Before a pool removal crew arrives on site, the salt chlorinator, and all associated pool equipment, needs to be decommissioned. Some of this can be done by the homeowner; other steps legally require a licensed electrician. This guide walks through the full process, what order things happen in, and how to maximise the value of the equipment before it’s scrapped or discarded.
The most important rule: never attempt to disconnect hardwired pool electrical equipment yourself. Pool equipment in NSW is typically hardwired at the switchboard, and this work must be done by a licensed electrician.
What Is a Salt Chlorinator System?
A standard pool salt chlorination system has two main components:
The controller (power pack): Wall-mounted near the equipment pad or in an equipment box. Contains the electronics that regulate how much electrolysis the cell performs. Connects to the main power supply at the switchboard.
The electrolytic cell: Installed inline in the pool’s return plumbing. Water from the pump and filter passes through the cell, where low-voltage direct current between titanium plates converts dissolved salt into chlorine. The cell clips into a housing that is plumbed between the filter and the pool returns.
Most Hunter region pools also have a pump and filter connected in series with the chlorinator, plus optional heater, lights, automation, and water features. All of these need to be decommissioned, though the chlorinator is the most commonly misunderstood component.
Step 1: Stop Chemical Dosing
Several days before the pool is to be drained, stop adding chemicals. The salt content in the water will remain (salt doesn’t dissipate), but reducing chlorine and pH adjusters means the water is easier to manage at discharge. There’s no need to deliberately reduce salt levels before removal, the discharge management plan handles the salt-laden water.
Step 2: Turn Off the Chlorinator at the Controller
Set the chlorinator output to zero and switch it off at the controller. Most modern salt chlorinators (Zodiac, Hayward, Astral, Autochlor) have a power switch or will default to off when the pump timer isn’t running. This step is something the homeowner can do, it’s simply operating a control panel.
Do not, however, disconnect the controller from the wall or tamper with wiring at this stage.
Step 3: Arrange Licensed Electrician Disconnection
A licensed electrician must:
- Isolate the chlorinator controller circuit at the switchboard
- Disconnect the wiring from the controller to the switchboard
- Disconnect power to the pump, lights, automation, and any other hardwired equipment
- Ensure the equipment is safe to handle (not energised) before the chlorinator cell or any components are removed
In the Newcastle and Lake Macquarie area, licensed electricians who service pool equipment are available, your pool removal contractor may have one on their team or will sub this out. Confirm who is responsible for electrical disconnection in your quote.
Typical cost for pool electrical disconnection: $200 to $500 depending on the number of circuits and switchboard complexity.
Step 4: Remove the Chlorinator Cell
Once the circuit is isolated, the electrolytic cell can be removed from the plumbing:
- Turn off the pump
- Close any isolation valves around the cell housing (if fitted)
- Unscrew the cell from the housing (cells are typically threaded or clip-in)
- Remove the cell from the plumbing housing
- Rinse the cell with fresh water to remove salt and mineral deposits
- Store the cell safely for resale assessment or disposal
If you’re planning to sell the cell, inspect the plates. Hold the cell up to light and look through, the titanium plates should have relatively clear passages between them. Heavy calcium scale buildup (white deposits) indicates wear and reduces resale value. Cells can be cleaned with a diluted acid wash (e.g., 1:20 pool acid and water), but this should be done carefully with appropriate PPE and ventilation.
Step 5: Remove the Controller
Once electrical disconnection is confirmed by the electrician, the controller can be unbolted from its mounting and the wiring terminals disconnected. The controller typically has low-voltage wiring to the cell and a cable to the switchboard. With the circuit isolated, the wiring can be safely disconnected and the unit removed.
Keep the cell and controller together if selling, buyers want the matched set, as cells are brand-specific to controllers.
Step 6: Decommission Other Equipment
In sequence after the chlorinator:
Pump: The electrician will have already isolated the pump circuit. With power off, the plumber (or contractor) disconnects the pump from the plumbing unions and lifts it from its mounting. Pool pumps are heavy (10-25 kg for residential units) and may need two people to handle.
Filter: Pool filters (sand, cartridge, or DE) are typically not hardwired, they’re plumbed components with no electrical connection. Disconnect the plumbing unions, tip out the filter media (sand goes to garden; cartridge elements to waste; DE powder is classified as nuisance dust, handle with P1 mask), and remove the tank.
