How much is it to shock a pool?
7 min read
Asked by: Mary Cardenas
Typically for granular shock, you’ll need one pound for every 10,000 to 13,500 gallons of pool water. With over 8 million residential swimming pools across the US ranging from 5 thousand gallons to over 30 thousand gallons, the amount of shock you need to treat a swimming pool isn’t a one-size-fits-all answer.
What is the cheapest way to shock a pool?
Calcium Hypochlorite: Also referred to as cal hypo, this chemical is one of the least costly and most convenient ways to shock your pool. It’s usually sold in granular form. Needs to be dissolved before you add it to the pool.
Can I just pour shock in my pool?
So let's pour the shock inside the pool. So that's it all you want to do is you want to pre-dissolve each bag in a bucket of water that means water first then put in the shock mix it up with a stick.
Is shock necessary for a 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.
How long does it take to shock a pool?
Heavy shocking with granular chlorine will generally require 24-48 hours before the chlorine level has dropped to safe swimming levels (below 5 ppm). Lithium and Non-Chlorine shock labels typically allow immediate swimming, but check the package label, to be sure.
What can I use instead of pool shock?
Common unscented household bleach (sodium hypochlorite) works well to shock a pool.
Can I swim 12 hours after shocking pool?
After Shocking Your Pool
It is safe to swim once your chlorine levels are around 5 ppm or after 24 hours. It is always best to test first!
How often should I shock my pool?
once a week
It’s often recommended to shock your pool once a week. If you don’t do it every week, you should at least do it every other week. This is necessary to maintain your pool’s water chemistry.
Is pool shock the same as chlorine?
Shock is chlorine, in a high dose, meant to shock your pool and raise the chlorine level quickly. Chlorine tabs (placed in a chlorinator, floater, or skimmer basket) maintain a chlorine residual in the water. You do need to use both tabs and shock.
How do I shock my pool for the first time?
How do I shock my 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.
What happens if you swim in a shocked pool?
What Happens If You Swim In A Shocked Pool? If you do not wait for the chemicals used to shock a pool to totally dissolve then you could be placing yourself in serious danger by swimming in it. At the minimum, you will feel itchy skin and eyes because of the chemicals present in the water.
Why did my pool turn green after I shocked it?
Pools can immediately turn green after shocking when they have metals like copper in the water. These metals oxidise when exposed to high levels of chlorine which makes the pool water turn green. Adding a metal control product such as Zodiac Metal Remover will help to restore the pool water.
Will baking soda clear a green pool?
Will baking soda clear a green pool? No. Baking soda will only raise your alkalinity and pH levels and this will not kill algae. Chlorine is what kills algae.
What is the fastest way to clean a green pool?
Fastest Way To Clean A Green Pool
- The fastest way to clean a green pool is by using pool chemicals and your pool filter. …
- Adjust your pH and alkalinity levels in the pool by using Alkalinity Plus and pH and pH minus. …
- Add an algaecide to your water to remove the rest of the green algae.
How long does it take baking soda to clear up a pool?
You can dilute the baking soda in a bucket of water or just broadcast it over the entire surface of your swimming pool. It should take about 24 hours before your swimming pool completely clears.
How much baking soda do I put in my pool to get rid of algae?
Also, the desired alkalinity for the PH level mentioned above is 100ppm. As per standard, 1.25 pounds of baking soda is enough to raise the PH level of a 10,000-gallon pool by 10ppm, so to achieve a 100ppm alkalinity, you would need 12.5 pounds of baking soda for a 100,000 gallon of pool water.
How do I make my pool water crystal clear?
In theory, if you have a cloudy swimming pool, you can add chlorine to “shock it” and clear things up. Chlorine will get the job done. But, the amounts may vary and you may have to really pound the pool with chlorine to get the water totally clear.
Can I use bleach to shock my pool?
Calculate the amount of bleach you need based on the fact that 1 gallon will raise the free chlorine level of 30,000 gallons of water by 2 ppm. If you need to mildly shock a 30,000-gallon pool by raising the free chlorine concentration to 5 ppm, you need 2.5 gallons of bleach. To raise it to 10 ppm, you need 5 gallons.
Can you swim in a pool with algae?
Algae can be very slippery, causing swimmers to fall resulting in bumps, bruises, cuts and even broken bones. Don’t try to swim in a pool that’s full of algae. Besides causing injuries, an algae infested pool creates a higher risk of drowning for those who are not expert swimmers or those who fall unconscious.
Can you swim in a light green pool?
What’s important for you to know: You shouldn’t swim in a pool that’s green until you test the chemical levels, like the officials in Rio did before the diving event began. It’s the balance of things like chlorine, pH, and alkalinity in a pool that keeps it sterilized.
Is pool algae harmful to humans?
Skin problems
Green algae, which are a common sight in unmaintained swimming pools, aren’t harmful. However, the bacteria that feed on the algae can present a health risk to humans. Green algae exposure can mean bacteria exposure, leading to rashes and various breaks on human skin.
Is green pool water safe to swim in?
While the green algae aren’t harmful, the bacteria that feed on the algae can cause issues. When you swim in green water, you expose yourself to algae that host bacteria. Swimming in green water could cause bacterial infections on your skin, and you could get sick if you ingest algae-filled pool water.
How do I make my pool water blue?
How do I turn my green pool blue?
- Shock the pool with chlorine every day until all the green is gone (possibly 3 to 4 days).
- Run the filter 24 hours a day and backwash every day until the green and then cloudiness is gone (usually up to 7 days, sometimes as long as 2 weeks depending on the filter).
What does baking soda do for a pool?
Baking soda, also known as sodium bicarbonate is naturally alkaline, with a pH of 8. When you add baking soda to your pool water, you will raise both the pH and the alkalinity, improving stability and clarity. Many commercial pool products for raising alkalinity utilize baking soda as their main active ingredient.
Why is my pool water blue?
Pool water is dyed blue by the chemicals used to keep it healthy. Chlorine is added to pools to keep the water clear. It is not a dyeing agent. Even though we may think a healthy pool is a blue pool; a healthy pool is actually a clear pool.
Why is my pool water blue and not clear?
Pool water with a high total alkalinity (TA) is often associated with cloudiness. This is because it can cause an imbalance in the pH levels and lead to calcium scaling. Typically if your TA is higher than 200 ppm, you’re at risk of a cloudy pool and just like imbalanced pH levels, your chlorine will be less effective.
Can you swim in cloudy pool water?
You had your heart set on a dip in the pool, but now you are wondering if cloudy pools are safe. The quick answer is, ‘NO!” Cloudy pools are not safe, and no one should be allowed to swim in a cloudy pool until it is cleared up.
