Treatment FAQ

what is a shock treatment for pools

by Ralph Littel Sr. Published 2 years ago Updated 2 years ago
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"Shocking” refers to the process of adding chlorine or non-chlorine pool chemicals to the water in order to raise the "free chlorine” level. The goal is to raise this level to a point where contaminants such as algae, chloramines and bacteria are destroyed.

Is chlorine and shock the same thing?

Are chlorine and shock the same thing? 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 does it take for the shock treatment in the pool to work?

Keep your pump and filter running. Give the shock a good 12 to 24 hours to work it's magic. If the algae hasn't cleared up after 24-48 hours, clean and brush the pool and add another shock treatment.Aug 7, 2020

When should I shock treat my pool?

Shocking your pool regularly will help to keep the water clean and free of contaminants. You should aim to shock your pool about once a week, with the additional shock after heavy use. Some tell-tale signs that your pool needs to be shocked are cloudy, foamy, green, or odourous water.Mar 9, 2020

How much chlorine do you need to shock a pool?

Often, it will look something like this. 12.5% Liquid Chlorine Pool Shock – Normal Dosage: 1 gallon of shock per 10,000 gallons of water. Shock Dosage: 2 gallons of shock per 10,000 gallons of water.Oct 15, 2019

Should I brush pool before shocking?

Before you start pouring shock in the pool, the first step is to brush the sides and floor of your pool to loosen all the algae. Doing this breaks the skin and allows the pool shock to more easily kill the algae. Once you've done this, it is important to make sure you have the proper pH level in your water.May 9, 2014

What happens if you put too much shock in a pool?

What happens if too much shock is added? You cannot overshock a swimming pool or add too much. Adding too much shock or overshocking your pool will kill off algae. The negative of adding too much shock is it will upset the chemical balance of your pool.

Should I shock pool after rain?

Shocking your pool isn't necessary, although, it's not a bad idea either. If you get an extremely heavy rain fall, you could shock your pool for good measure. This will help fight off any contaminants that the rain may have brought to your pool.Jan 23, 2017

Can I shock my pool on a cloudy day?

Adding more chlorine to your pool will kill bacteria, pollutants and any other unwanted organisms in the water. Most people wait until they have a cloudy pool or pool algae to shock their pool. However, adding shock to your pool on a regular basis can help you avoid pool water problems.Jan 15, 2019

How much does it cost to shock a pool?

Pool Shock Prices A pool owner will pay approximately $25 to $50 for a pool shock. Shocking involves adding chlorine or non-chlorine chemicals into the pool to raise the “free chlorine level” where algae, chlorine, and bacteria are destroyed.Mar 24, 2021

How long does pool shock last?

So if you buy liquid shock, be aware that it only lasts one to two months at the most before it starts to lose effectiveness. While many swimming pool chemicals stay good for years if stored correctly, some pool-maintenance supplies expire more quickly.Mar 10, 2016

Is liquid chlorine better than shock?

Liquid chlorine and granular shock have the same active chemical that sanitizes your pool, what changes is the strength and the way you use it. Liquid chlorine is less costly, unstabilized and comes in liquid form. Granular shock is stabilized and comes in a solid form that dissolves in your pool.

Why did my pool turn brown after I shocked it?

Brown pool water is often caused by metals (iron) becoming oxidized in the pool water. If you shocked your pool water and it turned brown you probably have metals. Oxidized iron usually turns a brown or rusty color in the water.

What is shock in a pool?

What is Shock? As the name suggests, shock usually refers to chemical products designed to create an instant and substantial impact in any swimming pool or hot tub. In almost all cases, shock relates to a concentrated chlorine supplement, but it can also refer to chlorine-free alternatives that fulfil a similar task.

How does shock treatment work?

Shock treatments work quickly to dramatically raise the water’s chlorine level, allowing it to clean the pool effectively. Once you’re back on top of your pool’s cleanliness, you can enable chlorine levels to return to their normal level.

What is shock chlorine?