Gas heater (if fitted): Must be disconnected by a licensed gas fitter. This is not optional, illegal gas disconnection is a safety and compliance issue. Your pool removal contractor must arrange a licensed gas plumber for this step.
Pool lights: Typically 12V or low-voltage LED, but still connected to a transformer that is hardwired. The electrician should disconnect all light circuits. Pool lights in the shell are typically left in place and removed with the shell during demolition.
Automation and timers: Wall-mounted automation controllers (Zodiac iAquaLink, Astral, etc.) are hardwired. The electrician disconnects these along with the other circuits.
Step 7: Decide What to Do With the Equipment
Before any equipment is removed from site by the contractor, decide:
| Equipment | If Newer (< 5 years) | If Older (> 10 years) |
|---|---|---|
| Salt chlorinator (cell + controller) | Sell, Facebook Marketplace, pool shops | Scrap/e-waste |
| Variable speed pump | Sell | Scrap |
| Single speed pump | Sell if working | Scrap |
| Sand/cartridge filter | Sell if < 5 years | Scrap/waste |
| Gas heater | Sell | Scrap |
| LED pool lights | Keep for garden/feature use | Scrap/e-waste |
| Automation controller | Sell if current model | E-waste |
If selling, list equipment before the removal date and allow buyers to collect during or just before the removal. Once the contractor takes the equipment as scrap, you’ve lost the resale opportunity.
What Happens to the Cell’s Precious Metal Coating?
Salt chlorinator cells use titanium plates coated with precious metal oxides (typically ruthenium dioxide and iridium dioxide). These coatings are what enable electrolysis. At end-of-life, there is a precious metal recovery market for spent chlorinator cells, though the quantity per unit is small and the process requires specialist recyclers.
Most homeowners won’t pursue precious metal recovery, the value returned is typically less than the cost of the process. However, it’s worth noting that cells should not simply go to landfill. They contain metal components (titanium, precious metal oxides, copper wiring) that should be directed to metal recycling or e-waste facilities.
Salt Left in the Pool Water
When the chlorinator is decommissioned, the salt remains dissolved in the pool water. This doesn’t cause any problem for the removal process, the water is simply drained as part of pool removal, following the discharge management requirements for salt-laden water. See our guide on how to drain a pool safely and legally and our full saltwater pool removal guide for the discharge management process.
Decommissioning Ahead of Schedule
Some homeowners choose to decommission pool equipment well in advance of pool removal, perhaps they’ve decided to remove the pool but haven’t yet booked a contractor, and they want to stop the electricity cost of running a pool they’re not using. This is perfectly reasonable.
Turning off the equipment (pump, chlorinator) and draining the pool partially (to below skimmer level) is something you can manage without a contractor. But for full electrical disconnection and removal, the licensed electrician step still applies.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I disconnect my pool pump myself before removal? You can switch off the pump and turn off the circuit breaker at the switchboard. Physical disconnection from the wiring terminals must be done by a licensed electrician. Do not open the junction box or terminal block on a pool pump while it’s connected to mains power.
What’s the best way to clean the chlorinator cell before selling it? Dilute pool acid (1 part to 20 parts water) poured into the cell with ends capped, left for 10-15 minutes, then rinsed thoroughly. Use gloves and eye protection and work in a ventilated area. The acid dissolves calcium scale buildup and improves the appearance and performance reading of the cell.
Do I need a plumber to decommission pool plumbing? For simple plumbing disconnection (unscrewing union joints, capping pipe ends), a licensed plumber is not usually required unless the work involves modifications to the dwelling’s water supply or drain. Your pool removal contractor typically handles pool plumbing disconnection as part of the job.
What do I do with the sand from my sand filter? Used pool filter sand can be spread in gardens as soil amendment, in reasonable quantities it’s not harmful. However, pool sand can accumulate DE or algaecide residue, so use at your own discretion. Alternatively, it can go to general waste (it’s not classified as hazardous).
Is there any safety risk in having an un-decommissioned pool during the period before removal? Yes. A pool that is not being actively maintained (pump not running, chlorinator not working) will develop algae, mosquito breeding conditions, and water quality problems quickly. Consider draining the pool below skimmer level if you’re not operating the equipment while waiting for your removal booking. See our guide on deregistering the pool from the NSW Swimming Pools Register for the post-removal admin.
Getting your pool equipment decommissioned and ready for removal? Contact Hunter Pool Removals for a free quote, we coordinate the full decommissioning and removal process across Newcastle, Lake Macquarie, and Maitland.