Is it dead? Start with the light, not the checkout.
A warning light on a salt system usually means the water, not the cell. Find your light below, run the one test next to it, and you will know whether you are buying a part or fixing a reading.
Checked 63 manufacturer manuals on file Spot an error?
Which light is on?
Tap the one that is lit on your box.
Every meaning below is quoted from that manufacturer's own manual, not from a general rule. The brands genuinely disagree: the same low salt condition shuts one system down and leaves another running.
Hayward AquaRite
What Hayward itself says each light means, and whether the unit is still running in that state.
| Light | What the manufacturer's own manual says | Flashing | Steady |
|---|---|---|---|
| No Flow | NO FLOW When illuminated, the flow switch has detected no water flowing and the AquaRite has stopped generating chlorine. A flashing LED indicates a 15-60 second time delay period. |
Still running | Stopped |
| Check Salt | CHECK SALT When flashing, the salt level is low (below 2700 ppm) and AquaRite is generating at low efficiency. When illuminated steady, the salt level is too low and AquaRite has shut down. Before adding large quantities of salt, it is advisable to have your salt level professionally checked. |
Still running | Stopped |
| High Salt | HIGH SALT When illuminated, the salt level is too high and AquaRite has shut down. |
Not checked yet | Stopped |
| Inspect Cell | INSPECT CELL A flashing indicator signifies that either the cell efficiency is reduced or that it is time for regularly scheduled cell inspection. In either case, inspect cell and clean if necessary. When illuminated steady, cell efficiency is greatly reduced and the AquaRite has stopped producing chlorine. Inspect, clean or replace if necessary. |
Still running | Stopped |
Different box, or a light that is not listed? Start by identifying what you have.
Once you know which light it is
The questions people actually ask
How do you check your salt cell?
Start with the light on the controller rather than with the cell itself, because the same symptom can come from salt level, water flow, water temperature or the cell. Once the light tells you which state the unit is in, the next step is a test you can do at the pad in about a minute.
What does it mean when it says check salt cell?
On most systems these are two separate lights that mean two different things, and manufacturers use the same words for different states. The table above gives each light the meaning its own manufacturer publishes for it.
What are signs a salt cell is going bad?
The honest answer is that a light alone is not one of them, because a healthy cell in low salt or low flow water throws warnings too. The signs worth acting on are chlorine production that does not recover after salt is corrected and the cell has been cleaned.