In addition to shocking the pool, they may be able to also recommend that you add a stabilizer, phosphate remover, metal treatment product or algaecide to your pool before it's ready for the warm weather. Continue to run the filter for a few days, vacuuming out any debris that has settled.
Full Answer
Do I need a shock treatment for my Pool?
However, general maintenance isn't always enough, especially if you're opening up your pool for spring or you've been away for a while. Alongside essential sanitisers, such as chlorine and bromine, other chemical treatments provide a quick and effective 'deep clean'; these are called swimming pool shock treatments.
How long do you have to wait to swim after shocking pool?
How Long do You Have to Wait to Swim After Shocking a Swimming Pool? After using a heavy granular chlorine shock, your pool will usually require 24-48 hours before the chlorine level has dropped to a safe swimming level.
How do you shock an inground pool?
Prepare shock ahead of time in a 5-gallon bucket of pool water and stir. Ensure the pool pump is running. Pour the mixture from the bucket into the water around the edges of the pool.
How long does it take for shock to work on pool?
After using a heavy granular chlorine shock, your pool will usually require 24-48 hours before the chlorine level has dropped to a safe swimming level. Lithium and non-chlorine shock labels usually allow bathers to return to the pool quickly; however, you will need to check the manufacturer's instructions before doing so.
Should I shock my pool when I first open it?
Step 4 – Shock the Pool! Equally important is to balance the water first, before shocking a pool. Minerals, metals and dirt often mix and deposit as stains or scale during shocking, when pool water is not balanced. In addition, chlorine has much more power or efficacy at lower pH levels, so you can use less.
What chemicals do I need to start up a new pool?
Chemicals Needed for Pool Start UpsStain & Scale Preventer.Granular Shock Chlorine.Chlorine Tablets.pH Increaser and/or pH Decreaser.Alkalinity and/or Calcium Increaser.Cyanuric Acid (Stabilizer)Algaecide and Clarifiers if needed.Complete Test Kit or Test Strips.
Do you put shock in a brand new pool?
Opening Day – Before the kids jump in for the new season, you should clean and shock your pool. Over the winter or during times of disuse, algae have a tendency to grow. Make sure the pool water is clean, clear, and healthy for your family before opening day. Party!
What to do after you fill your pool for the first time?
What Do You Do After an Above Ground Pool Is Filled With Water?Step 1: Learn about how to prevent drowning and pool chemical injuries. ... Step 2: Turn on the filter. ... Step 3: Vacuum and skim off debris. ... Step 4: Test the water, and then test it again. ... Step 5: Enjoy your pool, but safely!
How do you start a pool for the first time?
3:416:38How to OPEN An ABOVE GROUND POOL in 11 Steps | Swim UniversityYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipSo first you want to add back all the plugs to the drains. And the pressure gauges to your poolMoreSo first you want to add back all the plugs to the drains. And the pressure gauges to your pool filter system pump and other equipment. Now you'll need to attach your system's hoses to your equipment.
What chemicals should I balance first in my pool?
Total AlkalinityTotal Alkalinity (TA) is the first thing you should balance in your pool water. TA refers to the amount of alkaline material in the water. And since alkaline is a pH stabilizer, the number of alkaline substances in water will affect the pH balance. The ideal Total Alkalinity range for pool water is 80 – 120 ppm.
Is shock and chlorine the same thing?
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 much shock Do I need to open my pool?
How Much Pool Shock is Needed to Open a Pool? SPP spring pool chemical kits include up to 4 lbs of Calcium Hypochlorite pool shock, but you may need more. In a clear and clean pool, the standard pool shock treatment of 1 lb. per 10,000 gallons is usually sufficient.
How many times should I shock my pool when opening?
about once a weekHow Often Should I Shock 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.
Can you swim in a brand new pool?
After you shock the pool — As soon as your chlorine levels reach 5 ppm or lower, it's officially safe to swim. Depending on the type of shock used, as well as the amount used, it can take anywhere from 24 hours or even up to a couple of days.
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 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.
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 does shocking mean in 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.
Why is my pool water cloudy?
Clearing up cloudy water: Pools can get cloudy from insufficient chlorine, or an abundance of chlorine. The sweet spot for chlorine levels is between 1 and 3 ppm. Cloudy water is usually the result of an imbalance in pool water chemistry, and shocking the pool is an easy way to restore clarity to your pool’s water.