A shock chlorine supplement differs substantially from the regular chlorine chemicals that you will use in day-to-day pool maintenance, so you must ensure you are buying the right product. Shock products are commonly labelled as such, but the most common version is a chemical known as Sodium Hypochlorite.

What is the best way to maintain a swimming pool?

Alongside using sanitisers such as chlorine, a crucial part of swimming pool maintenance is the use of shock treatments . These treatments can be beneficial for providing quick and effective balancing for your pool, especially during heavy use. However, the nature of these chemicals means that you must know how to use them safely and effectively.

How to get a pool clean?

If your pool gets to this stage, the most effective way of getting it clean is by using a shock treatment. When a lot of algae develops in the pool, you’ll need more chlorine than usual to combat the unwelcome visitors. Shock treatments work quickly to dramatically raise the water’s chlorine level, allowing it to clean the pool effectively.

What is the role of chemicals in a pool?

Chemicals play a considerable role in keeping your swimming pool clean, healthy and safe. A routine will help to keep your pool’s chemical balance in check, but there will likely come a time when more robust measures are required. Alongside using sanitisers such as chlorine, a crucial part of swimming pool maintenance is the use of shock treatments.

How does chlorine work?

Chlorine works by attaching itself to algae and other dirt. This process kills the algae, but also creates something known as ‘combined chlorine’ which can build up over time. Raising the chlorine level through shocking is a way to remove combined chlorine from the pool, further helping to keep your pool clean.

What does shock do to a pool?

What does pool shock do? Adding pool shock to your pool is kind of like power-washing your swimming pool water. By adding higher-than-normal dose of pool sanitizer to your pool water, you’re effectively killing algae, bacteria, and other contaminants -- and making sure they can’t come back to affect your water quality.

Is calcium hypochloride good for pools?

Calcium hypochloride - or “cal hypo,” as the pros say, is a super-concentrated form of chlorine that’s sold in granule or tablet form, and you need to pre-dissolve it before adding it to your pool. It’s super-affordable -- and super-effective at killing algae and harmful bacteria.

What is pool shock?

This pool shock is one of the most powerful shock treatments you can buy. It also kills the toughest algae and bacteria as well as other harmful water contaminants including green & yellow mustard algae. Treats Up To 30,000 Gallons. Kills All Types Of Algae. Chlorine Shock And Clarifier.

Why do we use shock in pool?

We like this pool shock treatment because it increases the chlorine level in swimming pools to kill bacteria and algae. This pool shock is effective for all swimming pool types including pools with liners and gunite pools, and saltwater pool systems.

What is the active ingredient in pool shock?

It quickly eliminates algae, bacteria, and other harmful contaminants from your pool water. The main active ingredient in this pool shock is 68% calcium hypochlorite for quick sanitizing. Quickly kills algae and bacteria and removes micro-contaminants that make pool water cloudy.

Can you go swimming in the summer without breaking the bank?

If you want to go swimming this summer without breaking the bank an above ground pool is an excellent choice! Above ground pools are easy to set up and you can be swimming in just a few hours.

Does pool shock work?

You should use this pool shock as a weekly as part of a regular maintenance routine. Overall, this pool shock creates crystal clear water, improves filter performance, and won't impact your pH levels. Kills Bacteria And Algae. Improves Filter Performance.

When to shock a pool?

The ideal time to shock your pool is in the evening after all swimming is complete. In the evening because the sun will not be boiling the chlorine out of your pool, and after everyone is done swimming because shocking is going to bring the chlorine level up to a level that may be irritating to skin and eyes.

Why is my pool shocking?

The most common reason for shocking your pool or spa is to deal with combined chlorine. There are three measurements of chlorine in pool or spa water: free chlorine, combined chlorine, and total chlorine.

What happens when it rains in a pool?

Also, as the rain is falling through the air, it picks up contaminants such as pollen and pollutants and dumps them in your pool. Heavy rain may cause ground runoff to empty into your pool. Thou shalt shock if thy combined chlorine level is at .5 or higher.

What is shocking chlorine?

