

 

[ajw22]

Welcome to TFP.

Have you tried using a Popsicle stick to poke at the stuff and dislodge it?

How hard is it?

Those acid baths have not helped the life of your cell.

 

[dup2869]

Thanks! I tried a plastic knife but it's very hard and doesn't want to come off. I can't think of anything that'll get it off without also damaging the cell.

 

[ajw22]

@JamesW is this cell a goner?

 

[JamesW]

Use something sharp to cut away the stuff.

The white fins are not the plates, they are just a plastic screen and it does not matter if they get scratched a little.

What does it look like in the other end?

 

[Flying Tivo]

Looks more like something got stuck in there after the installation.

 

[JamesW]

What's there won't cause the cell to stop working.

What exactly do you mean that it stopped working?

 

[Ps6fsu]

I actually have the same problem. I just opened my pool for the first time (only 1 year old) and found my SWG struggling to produce chlorine. Took out the cell and noticed the same thing you are seeing. Not sure how it could possibly be PVC glue. I don't think acid bath is going to work either. I poured a small amount of acid (not diluted) into a cup and then chipped off a piece of this crud and threw it in the cup... nothing. For what it is worth, I opened up the cell for a closer look and the plates are fine... its just on the plastic screen. Still don't know what the heck it could be.

 

[mknauss]

@dup2869 What type of filter do you have?

 

[Newdude]

We saw one of these last year with a new filter. It was a fiber like material that looked exactly like the 2 above. The group consensus was glue at the time.

Whatever it was didn't return.

Don't worry so much about the screen that did its job to save the plates. You can scratch it up if need be removing the stuffs. I'd try gently with the tip of a sheet rock knife. Wouldn't want to go all the way in and hit the plates.