Can You Shock a Pool Without the Pump Running? Shocking is crucial to your pool’s hygiene because it kills algae and harmful bacteria; which in turn keeps your pool clean and crystal clear. In the same vein, when you add shock to your pool, it is ideal that you run the pump for at least 24 hours to allow it to mix thoroughly and remove the killed microbes. However, your pool pump may be inoperative and you’re wondering if it’s alright to shock a pool without running the pump.
At the instant, you may not need to run the pump when you shock your pool. Since the pump is required to mix the shock thoroughly, you could overcome this challenge by using liquid pool shock or diluting the shock before adding it to the pool water. If you distribute the shock solution around the perimeter instead of just applying it to one corner, it will mix faster – although a pool pump would do an even faster job.
However, you still need to fix your pump as soon as possible, or else the shock would not be effective for long. Shocking the pool will do its job, which is killing harmful bacteria and algae. However, without running the pump to remove the dead mass, you risk undoing the effect of the shock and, perhaps, an algae bloom. So the bottom line is: run your pool pump aftershock.
Why Should I Run The Pump While Shocking My Pool?
A pool pump is analogous to a heart – it removes filthy water, passes it through the filter, and releases it into the pool as clean water. Without circulating water in this manner, the pool will get increasingly dirty and breed harmful microbes. The added shock will get circulated faster and more efficiently with the pool pump running.
If your pump is down, you could mix the shock using a leaf net skimmer, but this doesn’t come without its impediments. First off, it’s tedious and grossly inefficient, wasting much of your time and energy in the process. Asides from that, you could still have chemical hotspots in your pool due to uneven distribution – despite your best efforts. A pool pump is necessary for mixing the shock effectively and in the shortest possible time.
In your best interest, you need to get your pool pump operational as soon as you can. But if it’s a small stand-alone or inflatable pool we’re talking about here, it is recommended that you replace the pool water instead. In essence, your pool should not go without a pool even for more than a week because asides from being unable to complete the shocking process, you would still need it to run a pool vacuum.
What Happens If You Swim In a Shocked Pool?
The chemicals used for shocking are corrosive and should be treated with caution even after mixing with pool water. If a swimmer hops into the pool after shocking, he/she may experience irritations to the eyes or skin and its severity will depend on the type of shock chemical, the amount used in the pool, and how long after the shock, the swimmer got in.
According to Professor Gary Goldenberg in Health, getting into a freshly shocked pool will definitely get your skin dry. Even worse, if the swimmer already has a skin condition like psoriasis or eczema, the shock chemical could exacerbate the condition, causing flaring with symptoms such as blisters, redness of the skin, pain, and a burning sensation. If you get any of the above symptoms, you need to get out of the pool as soon as you can and immediately have a bath.
If the shocked pool water gets into your eyes, it could cause redness and/or blurred vision. If you’re wearing a contact lens, you need to remove it and wash your eyes(and the contact lens) thoroughly with fresh water. Furthermore, inhalation of shock chemicals can cause shortness of breath, wheezing, tightness of the chest, and in severe cases fluids in the lungs. In the event of these, please seek medical attention immediately.
When is it Safe to go into a Pool after it’s Shocked?
Pool shock chemicals are usually powerful and should be handled with care. After mixing shock with your pool water, you mustn’t swim in the pool immediately. So ‘when exactly is it safe to swim in a shocked pool?’ you might ask. The answer depends on the strength of the shock and the amount used. Ultimately, you need to check the product label for precise information on that.
On average, it takes about 24 hours for most pool shock chemicals to completely kill off most of the harmful microbes. In essence, you can hop into your pool after 24 hours. However, if you notice irritations to your skin or eyes, you should wait an additional 24 hours to make sure the shock has cleared out completely.
Additionally, it is good practice to check the pool’s pH and general chemical balance to make sure that they are all within range. This will give you a good idea about how safe your pool is for swimming. If the chlorine level is between 1 – 4 parts per million and pH stands between 7.2 and 7.6, then it should be safe to swim in.
What Is The Proper Way to Shock a Pool?
The whole essence of shocking a pool is to increase its free chlorine level. Preferably, the free chlorine content of your pool should be about 10 times more than its combined chlorine. Some factors which reduce the free chlorine level in a pool are the presence of microbes and action of UV rays. In essence, it is ideal to shock your pool at dusk for maximum effect. We will now outline how to go about shocking your pool the right way. Keep reading:
- Test the chlorine levels: free chlorine(FC), combined chlorine(CC), and total chlorine(TC). The FC level tells you how much chlorine is available in the pool to neutralize harmful bacteria while CC is a measure of how much chlorine is in the combined form(mostly chloramines) after killing off harmful microorganisms. TC is the summation of free and combined chlorine in the pool. To get the CC level in your pool, simply subtract FC from TC. The ideal FC level should be 1-3 ppm while the pH should read between 7.2-7.6.
- Depending on your pool’s size, add an appropriate amount of shock to the water as prescribed on the product’s package.
- If it’s a granular shock you’re dealing with, premix a predetermined amount in a 5-gallon bucket before adding the mix to the pool water.
- Turn on the pool pump and pour the shock solution into your pool. Allow the pump to run for at least 6 hours to enable the shock mix properly.
- You can check chlorine levels again to ensure that everything is optimal. It is not advisable to pop into the pool after it’s just been shocked. Since the FC level is still very high and potentially dangerous for swimmers, you have to wait till it’s 3 ppm.
Tip: You must attain breakpoint chlorination when you shock your pool. Without reaching breakpoint chlorination, even more chloramines will form.
What Is Breakpoint Chlorination?
While shocking, a point is reached where the free chlorine molecules introduced into the pool are enough to break the molecular bonds of the combined chlorine in the form of nitro chlorides and chloramines, this point is known as the breakpoint chlorination.