Shocking is the process of adding chemicals (usually chlorine) to your pool to: break apart chloramines, also known as combined chlorine. quickly raise your chlorine level. kill algae, bacteria or other harmful pathogens. Chloramines Bad, Free Chlorine Good.

How much free chlorine should I use for a breakpoint?

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. The formula for hitting breakpoint can get a little complicated, so we suggest you talk to your pool professional.

How much chlorine should I use to get rid of algae?

When this happens, you want to quickly get your chlorine level back up to the recommended 3-5ppm (parts per million) before algae or bacteria can gain a foothold. If this is the case, you will want to use a chlorine shock.

When to use shock treatment in pool?

While shock treatments can help balance the chemical levels in a pool, they are usually only used when the pool is nearing a level that cannot be saved with normal means. There are five things that a shock treatment will react to, each one leaving behind different carcasses that need to be handled.

Why do pools need shock treatment?

Usually, this is why you will find that pools need to be shocked as the temperatures change as well, as the sunlight through the day lasts longer. Adding a shock treatment at night will mean that the pool is ready and willing to stop anything from growing when the sun does eventually start to rise.

What is the name of the chemical that is used to make chlorine shock?

There are two main types of Chlorine shock (that is, shock containing Chlorine) which are Calcium Hypochlorite (often referred to as Cal-Hypo) and Dichloroisocyanuric acid (often referred to as Di-Chlor). Cal-Hypo is the one you will see for sale most often, primarily because it is not only the cheapest but strong too.

Why is it dangerous to add chlorine to a pool?

If you add too much shock, the water can become dangerous as the chlorine reacts with other chemicals in the water. The calcium in the shock can cause buildup, while the pool’s chlorine levels can stay high for more than a week, turning the pool dangerous to be in.

How does shock affect chlorine levels?

Shock increases the free chlorine level. There are two ways that shock increases the free chlorine levels within a pool. The first way is by adding more chlorine to the pool. The second is by reacting to the stored, combined chlorine already in the pool’s water, releasing it.

What does shock do to a pool?

But exactly what does pool shock do? Pool shock increases the total amount of free chlorine in your pool, either by adding more chlorine or other shock chemicals that break apart combined chlorine . The increased level of free chlorine then destroys contaminants such as algae, bacteria and chloramines.

Why do you use pool shock?

This is often used because it does not need to dissolve into the pool water; it is already a liquid and starts reacting immediately. The last type of pool shock contains no chlorine but oxygen instead and is only used if you want to go swimming soon after adding it to the pool.

Why do you use pool shock?

Most of the time, pool shock is used when the pool has not been given proper maintenance for quite a long time.

What is the benefit of pool shock?

It goes without saying that the biggest benefit of pool shock is its ability to clear your pool of all the bacteria and algae in one, clean move. If the regular treatment was seen as the “oral pill,” then the shock is practically the “intravenous injection.”.

What is the purpose of chlorine in a pool?

Chlorine Level. Technically speaking, our purpose here is to send the chlorine levels of the pool into shock, straight through the roof – at least temporarily. This should help bring your pool water at a more sanitary level, making it safe for you to swim without having to worry about the bacteria.

What are the drawbacks of pool shock?

One disadvantage of using almost any kind of pool shock is that it might add to the cyanuric level of your pool. This is why you need to invest in a good tester, to ensure that the chlorine levels are not too high, nor too low.

What happens if your pool shock is too low?

This is why you have to buy a product that features a neutral pH. If the pH level is too low, then it will turn your water corrosive and it might end up damaging your pipes and overall health of the pool. On the other hand, if it is too low, then it might be irritating for the skin and eyes – which might end up damaging the overall health of the pool owner.

Can you use a skimmer to dissolve shock?

If you are tired of continuously waiting for your pool shock to dissolve, then you might want to try this one. You may use the skimmer to add this into your pool, or you may pour it directly – as per popular opinion, it tends to dissolve nicely.

Can algaecide be used in pools?

Even the best algaecide for pools might not be enough here, particularly if it is used in the small standard amounts. In this case, you use a pool shock to practically cleanse the pool.

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