How to Shock a Pool for the First Time?
The process of shocking your pool is critical to keeping the water clean, safe, and bacterium free (56, 70). If you’re new to pool maintenance, you may be wondering, how do you properly shock a pool for the first time? Read this guide for a step by step process of why you should super-chlorinate your pool on a regular basis to keep your water looking clear. We will also get into how a robot pool cleaner like the Beatbot AquaSense 2 can assist you with your pool-maintenance routine.
How to Shock a Pool: The Ultimate Guide with Standards
Pool shock is a concentrated dose of chlorine or other oxidizing agent that eliminates bacteria, algae, and other contaminants. It’s vital to keeping the swimming environment healthy, particularly after the pool is filled for the first time, or heavy use.
The Complete Guide to Shocking a Pool for the First Time
Gather Your Supplies
Get the following before shocking your pool:
Pool shock chemical (calcium hypochlorite or sodium dichlor)
A pail of water (to shock the heat)
A skimmer (for debris)
(For testing chemical levels)Test kit
(This includes a device for cleaning up after shocking such as: a pool vacuum or a robotic pool cleaner.
Test Your Water
Test your pool’s pH, chlorine, and alkalinity levels with a water testing kit. Before shocking, the pH ideally would be between 7.2 and 7.6. Test the water and adjust the pH with pH increaser and/or decreaser as needed.
Pre-Clean the Pool
Before adding the shock treatment, clear debris with a skimmer and vacuum the pool with a robotic pool cleaner such as the Beatbot AquaSense 2 Ultra to make the water as clear as possible. This is important as it allows the shock to concentrate on killing bacteria (and not breaking down organic matter).
Dissolve the Shock
Although some pool shock treatments are designed to be poured straight into the pool, it’s always a good idea to dissolve them in a bucket of water first. This allows for more even distribution of the chemicals and helps prevent damage to the liner.
Add the Shock to the Pool
Pour dissolved shock slowly around the pool’s perimeter to disperse it evenly. For wall-climbing pool cleaners: Run the cleaner a few hours after shocking to avoid algae that builds along the walls.
Run the Pool Pump and Filter
Run your filtration for 8 hours or more, to help circulate the chemicals and clear up the water after you add the shock.
Re-Test the Water
Chlorine levels should be in the safe range (1-3 ppm) after 24 hours so test the water again. If those levels are still too high, wait before swimming.
What You Need to Know About Robotic Pool Cleaners
After the shock treatment is done, a pool robotic pool cleaner such as the Beatbot AquaSense 2 Pro will remove dead algae and debris from your pool. When it comes to pool vacuum for algae, a pool vacuum robot can help keep your pool clean.
More Pool Maintenance Tips
How to Acid Wash a Pool — If your pool has some serious staining, an acid wash may be necessary prior to shocking (see below).
How to Drain an Inground Pool Without a Pump: If your water needs to be drained, you can use a siphon hose method.
What is a Pool Booster Pump? : Enhances water circulation and works along with pressure-side pool cleaners.
Conclusion
How to Shock Your Pool for the First Time: Overview Follow these easy steps and use hands-on tools like a robot pool cleaner, like the Beatbot AquaSense 2 Ultra to maintain your pool in top condition. You can also prevent this issue in the future with regular maintenance when you own a Maytronics pool cleaner or another swimming pool robot cleaner. With very little effort, you can now enjoy a sparkling clean pool!