According to the Indiana State Department of Health, the free chlorine to ammonia ratio necessary to fulfill breakpoint conditions is 7.6:1.0. Further contaminants(bacteria and algae) require additional chlorine to be oxidized; that brings the figure from 7.6 up to 10.
When there is an adequate amount of FC in the pool water, the chloramine molecules will convert first to dichlorides, next to nitrogen trichloride, and finally to nitrogen gas. The remnant chlorine molecules will then be present as free chlorine, ready to take on future contaminants. Depending on the shock product you’re using and the size of your pool, you need to add enough shock to bring your pool to breakpoint chlorination every time.
Can You Shock a Salt Water Pool?
If you’re a saltwater pool owner, things can get tricky when it comes to maintaining your pool’s hygiene. Do you follow the same maintenance methods as you would a chlorine pool or does a different method apply? Especially for new saltwater pool owners, these are the questions that require urgent answers, and we’ve set out to answer them in this section. Here’s what you need to know about shocking a saltwater pool:
In shocking a saltwater pool, you need to use Dichlor instead of the regular Cal-Hypo used for shocking chlorine pools. As in the case of chlorine pools, you should ensure that the water chemistry in the saltwater pool is within the acceptable range. Or else, you need to balance the water chemistry before you can add shock to it. Without balanced water chemistry, shocking will not be effective.
Saltwater pools also use chlorine for disinfection, but it does so by generating chlorine from sodium-chloride molecules present in the water by a process called electrolysis. In essence, it creates enough chlorine for the pool on demand. However, shocking a saltwater pool is still a good idea; the added chlorine gives the pool a boost and helps it to disinfect your pool more effectively.
What Is The Most Effective Pool Shock?
That would depend on several factors like the form of shock you prefer to use(liquid, powder, or tablet) and pool type: chlorine or saltwater. The purpose of shocking a pool is to kill off germs and algae present in the pool water. You want to do this most efficiently, so naturally, you would need to know what shock product does it best.
There is enough shock product in the market to immediately overwhelm, but you won’t need to walk alone. We’ve researched for you and come up with the best shock treatment for your pool.
Best Powder: HTH 52028 Ultimate Shock Treatment Swimming Pool
HTH 52028 Ultimate Shock Treatment is the best powder shock option you will ever get. You can expect the results 24 hours after the first application. This pool shock treatment takes away the hassle of measuring as it comes in 6 packs containing 1 pound each of pool shock. Each pack can treat about 13,500 gallons.
Why we like it:
- Fast action
- 6 packs ensure you cannot make mistakes with measurement
- Built-in clarifier
- Softens pool water
Best Liquid: Austin’s 000176 Pool Tech Shock Gal. 12.5%
Austin’s 000176 Pool Tech Shock includes 12.5% sodium hypochlorite and is effective for preventing a buildup of scales in your pool’s circulation. This easy-to-use shock removes the need for premixing anything- just pour a measured amount and run your pool pump. It can easily be used to treat up to 100,000 gallons of pool water.
Why we like it:
- Easy to use liquid
- Prevents scale buildup
BEST TABLET: HTH 42033 Super 3″ Chlorinating Tablets
HTH 42033 Super 3″ Chlorinating tablets are a decent option for pool owners looking for low-maintenance shock treatments. It can mix gradually with water in a chlorinator or pool basket. The advantage of gradual release is that the tablet cannot damage the pool as long as the tablet is not dropped to the pool floor. The sodium dichloro-s-triazinetrione content of each tablet stands at 93.6%, which contains about 84% chlorine.
Why we like it:
- High chlorine content
- One tablet treats 10,000 gallons
- Slow-release effective for up to 1 week
Best For Saltwater Pool: In The Swim Chlorine-Free Oxidizing Pool Shock
Saltwater pools produce small amounts of chlorine on-demand from sodium chloride in the pool water. However, the pool may need a boost from time to time- that’s where In The Swim Chlorine-Free Oxidizing Pool Shock comes in. It is a concentration of potassium monopersulfate in powder form, effective for removing chloramines and generating chlorine to keep the pool in top form. Also, this product has no chlorine content.
Why we like it:
- Effective chlorine boost
- Fast-acting(15 minutes)
- One sachet treats 120,000 gallons
Can You Overshock a Pool?
When it comes to shocking a pool, it’s possible to use an insufficient amount of shock, in which case the pool won’t attain breakpoint chlorination. It is therefore important that you add enough shock each time. However, if you decide to play it safe and add a little extra to make sure you get the desired results, it begs the question ‘can I over shock the pool?’ Read on to find out.
There is such a thing as adding an excess amount of shock to your pool, but what effect does it have on your pool water? Adding excess shock – though not necessary – will ensure the complete elimination of algae and harmful bacteria from your pool.
However, that’s about all that happens when you over shock a pool. Depending on the type of shock product you use, the pool’s pH may be slightly lower or higher after shocking; ensure that you balance it before swimmers use the pool.
In the short run, you should have no issue if you over shock your pool occasionally. Nonetheless, you should try as much as you can to stick to application instructions. Because in the long run, over shocking a pool may gradually damage pool equipment due to its harsh chemical constituents.
Conclusion on Can You Shock a Pool Without the Pump Running?
Do you want hassle-free pool maintenance? Then you should turn on the pump when next you shock your pool. No pool cleaner likes to see filthy green pool water, so you do not want to take any chances when you shock your pool. Depending on your pool’s need(and type: chlorine or saltwater), there are a variety of pool shock treatments to choose from. If you’ve gone through this article, there’s a good chance you already know what shock treatment is suitable for your pool. If you’re not quite sure, however, you should consult a pool expert.
