How to Shock a Pool Properly: 8 Steps to Clean, Safe Swimming All Summer Long
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Keep the germs and green muck out of your pool by learning when and how to add swimming pool shock.
A backyard pool is an attractive amenity to enjoy during warm months but comes with a great deal of responsibility with regard to maintenance. If you close your pool during the winter months, you will need to shock the pool when it’s time to open it back up again each year, and potentially several times throughout pool season.
Shocking a pool entails adding chlorine or non-chlorine chemicals to the water to keep it balanced and to raise the free chlorine levels. Shock for pools is typically three to five times the normal amount of chlorine. The purpose is to clean the water and destroy harmful bacteria, algae, or chloramines lingering in the pool.
“Everyone is familiar with adding chlorine to a pool for basic sanitation,” explains Crystal Shotko, water care expert at Zagers Pool & Spa. “Chlorine particles attack bacteria and other contaminants in your pool, creating what are called chloramines. This is an inactive compound that resides in your water until it can be oxidized (broken down). That’s where pool shock comes in. Shocking breaks down these particles so that you can free up your chlorine to work effectively again,” Shotko says.
Once you know how and when to shock a pool, you can easily do it yourself. Here’s everything you need to know to keep your pool safe and pristine.
When to Shock a Pool
If your pool looks icky green or smells like chlorine, then it’s definitely time for a pool shock treatment. Most people assume that a chlorine-smelling pool means that it’s clean, but that isn’t actually the case.
“This smell comes from chloramines that need to be oxidized. A healthy pool should not have a strong chlorine odor,” explains Shotko. Chloramines form when the chlorine in the pool interacts with sweat, oils, and urine.
Besides clear signs like green water in pools, Shotko recommends shocking the pool when you open and close it for the season. “Shock is also used for basic pool maintenance. Shocking weekly is recommended,” she says.
Of course, there are several factors to keep in mind when determining when to shock a pool. “How frequently you shock your pool depends on how often you use it and the weather,” notes Shotko. “If you swim almost every day, you should shock your pool weekly. If you only swim once a week, you can shock it every other week.”
Other times that it is strongly recommended to add a shock treatment include after heavy usage like a party; after a severe rainstorm; during extremely hot and sunny days; if there is an algae outbreak; if you notice lots of items like leaves, pollen, etc., in the pool; or if someone goes to the bathroom in the pool.
You can also take measurements to know when to add shock. If the free chlorine level measures zero, or chloramines or combined chlorine level rises above 0.5 parts per million (ppm), then it’s time for a shock treatment.
It is best to do the treatment at dusk or in the evening when there is no direct sunlight to burn off the necessary free chlorine. Indeed, shocking the pool during this time ensures that the shock chemicals will work properly.
Types of Swimming Pool Shock
Pool shock comes in liquid, powder, and tablet forms. While some people prefer to scoop powder, others may find it easier to pour liquid into the pool. However, liquid can splash easily, which can stain clothing or even burn skin. Choose the type you are most comfortable using.
In addition, there are different pool shock treatment products based on ingredients:
- Calcium hypochlorite. With a chlorine level between 50 to 80 percent, this is the most commonly used pool shock. It is made for a quick, potent pool water treatment.
- Sodium hypochlorite. Typically used in liquid pool shock treatments, it has a concentrated formula with an average sodium hypochlorite percentage of 12.5, allowing it to treat up to 20,000 gallons of water per gallon of treatment.
- Sodium dichloro-s-triazinetrione. This chlorine pool shock has a lower chlorine level than calcium hypochlorite at a range of 40 to 50 percent. It adds cyanuric acid to the water, which can affect the overall pH balance of the pool.
- Potassium monopersulfate. This chlorine-free product is best as a saltwater pool shock because it helps to remove chloramines. It only works if the pool already has a chlorination system because it won’t work without chlorine.
- Lithium Hypochlorite. Unlike calcium hypochlorite, this chemical doesn’t increase the calcium level of pool water. While it dissolves quickly, it is expensive. It can be added to the pool without dissolving.
- Dichlor. Short for sodium dichloro-s-triazinetrione or dichloroisocyanuric acid, this treatment is safe and easy to use. It consists of 50 to 60 percent chlorine and can be used for both regular chlorine doses and chlorine shock for pools.
- Potassium peroxymonosulfate. This non-chlorine shock is reasonably priced and can be added directly to pool water.
How to Shock a Pool Step by Step
Before getting started, make sure you have all the necessary tools and supplies to shock your pool.
Tools & Materials
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