Shocking a Swimming Pool

Unless you’re a chemist, shocking your pool might feel like a pointless science experiment. After all, most people have never used chemicals like di-chlor or cal hypo, so the benefits of these products might not seem obvious right away. But if you’ve ever woken up to a cloudy, discolored, or smelly swimming pool, you’ve already witnessed the reasons to shock a pool!

So what’s the science behind this process? Every day, skin cells, sweat, sunscreen, hair, leaves, insects, grime, and other organic materials contaminate your swimming pool. Not only can these substances make your pool cloudy by producing “combined chlorine,” which we’ll explain in just a moment — they also provide sustenance that helps bacteria thrive.

Along with harmful bacteria, your pool can also become contaminated by:

• Algae Blooms: Algae blooms can be green, yellow, or even black — not exactly an inviting appearance. They may occur if chlorine levels dip too low, especially in combination with warm temperatures and poor water circulation.
• Chloramines (Combined Chlorine): Chloramines develop when chlorine molecules bind with contaminants like nitrogen and ammonia. Not only are chloramines the culprit behind “pool smell,” which many swimmers find unpleasant — more significantly, they make it harder for free chlorine to do its job effectively, resulting in poor sanitization. Chloramines can also cause skin or eye irritation, which is the last thing you want to experience when you’re looking for a relaxing swim.

When used properly, pool shock combats all of these problems, working to kill bacteria, reduce chloramines, and inhibit the growth of unsightly algae. Combined with regular maintenance, that means an odor-free, irritant-free, crystal-clear pool that’s safe for you and your family to enjoy.

There are numerous pool shock brands, product types, and concentration strengths to choose from. As you might remember from earlier, most types of pool shock are chlorine-based, including products that feature cal hypo or di-chlor as their active ingredient.

Cal hypo is available at three concentration strengths (65%, 68%, or 73%) and can generally be purchased in quantities ranging from one to 50 pounds, depending on your needs. However, because it contains calcium, cal hypo may be unsuitable for pools that already have issues with calcium hardness. Cal hypo is also “unstabilized,” which means it does not contain cyanuric acid (CYA), a chemical that helps to shield free chlorine from ultraviolet (UV) rays emitted by the sun.

Because they lack protective CYA, unstabilized shock treatments like cal hypo are more vulnerable to sunlight, making them best suited for indoor pools or evening use. The benefit of unstabilized shock treatments is that they are fast-acting and economic, they cost just a few dollars per pound. Di-chlor, an alternative to cal hypo, is a “stabilized” or CYA-containing product available at a concentration of 56%. Oxidizers like potassium monopersulfate, which do not contain any chlorine, can also be used to shock your pool but are less effective for tough or extreme jobs.

While pool shock usually contains chlorine, shock and chlorine are not the same thing and cannot be used interchangeably. By increasing free chlorine levels, shock treatments help quickly sanitize your pool, rapidly destroying bacteria, algae, chloramines, and other contaminants.

Other chlorine products, such as 3” chlorine tablets, contain lower concentrations of chlorine. Because they are weaker and less concentrated, chlorine tablets need to be used more frequently than pool shock. They also serve a different purpose, maintaining steady chlorine levels rather than destroying contaminants. However, both should be used for optimal results.

If you’re wondering, “When do you shock a pool?” the simple answer is to wait until evening. Shocking your pool at night gives chlorine and other chemicals time to work before they can be damaged or weakened by exposure to sunlight. This is especially important if you are using an unstabilized shock treatment, such as cal hypo, which does not contain UV-blocking CYA.

Trying to figure out how much shock to use for your swimming pool? Use the chart below as a handy pool shock calculator.

General Rule: 2 pounds of shock per 10,000 gallons of water

Fortunately, it’s all but impossible to “over shock” your pool. However, you can accidentally use more shock than you need to, wasting money and supplies while creating extra work for yourself.

To prevent this, avoid using more shock than your pool requires. Instead, check our pool shock calculator above and make sure to follow all product directions carefully.

Remember, there are certain situations where a higher-than-normal dose might be necessary. If you’re dealing with extreme contamination, consult a pool expert before you shock your pool.

Yes, you can shock a saltwater swimming pool. In fact, not only is it possible to shock a saltwater pool — it’s a smart idea if you want to get the most out of your investment. For example, you will need to shock your saltwater pool if it becomes contaminated by algae. That being said, your saltwater pool’s adjustable chlorine generator should generally produce enough chlorine to control contaminants.