Not Brushing Your Pool
You already know how important it is to vacuum your pool regularly to keep scum and gunk from building up and ruining your swim.
But just like your teeth or a hutch of Angora rabbits, your pool needs a good brushing to look its best. Whether you vacuum your pool manually or automatically, follow up with a good brushing.
What Are The Different Types Of Pool Shock
With different pool shocks or shock products are available, how do you know which one is best for your pool?
Heres a breakdown of the top 3 pool shocks.
- Calcium Hypochlorite: Commonly referred to as cal-hypo, this shock is the most popular option, and contains 70% chlorine for killing algae and contaminants. Its unstabilized nature means the sun will burn it off and it wont increase cyanuric acid levels in your pool.
Cal-hypo has a high pH and will temporarily raise those levels, so its a good choice for pools that test at a normal or low pH level. Of note, your water may become temporarily cloudy, and cal-hypo may also increase your waters calcium hardness.
- Dichlor: Sodium dichlor is 55% chlorine and stabilized, which means it contains CYA. This makes it last longer in your pool water than cal-hypo, and the lower pH level and lack of calcium will keep the pool from getting cloudy.
However, because it contains CYA, CYA levels can increase. This has to be carefully monitored otherwise you may need to invest in a CYA reducer, or even drain/dilute your pool.
- Non-Chlorine Shock: Also known as Potassium Monopersulfate , this is a chlorine-free shock that oxidizes contaminants, but wont rid the pool of bacteria. Compared to chlorinated shock, you can use MPS shock at any time of day and be swimming in the pool 15 minutes later. Its pH neutral so your level wont fluctuate, and by focusing on oxidation, it frees up the pools chlorine to be more efficient at sanitizing.
Hth 67032 1qt Super Algae Guard Swimming Pool Algaecide Cleanser
If youre looking to know the best pool shock to use, you should give this HTH product a try. This algae guard prevents and kills yellow, black, and green algae. You need around four fluid ounces in every 10,000-gallon of water.
The algaecide cleaner is perfect for salt, chlorine, and bromine water pool systems.
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Why Do You Need To Use Pool Shock
A pool is an easy place for bacteria to grow and accumulate. While you may think grabbing the pool net and scooping up leaves and debris from your pool is enough to keep it sanitary, the truth is that is only part of the cleaning process. Bacteria that you cannot see can do more damage to your water and if left unchecked, can lead to algae growths that will make it impossible to enjoy your pool. Shocking your pool regularly is a lot easier than you may think and it is essential to keep your pool pristine.
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Features To Consider While Buying The Best Pool Shock
Pool shock is clearly essential for any pool owner who wants to keep up with their maintenance and ensure that their pool stays clean and free of bacteria and algae, but you cant just buy the first pool shock you see and hope for the best. There are many different options out there, and pool shock comes in various forms, with different ingredients, recommended dosages, capacities, and more. You should consider all of these different factors, along with the price, in order to find a pool shock that works for you.
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Best Pool Shock Buyers Guide And Reviews
If you own a swimming pool, you need to know what type of shock to add to the water to have the highest quality water to swim in. There are quite a few different types of shock available, and it can be a big help knowing what the differences are and knowing which is the best pool shock that you should use. For helping you determine just that, I have put together a pool shock buyers guide packed full of the most important information that you need to know.
What is the best pool shock to buy? Here are the best pool chemicals brands that will be reviewed in this guide.
Swimming pool shock is a popular chemical in the swimming pool industry. It is used when a pool first opens and when it closes, as well as for maintenance throughout the summer to maintain a pools chemistry. Pool shock can raise the chlorine level of a pool very quickly so make sure that you are careful when adding it to a pools water.
Type Of Active Ingredient
Next, you need to think about the key active ingredient in each product. The two main ingredients to know are calcium hypochlorite, found in In The Swim Chlorine Pool Shock, and sodium dichlor, found in Clorox Pool& Spa Shock XtraBlue. Calcium hypochlorite is affordable, quick, and very strong at cleaning up bacteria and raising the chlorine levels. Sodium-dichlor has the advantage of lasting longer, but usually has a slower application process.
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Tips On Pool Shock To Use
The type of pool shock you use will depend on the water chemistry and why you need to shock your pool.
- For green water, use calcium hypochlorite shocks.
- For weekly maintenance, use calcium hypochlorite, sodium di-chlor, or potassium mono persulfate shock.
