What does it mean to shock an above ground pool?
Shocking your above ground pool is a necessary part of its maintenance routine. A “shock” simply refers to adding above normal levels of chlorine or sanitizer to your pool to quickly raise the levels of chemicals in a very short amount of time. The reason for shocking a pool is to remove ineffective chlorine, kill bacteria, and get rid of algae.
Can You shock a pool in the Sun?
Shocking your pool should only be done after the sun has gone down, during dusk or twilight hours. The unstabilized chlorine in pool shock has zero protection against the UV rays of the sun. Once it comes out to play, you can wave bye-bye to all the unstabilized chlorine in the pool.
When is the best time to shock a pool?
This type of pool shock is best if the water has already turned green. After shocking a pool with cal-hypo, you can swim again once the chlorine levels have returned to normal.
Should you shock a pool with chlorinated or non-chlorinated shock?
If your chlorine levels are low, a chlorinated shock is required. If levels are already high, you should use non-chlorinated shock. Pool shocking is usually done at night, when the sun no longer shines on the water. This is because UV rays destroy chlorine at near warp speed.
When should I shock my above ground pool?
After Days of Hot Weather During extended periods of hot weather, the temperature in your pool can rise, leading to bacteria growth and a decrease in the strength of your chlorine. After an extended period of hot, sunny weather, be sure to shock your pool.
What happens if you don't shock your pool?
Try to reach the breakpoint every time you shock your pool. Not hitting the breakpoint can result in even more chloramines in your pool, and if the chloramine levels continue to rise unchecked, you may eventually have to partially or even fully replace your water to fix the issue.
How many bags of shock do you need for an above ground pool?
The general recommendation is to use 1 pound of cal hypo shock for every 10,000 gallons of pool water, and 10 ounces of sodium hypo with around 12.5% chlorine to sanitize your pool.
Is shocking pool necessary?
If your total chlorine level is high, you will use a non-chlorine shock; if it is low, you will use a chlorinated shock. As a rule, you will need to raise free chlorine to 10 times your combined chlorine to hit what is known as “break point.” Therefore, it is good to deal with combined chlorine while it is still small.
Is shock and chlorine the same thing?
1) What is the difference between chlorine and shock? Do I need to use both? Chlorine is a sanitizer, and (unless you use Baquacil products) is necessary for maintaining a clear and healthy pool. Shock is chlorine, in a high dose, meant to shock your pool and raise the chlorine level quickly.
How do I shock my above ground pool?
0:271:24How to shock your pool - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipSo be sure to add shock in the evening. Make sure your pump is running just snip the corner off theMoreSo be sure to add shock in the evening. Make sure your pump is running just snip the corner off the package and sprinkle it in along the deepest end of your pool. If any granules settle in the bottom.
How long should I run my pool pump after shocking?
It is a question a lot of pool owners have and a question that we have the answer to! A pool filter should be run for a minimum of 6 hours after shocking a swimming pool. This is to allow the filter to clean the water and give the shock enough time to fully mix with the pool water.
Can I use shock instead of chlorine?
SKIMMER NOTES: No. Chlorine and shock are not the same thing. Shock has a more intense chemical strength than the traditional chlorine sanitizers, and it also differs in how you should apply it to your swimming pool.
How long after shocking pool can I swim?
24 hoursThe general rule of thumb for shocking a pool and then swimming is 24 hours. Always test your swimming pool water pH and chlorine output. According to the Center for Disease Control, a good range for pH is between 7.2 and 7.8 and chlorine between 1.0 and 4.0 ppm. Chlorine tablets and chemical tester.
How often add chlorine to above ground pool?
Pool Maintenance (Ongoing)Step 1:Always keep chlorine level in the safe range on your test strip. Test after daily. Run your pool filter at least 6 to 8 hrs every day.Step 3:Add maintenance dose of algaecide per label instructions weekly.Step 4:Add 2 oz of Super Clarifier per 5000 gallons of pool water each week.1 more row
Does Shocking a pool raise pH?
It will slightly raise your pH, so make sure you adjust pH while using it. As the name implies, it will also raise your calcium hardness levels in your pool slightly. It is sold in granular or in pucks/tablets.
Can I over shock my pool?
A common question among pool owners is, “Can I over shock the pool?” The short answer is no. You can add more shock than needed, which is a waste of money and materials. You can also get green hair from a reaction to high levels of chlorine. In general, however, over-shocking is harmless.
