Shocking your pool is a necessary step to keeping your pool clean and clear. In this series of articles, we’ll discuss easy steps to shocking your pool, reasons you should shock your pool, when you should shock your pool, and which products you can use to complete the shocking process.
Thankfully, shocking a pool isn’t rocket science. Once you get the hang of it, you should be able to perform this routine pool maintenance task quickly and easily. If you want a sanitary, safe, algae-free swimming pool, this information is just what you’ve been hoping to find.
How to Shock Your Pool
1. Arm Yourself with Protective Gear
Pool shocking involves the use of harsh chemicals. If you’re not careful, it could damage your clothes and hurt your skin. If you want to avoid these adverse effects, take some precautions before starting out.
First, put on some old clothes that you don’t mind getting bleached if they come in contact with the shock chemicals. You should also use protective eyewear and rubber gloves to keep your eyes, hands, and arms from harm if they accidentally get splattered with chemicals. Protective polycarbonate lenses come in various sizes and normally fit over glasses. If you go with a high-quality pair, they should be able to adjust to fit snugly over your eyes so they don’t slip off during the shocking process.
2. Get the Chemicals Ready
Choose chlorine shock chemicals from a reputable pool supply retailer in a local store or online. Once you select your shock treatment, read the instructions on the package and get it ready. Different types of shock call for different preparation steps. Lithium hypochlorite shock can be added directly to the pool, while granular shock must be dissolved into a bucket of water before you add it to the pool.
Make sure to pay careful attention to the amount of shock you’re using. It will vary based on the size of your pool.
3. Pour the Prepared Shock Into Your Pool
Once you’ve properly prepared the shock, you can add it to your pool water. Always carefully follow the instructions included in the package of shock product you purchase. The instructions should include the method of pouring the prepared shock into the pool. For certain shock treatments, you’ll add the product near the pool jets. For others, the shock should be added all around the edges of the pool. Just be sure to read the directions on your container of shock carefully and always follow the instructions.
4. Don’t Disturb the Pool Water After Shocking the Pool
Most manufacturer’s instructions state that you should leave shock in the pool water undisturbed for a while after performing the shock treatment. Keeping people out of the pool overnight is normally long enough to allow the chemicals to do their work.
5. Test Your Pool’s Chemical Levels
After shocking the pool and then waiting for the recommended time, you’ll need to perform a chemical test on the pool before you start using it again. Find out if the pool’s calcium hardness, pH, total alkalinity, and chlorine are all at normal levels. The pH needs to be under 8.0 in order for the shock to be effective.
6. Filter the Pool Water
Running your pool filter for a minimum of 24 hours after shocking it will help clear up any lingering algae that the shock leaves in your pool. The shock kills the algae and the filtration system removes it.
Now that we’ve given you a basic rundown of the shocking process, we’ll explain more about what pool shock is and why it’s needed in our next article.
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