From there, know the type of pool before you add your pool shock.
Why Shock Your Pool
Over time, as chlorine works to destroy contaminants, the combined chlorine level rises and this is far weaker as a pool water disinfectant.
By shocking your pool, you replenish your chlorine level and oxidize chloramines , which are a gaseous irritant that are hazardous for human consumption.
Your swimming pool may need to be shocked if any of the following scenarios have occurred:
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Make A Shocking Solution
If using granular shock, youll need a 5 gallon bucket for this part.
Start by filling the bucket with water , and then adding in 1 bag of shock. Always add the shock to the water not the other way around.
Using a wooden stir stick, mix the solution until the shock is fully dissolved. This will help disperse it evenly in the pool and save your liner or pool finish from being damaged.
If you are using liquid shock, you can add this directly to the pool water
Hth 42033 Super 3 Chlorinating Tablets
This is a different kind of pool shock from the liquid and powdered ones weve discussed. This one comes in circular tablets that you place in a pool skimmer, feeder, or floater and it does the job.
The HTH tablets are designed to kill and protect your pool from bacteria and algae. What I find fascinating about this product is that it contains some sort of sun-protecting element that helps extend the lifespan of chlorine.
The manufacturer recommends you use one table a week. A single tablet is enough to keep 10,000 gallons of water clean and clear.
The product is compatible with salt-water and vinyl-liner pools. The manufacturer recommends that when you use the tablet, you run the swimming pool pump for a minimum of eight hours a day for proper sanitization.
Pros
- Tablets might break in shipping
- Takes a while to dissolve completely
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Warning About Poop In The Pool Water
On any given day in your chlorinated pool, youre just one toddler diaper or animal poop away from dangerous recreational water illnesses.
These illnesses are caused by organisms such as Cryptosporidium, Giardia, and E. Coli, as well as symptoms such as severe diarrhea, which will all make you and anyone swimming in your contaminated pool water very sick.
Which Is The Best Pool Shock To Use
The type of shock that you use depends on the chemistry of the water and the reason for doing the shocking:
- If you have water that is green, you should use the Calcium Hypochlorite.
- If you are doing weekly maintenance and the water looks clean, any of the three types will work.
- You should use the non-chlorine shock every other week or before you have a lot of swimmers in the pool.
- The non-chlorine shock should also be used if bromine is the primary sanitizer of your pool.
1. For Vinyl Pools
Vinyl, or polyvinyl chloride , is made by joining chlorine and ethylene. It is then made into rolls of a thin, flexible material that is used to line both in-ground and above ground pools.
Even though vinyl is made from chlorine, having your water over-chlorinated for too long of a period will draw resins from the vinyl. This will cause it to lose its plasticity. Vinyl liners getting bleached is another problem caused when powdered chlorine shock is added to a pool and sinks to the bottom before it has a chance to dissolve.
vinyl pool
2. For Fiberglass Pools
3. For Concrete Pools
concrete pool
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How Often Should You Shock Your Pool
The frequency of pool shocking isnt set in stone, and it really only needs to be done when your water starts going haywire.
Some things youll be able to visually see , but most water pollutants will be invisible.
There are some pool owners who like to shock once a week to keep the water its cleanest, while others will do it on a 3-week or monthly cycle.
Shocking frequency also depends on how much use the pool is getting, and what kind of weather its being subjected to. Heavy rainfall and storms can disrupt the pool waters chemical makeup by introducing backyard debris and air pollutants like dust and pollen spores into the water.
Likewise, an increase in the number of people using the pool will bring in more organic bacteria, resulting in a chlorine level decrease. If you have a pool party, youll most likely have to shock the pool once its over.
Youll also want to apply shock treatment when opening the pool, and closing it down for the season.
On opening, after youve balanced its pH level, shocking will sanitize and oxidize the pool, restoring its clear water. On closing, pool shock is used as a disinfectant to prepare the pool for the winter months.
Also of note, if you were wondering, you cant overshock a pool. The worst that will happen is the water has an abundance of chlorine for a few hours. Once the sun comes out, it will quickly destroy the chlorine and bring the pool back to a level that is safe for swimmers.
How Can I Tell If My Pool Needs Shock
As a rule of thumb, you should shock your pool every week, even if you dont think that it needs it. But, there are several instances when you should certainly shock your pool:
Shock your pool when you open it for the season to kill any bacteria or algae.
