Crystal clear water is what every pool owner chases, but it only comes with a consistent cleaning routine. Even if you perform chlorination, it is vital to do pool shock treatment frequently. Various environmental factors, including sunlight, engage with chemicals in the pool, further making chemical balancing and routing testing necessary. This involves pH balancing and sanitising to keep water neutral and clean, respectively. In this article, you will find a step-by-step guide to shock a pool.
See also: How to remove algae from pool?
Steps to shock a pool
Gather gear and supplies
Before starting the process, make sure that you have all the necessary gear, like goggles, closed shoes, full sleeved shirt, a mask, and chemical-resistant gloves. This will save you from any accidents that may occur due to fumes or splashes while shocking the pool. Another important thing is to ensure the availability of pool shock supplies. You should have a pool water test kit, pool shock, a bucket and a wooden stick.
Water test
This step involves testing your water chemistry to determine how much shock is needed. Check free chlorine, combined chlorine, and total chlorine. If the combined chlorine crosses 0.2 ppm, the pool needs to be shocked. Make sure to check the pH level before adding the solution. The pH level should be around 7.2 to 7.6. If it is more than that, the pool shock won’t work effectively.
Dissolve
If you are performing granular shock, you need to pre-dissolve it before adding. Don’t forget to follow the instructions given by the manufacturer to measure the right amount. Now add this to the water and stir using a wooden stick. Keep doing this until the granules are dissolved completely. However, if you are using a liquid shock, make sure to calculate the right amount and then prepare the bottles.
Add the shock
This is the step where you will add the shock. Run your pool pump at full speed so that circulation is increased. For best results, walk around the pool and very slowly pour the shock. Now, you must brush it to distribute the shock evenly. If you are using unstabilised shock, performing this task in the evening is recommended to prevent oxidation.
Allow circulation
Give some time to the shock so that it can circulate properly and kill the existing bacteria. Also, if you have any toys or brushes that you want to disinfect, drop them now. Non-chlorine shocks usually take 15 minutes to circulate and sanitise. Whereas other shocks take 8 to 12 hours to do the job. If you are not aware of the type, check out the manufacturer’s instructions.
Rebalance
After you shock the pool, testing your water chemistry is vital. You need to ensure that all pH, chlorine, alkalinity, CYA, and calcium hardness levels are appropriate. If the chlorine level is too high, let it evaporate in the sun and keep checking till it reaches the correct level.
FAQs
Can I swim in a shocked pool?
You should wait until the free chlorine levels reach 1 to 3 parts per million (PPM).
After how much time can I swim in a shocked pool?
Generally, it is recommended to wait at least 24 hours after the pool shock. This ensures that chlorine has done the job well. However, don’t forget to check the pH level before swimming back into the pool.
How many times should you shock your swimming pool?
You should shock your pool once a week. This will keep it clean and prevent common pool problems.
Can I shock the skimmer?
You should not shock the shimmer. This will provoke concentrated doses of chlorine to damage your basket and other equipment.
Can I mix different types of shocks?
You should not mix different types of shocks. This is because each product has different requirements, and mixing them all can lead to harmful reactions.
How to kill algae naturally?
Baking soda works wonders in killing algae naturally. It allows you to scrub algae and clean it away from the pool.
Why do we use pool shock?
In this shock process, chlorine or non-chlorine pool chemicals are added to the water to raise the free chlorine level. This helps in destroying contaminants like chloramines, bacteria, algae, etc.
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Khushi Jha, a graduate in history and political science from the University of Delhi, doesn’t restrict herself to a single domain. Her passion for writing has led her to explore a wide spectrum of topics, ranging from fashion, health and lifestyle to technology, real estate and finance. She has written for platforms like TheVoiceOfWoman, Techsunk, Fitmist and Menskool, among others. When free, she enjoys reading books, including fiction, history and geopolitics.
