As a pool owner, I used to dread the work I had to do to reopen my above-ground pool for the summer. However, I recently discovered a much easier and cost-effective way to clean my pool water without draining and refilling the entire pool. Yes, it’s possible, called super chlorination or shocking the pool.
If you also want an effortless and quick cleaning, the good news is that you don’t have to drain your above-ground pool and fill it up again to clean it. Instead, you can clean the water that’s already in your pool! And it has nothing to do with an electric current.
Shocking a pool refers to adding chlorine or chemicals that react with the chloramines, thereby sanitizing the water. Free chlorine is unreacted chlorine that should exist in the pool to eliminate prospective contaminants.
Summary: To shock an above-ground pool, add a large dose of chlorine or non-chlorine shock treatment to the water to eliminate bacteria, algae, and other contaminants.
Why Should I Shock My Pool?
Shocking an above-ground pool has several benefits, including killing bacteria, algae, and other harmful contaminants that regular pool maintenance may not remove, improving water clarity, reducing unpleasant odors, and prolonging the life of pool equipment.
Regular shocking also helps maintain proper chemical balance and ensures the pool water is safe and healthy for swimming. Now that you’re clear on pool shocking, let’s dig into how you can do it!
Measurements:
- For every pound of shock, it works on approximately 12 000 gallons of water.
- Calculate your pool’s water holding capacity before deciding how much chlorine you should use.
Precautions Before Shocking:
- Before you can move to the mechanics of how to shock above ground pool, you need to consider some important safety factors
- Make sure to pre-dissolve the shock into a bucket of water before you can add it to the pool.
- Divide the total amount of required shock so that you dissolve only one pound per bucket.
- Dissolving the shock in warm water encourages better dissolution.
- The best time of day to shock the pool is at night, always do it when it is dark or after dusk to avoid sunlight from reacting with the free chlorine.
- Ensure the pool pump and filtration system are running when you add the pre-dissolved shock buckets to assist in proper mixing.
Pro Tip: When you are getting ready to dissolve your shock, always add water to the bucket before adding the shock to facilitate proper and even dissolution
How To Add Shock to The Pool:
- Start by dissolving pool shock into a warm bucket of water.
- Stir properly to avoid any undissolved shock from setting at the bottom.
- Turn on your pool’s pump and filtration system when you add the shock.
- After adding the shock, let the water run for at least eight hours before using it.
- Make sure to test the water quality using testing strips to ensure the water is clean and a safe chlorine level is in the pool.
Remember to test the water regularly to check the chlorine levels to ensure the water is safe for swimming.
Precautions After Shocking:
- Always let the water run for a few hours after adding the shock to allow even distribution of shock in the water.
- Wait at least eight to ten hours before using the pool after shock treatment.
Watch the video:
When to Shock My Above Ground Pool?
When to add the shock and how many shocks will be added depends on the pool’s usage. Usually, shock treatment is recommended at least every other week. It may be more frequent if pool usage increases or there is a contamination event like heavy rainfall.
FAQs: How to Shock Above Ground Pool?
Can Pool Shock Be Added to The Pool Without Turning the Pool System On?
Yes, adding pool shock without turning on the pool system is possible, but it is not recommended. The reason is pool shock works best when it is distributed evenly throughout the pool water, so the best way to ensure this is to add it while the pool pump and filtration system are operating.
Can Shock Be Added to The Pool During the Daytime?
Yes, shock can be added to the pool during the daytime, but adding it in the evening or at night is generally recommended because exposure to sunlight will cause the free chlorine to react with it, decreasing its ability to eliminate contaminants from the pool.
Conclusion
To sum up, always start with some protective gear whenever you’re caught up with how to shock above ground pool. Before you can add shock to your pool, you must prepare and add it in a pre-dissolved state.
To do this, you must mix every pound of shock required for your pool volume separately. Add the shock to a bucket containing about five gallons of water and stir it thoroughly.
Add the dissolved shock to the pool when it is dark to prevent sunlight exposure. Run your pool system for a few hours to mix the shock well, and wait at least eight hours before letting your kids dive into the pool!
Finally, run a quick water strip test to ensure it’s safe and clean for your little ones to splash! Unlock more pool-cleaning hacks at thepoolmania.com!
James Cooper