Shock your pool after heavy use or a party.
Shock your pool when its extremely hot and sunny. When the weather is too hot bacteria can grow and your chlorine level may lower.
Shock your pool after heavy rain because too much rain can increase pH levels and send contaminants into your pool.
Shock your pool if your smell chlorine or if swimmers eyes become irritated. If this happens it could mean that water has a build-up of chloramines. This is a clear indicator that your pool needs to be shocked.
Shock your pool when you close it. Although youll need to shock it again when you re-open your pool, its always a good idea to close your pool with clean water.
Some people also recommend that you shock your pool anytime the pH level is between 7.2 and 7.4,
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Hth 52023 Super Shock Treatment
The HTH 52023 package contains six 1-pound packs of pool shock. One pack will help you increase the chlorine percentage in your pool to kill algae and bacteria.
This pool shock is compatible with all kinds of swimming pools, including salt-water pools and vinyl-liner pools. So, you dont have to worry about it discoloring your pool.
The manufacturer recommends that you use this product once a week at sunset time, as thats when chlorine dissolves the quickest. You should start seeing the results after 24 hours, which is fairly long compared to other pool shocks, but we cant deny its effectiveness.
Pros
- Pricey compared to other treatments
- Takes too long to dissolve
Zapp It Pool Shock Treatment
The higher the chlorine content of the product, the more efficient it is. This pool shock chemical by Zapp It has an impressive 70% chlorine and 73% calcium hypochlorite. Therefore, a little definitely goes a long way for this one.
Since its a highly concentrated product, make sure to use only the recommended dosage to avoid body rash and skin allergy.
You can buy it in a 50-pound pack or in a 100-pound pack.
- Best Features:
- Has high chlorine and calcium hypochlorite contents, making it effective in eliminating algae, bacteria and chloramines in the pool water
- A fast-dissolving granular formulation
- You only need to use 1 pound to treat 40,000 gallons of water.
- The perfect chemical to balance out your pool water chemistry to prevent inhibitions of waste, algae, and other contaminants
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Powdered Shock Vs Liquid Shock
What is the best pool shock to buy? When you use a liquid pool shock, there is almost a zero chance that you will destroy your pool or even the liner. With a powdered brand, there is a high chance that you will damage your pool if you are not careful.
A cement pool wont be destroyed by a powdered pool shock, but there is a possibility that there will remain large quantities in some areas. Hence, you need to use a brush to move it around so as to dissolve it completely. Alternatively, you can pre-mix the powdered pool shock with water to avoid these challenges.
A liquid shock is an effective and safer option while a powdered model is effective and wont cause any harm if added to your pool correctly.
Can I Use Something Other Than Shock
The most commonly used product for keeping a swimming pool free of bacteria is chlorine. There are many benefits of using chlorine in your pool, but it does negatively affect some people. There are other options if you are sensitive to chlorine. Such natural product as Pool Perfect + PHOSfree will help to keep your pool water clean. They will keep your pool blue as well as free of bacteria. It is more expensive but is a great choice if your skin becomes irritated from chlorinated pool water.
Baquacil is another alternative to chlorine for keeping bacteria out of your pool. This product is a bit more expensive though.
You should never mix pool shock and Baquacil. If you choose to try Baquacil, you should use it for the rest of the season.
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Best Time Of Day To Shock Pool
- Post author
One of the most critical parts of owning a pool is routine pool maintenance. In addition to getting rid of your pools dirt and debris, you must understand its chemistry. Without proper pool maintenance, your pool water may turn to a cloudy or green color resulting from a buildup of algae. This change in color is often an indication that the level of free available chlorine in your pool is too low to sanitize the pool properly. This is why you need to know how to shock your pool and when the best time of day to shock pool is.
Best Pool Shock Of 2021 Reviews
One of the most important things a person can do to keep their pools water crystal clear is to shock it. For those of you who may not be familiar with this term, its the process of adding a chemical to the pool which essential super-chlorinates it. This chemical kills algae colonies and bacteria that may be lurking in your pools water, which makes it safe for swimmers to use the pool.
Of course, before you run out and buy just any old shock for your pool, you may want to look at the following top ten list. Thats because weve listed ten of the best pool shocks available and have listed them below. Anyone of the following chemicals will make your pools water crystal clear and ready for the summer swim season.
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