How many gallons of shock to superchlorinate pool?
As discussed earlier, the bigger the pool, the more bags of shock that will be required to superchlorinate the water. If this sounds like your pool (anything 30,000 gallons and up), repeat this process as necessary.
How to test pool water for shock?
Step 1. Test & Balance Your Water. Before you add shock treatment, you need to test your pool water and balance its levels. The pH level should be between 7.2 and 7.6, with total alkalinity being between 80 and 120 ppm. Pool water testing is easy to do using test strips or liquid test kits.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Can chlorine shocks be used to clean a pool?
Chlorine shock treatments are not only useful against forming algae – its strong cleaning properties make it a great balancer against any dirt and debris in the pool. If a pool begins to look murky after heavy use or suffers from rainfall, shock treatments can be an effective way of cleaning the pool before performing a rebalance.
Test the Water Levels
When you test your water you’ll want to test for the following levels:
Adjust Pool Water Chemistry
Now, it’s time to start balancing your water here’s the order we recommend adjusting your water chemistry.
How to get shock out of pool?
The first thing you need to do is clean your pool. Then, for the pool shock to be more potent, change the pH water to 7.2 . Once the pool is clean and you have changed the pH, you can now pour the shock directly to the surface of the pool. Then, filtration is done and the treatment is spread across the pool.
What is pool shock?
Pool shocking is the process of managing and cleaning a pool to prevent further accumulation of bacteria or other contaminants. The process involves using pool shock, which is an oxidizer used to treat pools. This shock will sanitize and disinfect the pool to make it much safer to use. Another term associated with pool shock is “breakpoint ...
How long should a pool filtration run last?
First, make sure the pool is empty. Then, you should have protection on your body like gloves and protective glasses. The filtration run should last for 24 hours. On the next day, monitor the chemistry of the pool to balance it properly.
Why is sodium hypochlorite used in pool shock?
If you want to pool shock as part of your pool maintenance, then sodium dichlor or sodium hypochlorite would be most ideal. This is because sodium dichlor has a slow dissolving effect.
Why do you shock a pool at night?
Doing it during the day when the sun is out is not recommended since the sun emits UV rays which can evaporate the shock out of the pool water.
Can you play with pool shock?
This is true for any pool shock product. The pool shock must be kept in a cool and dry area. Never play with the pool shock. Only apply the chemicals to the pool and not anywhere else.
Can sodium dichloride be used in a pool?
This is because sodium dichlor has a slow dissolving effect. However, it needs to be pre-dissolved before adding to the pool. It basically augments the level of cyanuric acid on the water and its pH level. Other than acting as a shock treatment, this pool shock product can be used for sanitizing and oxidizing.
When is it time to shock a pool?
When is it time to shock your pool? Every couple of weeks during the swimming season. When your pool is outside of the recommended free chlorine levels of 1-3 ppm. Shocking your pool will raise the chlorine level.
What does shocking a pool do?
Shocking a pool elevates the free chlorine level to 5-10 ppm. Elevated levels of free chlorine break up combined chlorine. Once your pool has been shocked, the water will be clean, clear, and safe for your family to enjoy.
What happens to chlorine in a pool in summer?
Sunny Days– Summer brings the perfect pool weather! But when the days are hot and sunny for long periods of time, the pool water chemistry can be affected. Your pool’s chlorine will combine with contaminants and bacteria and other dangerous organisms will grow as temperatures rise.
How does shocking a pool work?
How Shocking your Pool Works. Contaminants can get into pools and combine with chlorine. If the free chlorine level is not concentrated enough, it can cause the contaminant to become inert without fully removing it.
How to check pH in pool?
Check that the pH levels in your pool are balanced. Prepare shock ahead of time in a 5-gallon bucket of pool water and stir. Ensure the pool pump is running. Pour the mixture from the bucket into the water around the edges of the pool. Let the pump run for about 6 hours or more and test the water. Don’t use the pool right away – wait for ...
Can you use a chlorine generator in a salt water pool?
What about a salt pool? Yes, even salt pools need a little help once in a while. Salt water pools utilize a chlorine generator to convert salt into chlorine. You can adjust the generator to increase the level of chlorine produced to counteract higher chlorine demands caused by contaminants.
Can algae grow in pool water?