How many bags of shock do I need to open my pool?
You will need to quadruple shock your pool by added 4 pounds of shock to every 10,000 gallons of water. This can be expensive if you have a large swimming pool.
How much shock do I need for a 500 gallon pool?
SpaGuard Enhanced Shock: Add 3 tablespoons per 500 gallons. Chlorinating Concentrate: Add 1 tsp. per 100 gallons. After shocking, do not use the spa until the chlorine residual drops to 5 ppm or lower.
How much pool shock do I use?
Determine how much pool shock you need For example, the instructions may recommend that you use one pound of shock per 10,000 gallons of water. Note: Some situations, such as an extreme algae bloom, may require a double or even triple dose of pool shock.
How do you shock a 1000 gallon pool?
How much chlorine goes in a 1000 gallon pool? If the water is clean and clear, then add about 3 oz of liquid chlorine per 1000 gallons of water – while the pool filter is running. This should give you a chlorine level of about 3 ppm.
When Is The Best Time To Shock a Pool?
You don’t want to put the shock in the pool right after it’s been filtered because the amount of chlorine that goes into the solution is reduced quite a bit. You also don’t want to put the shock in the pool near your filter, because the chlorine will go straight through the filter and into the pool without being used up cleaning bacteria.
How Often Should You Shock a Pool?
The time between pool shocking treatments will depend on several factors:
When Should I Shock My New Pool?
So, once you have filled up your new pool and before you shock it, you must check the pool water for the basic pool chemistry parameters. These are:
How Much Shock Should I Put In My Pool For The First Time?
Once your pool is in regular use you want to keep the Free Chlorine (FC) level between 2-4 ppm. However, the objective of the shock is to increase the Free Chlorine (FC) level to at least 10 ppm. You can go higher than that too!
Seems Like A Lot I Knowbut Youre Almost There
How to shock an intex above ground pool. Click to see full answer. Also, you may want to wear gloves and, if its windy, a pair of glasses. Next, get rid of any skimmer, ladder, or other attached accessories in your pool, clean them, and store them in a protected and dry area for the winter.
Install A Winter Pillow & Cover
Who else is ready for a nap? Even your pool needs a pillow once a yearbut dont worry, you dont need to sacrifice anything from your linen closet. If you live in a cold climate, youll want to place a pool air pillow, or ice compensator, under your winter cover.
How Does Chlorine Ensure Safe Swimming
This one is pretty simple: when added to your pool properly, sodium hypochlorite inactivates the bacteria in your water. This doesnt mean that the bacteria is technically completely removed youll need the right pool filter and the help of pool shock for thatbut the bacteria will be dead in the water.
Two To Proper Chlorination: Adding Chlorine To Your Pool
I wish it was as simple as tossing the chlorine tablets into the pool and letting them take care of the restits not. Thankfully, there are a few devices that will ensure your chlorine is disseminated throughout your pool waterand active traces of bacteria are long gone.
How Often You Should Shock A Pool
You most likely test your pool at least weekly. If not, you should. Most of the time, the tests will tell you whether you have free or total chlorine content in the water. The more free chlorine you have, the more effectively your chlorine is killing bacteria. The total is how much of the chlorine in your water has already been used up.
Can I Use Too Much Shock
Contrary to popular belief, it isnt possible to use too much shock in your pool as long as it doesnt have a vinyl liner. Using too much shock may result in a brief down period of your pool. A pool thats been recently shocked can cause skin irritation, bleached clothes, and a bleached pool liner.
The Best Time To Shock Your Pool
Shocking your pool should only be done after the sun has gone down, during dusk or twilight hours.
What is pool shock?
The idea behind pool shocking is to quickly raise the free chlorine level in the pool, killing off bacteria, algae growth, chloramines, and other pathogens in the water. This can be done using either chlorinated or non-chlorine pool shock. Chlorinated pool shock is the most common. It gives the pool a massive dose of chlorine, ...
How long does chlorine shock last in a pool?
So, when using chlorinated shock, always shock at night. This will also allow the pool to circulate the shock for a good 8+ hours, giving it plenty of time to fully clean the pool.
Why is my pool so stinky?
Chloramines are an irritant and hazardous to humans – causing red eyes, itchy skin, nasal and lung irritation, and respiratory issues. So if your pool is really stinky, it’s also really dirty. Shock it ASAP! 2. There Was A Surge In Pool Use. People love a good pool party.