Over the winter or during times of disuse, algae have a tendency to grow. Make sure the pool water is clean, clear, and healthy for your family before opening day. Party! – The big annual neighborhood pool party will take its toll on your pool water.
When to add pool shock?
For regular maintenance, pools should often be shocked once every one to two weeks but this does depend on the water’s clarity and how much use the pool gets.
The best time to shock a pool
The best time of day to shock your pool is in the evening after the sun is down. This allows the pool chlorine time to spread out in the water and clean it before day-time temperatures reduce the effectiveness of the shock.
How to Shock a Pool
Now that you know under what circumstances you should shock your pool, this is a quick guide to how to shock your pool.
Pool Maintenance Course
When I first bought my house with a swimming pool I knew nothing about how to clean and maintain it. I was recommended Swim University’s Pool Care Handbook and video course so I bought it and have never regretted it.
Conclusion
Shocking your pool is a normal part of maintaining it and keeping it clean throughout the year. Make sure you always have a shock ready to use as you may need to do it any time to keep the pool sparkling.
What to do when your pool is pre-opening?
Here are a few essential things to put on your to-do list: Remove drain plugs or winterizing plugs from the surface skimmers and wall returns, and restore directional fittings.
How to prolong the life of a pool cover?
You can prolong the life of your pool cover by storing it safely away from insects, rodents, and the elements. Once your swimming pool cover is clean and dry, tightly roll it and store it indoors or in a garage.
How to remove calcium scale from pool?
Check your tile and remove calcium scale and stains with a household tile cleaner or baking soda and a tile brush. For tougher stains, try using a pumice stone. Inspect the interior of your pool for damage and make repairs as needed.
What to use to check pH in pool?
Here’s what you’ll need to get the job done right: A good test kit or test strips for checking your pool’s pH, calcium hardness, total alkalinity, and chlorine levels. Chlorine granules or tablets. Shock treatment. Increaser/decreaser chemicals for alkalinity, calcium, and pH. Algaecide.
What to do if your pool is closed all winter?
If your pool has been closed all winter, you’ll need to do a little prep work to get your pool ready for another season of fun. Don’t worry, though. Opening an inground pool is easy. Follow a few easy steps and you’ll be perfecting your cannonball in no time!
Can a fiberglass pool have a hairline?
Hairline cracks are normal in fiberglass pools. Because fiberglass pools have a gel coating, these small cracks typically won’t affect the integrity of your pool. However, if your fiberglass pool has large cracks or holes you should call a pool repair specialist right away.
Why does my pool build up over time?
Most pools should have very little of this in them at start up. This builds up over time because of the chlorine added . The stabilizers are in the chemicals that you add to your pool water. These accumulate in your pool and affect the water.
What to do if your pool pH is too high?
If your alkalinity is too high, then you will need to use pH decreaser to lower it. This will affect the overall pH level in your pool, so it is best to do this before adjusting that level. This should avoid causing more problems.
What to do if pool test shows alkalinity?
If your pool’s initial test shows an incorrect amount of alkalinity, then you need to add some chemicals to fix it. It doesn’t matter if it was too high or too low, chemicals are going to be needed. This should be the first chemical that you add to your pool during start-up.
Why is pH important in a pool?
Your pH level is really important for keeping your pool in good working order. If this is off, then your chlorine won’t be working properly which can lead to unsafe water and too much chlorine.
Why is my pool water acidic?
It increases the pH level of your pool water! If your pH level is too low, then you need to add this to your pool. Otherwise, your water is too acidic. Not only is this not great for swimming in, but it can become corrosive. If your pH level is too low for too long, this can impact the rest of your pool’s maintenance.
Does calcium affect pool pH?
Calcium Adjusting Chemicals for Pool Start Up. After addressing your pool’s alkalinity and pH level, you need to asses the calcium levels in your pool. Calcium isn’t typically a concern for ongoing pool maintenance. However, it does need to be assessed regularly, and this includes pool start up.
Do you need stabilizer for free chlorine?
Stabilizer. You only need to add this chemical if you’re using free chlorine. However, quite a lot of people do use this type of chlorine for pool start up. You should add Stabilizer to bring your level up to 30 ppm to protect free chlorine that you’ve added into your pool.
Steps to Open your Swimming Pool
Turn on your filter system. Please refer to your filter’s instructions manual for proper installation instructions. You can also visit our Blog Section on filters for some further assistance.
About The Pool Factory
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