What is chlorine shock?
Chlorinated pool shock is the most common. It gives the pool a massive dose of chlorine, killing everything in its path.
Why is shocking important?
Unfortunately for pool owners, you can’t just fill up a pool with water and expect it to always be clean. Due to outside influences, the state of pool water is constantly changing, becoming increasingly grimy with each passing second. It’s for this reason why an array of chemicals are added to pool water.
What happens when it rains on a pool?
But heavy rain will load the pool with contaminants from the air (ie. mold spores, wind-blown debris, insects), and also dilute the pool water, upsetting its chemical makeup.
Why does chlorine deplete in pools?
With an uptick of swimmers in the pool, the chlorine has to work extra hard to keep it all clean, resulting in a more rapid depletion and consumption.
What happens when you shock a pool?
By shocking your pool, you replenish your chlorine level and oxidize chloramines (combined chlorine), which are a gaseous irritant that are hazardous for human consumption.
When to use shock treatment in pool?
You’ll also want to apply shock treatment when opening the pool, and closing it down for the season. On opening, after you’ve balanced it’s pH level, shocking will sanitize and oxidize the pool, restoring its clear water. On closing, pool shock is used as a disinfectant to prepare the pool for the winter months.
What is non chlorine shock?
Non-Chlorine Shock: Also known as Potassium Monopersulfate (MPS), this is a chlorine-free shock that oxidizes contaminants, but won’t rid the pool of bacteria. Compared to chlorinated shock, you can use MPS shock at any time of day and be swimming in the pool 15 minutes later.
What is pool shock?
Pool shock is a “super dose” of granular pool chlorine that oxidizes chloramines (combined chlorine) and kills bacteria in the water. Shocking depletes combined chlorine and increases free chlorine . If your chlorine levels are low, a chlorinated shock is required.
Why do you shock a pool at night?
Pool shocking is usually done at night, when the sun no longer shines on the water. This is because UV rays destroy chlorine at near warp speed. Twilight hours give the shock an extended amount of time to effectively kill everything in its path.
Why does my pool smell like chlorine?
Chloramines irritate your eyes, nasal passage, lungs, and skin. If the pool has a very strong chlorine smell to it, you know it’s time to shock.
How many volts does a pool shock?
As a pool owner, you’re gonna need to learn how to shock a pool. Pool shocking doesn’t mean sending 5000 volts of electricity through the water (although that would be pretty cool to see). However, what it does refer to is the rebalancing of pool chlorine levels, keeping the pool water safe to swim in.
What does shocking a pool mean?
Shocking your pool is basically an industry term for super-chlorinating or oxidizing your pool for the purposes of killing off any bad stuff that your regular chlorine doesn’t kill.
How long does it take to get a pool ready to swim?
It will take you days or even weeks to get it swim-ready again! And if you just leave your pool completely uncovered, you’ll have to deal with cleaning out your pool (in frigid cold temperatures), re-balancing your pool water, and contending with freeze damage. And nobody wants to do that.
What is in a pool stain preventer kit?
Most kits contain a winterizer, shock, a stain-preventer, and a floater. In addition, you will need to buy a good algaecide. At this point, you should have already shocked your pool and it’s time to add the stain-preventer that comes in your kit.
Why is water pool chemistry balanced?
The water pool chemistry needs to be balanced in order for your other pool chemicals to work efficiently. Balanced water will also result in less damage to your pool liner. Normal levels should be:
How to get water out of a pool line?
1. Use a wet/dry vac to blow the water from out of your lines, then plug the lines with expansion plugs; or. 2. Use a swimming pool antifreeze (note: not a regular antifreeze you use for your car) in the lines and just follow the manufacturer’s instructions. For the return line, seal it with a winter pool plug.
Why is it important to cover a pool in winter?
A winter cover is important for your pool because it will protect the water during the months when it’s not in use. Installing a pool cover can be cumbersome, so I always recommend getting help! Lay the cover out over the pool, making sure there is overlap on all sides. Get it as even as possible all the way around.
Why is my pool cloudy?
If the levels are high, they can cause calcium build-ups that make the water cloudy and cause sightly stains . If your pool’s calcium hardness is too high, put a little extra effort into scrubbing it and vacuuming in the next step. Also turn on the pump so that excess deposits can be filtered out.
