Properly stored, pool shock has a shelf life of over 5 years.

Besides, What happens if you get in a pool with too much chlorine?

Having too much chlorine in your pool water can be dangerous. Exposure to high levels of chlorine can cause lung irritation, skin and eye damage, and provoke asthma. Not only is it bad for your health, but it can be bad for your pool due to the increase in chlorine.

Keeping this in mind, How often do you need to shock a pool? How Often Should I Shock My Pool? Shocking your pool regularly will help to keep the water clean and free of contaminants. You should aim to shock your pool about once a week, with the additional shock after heavy use. Some tell-tale signs that your pool needs to be shocked are cloudy, foamy, green, or odourous water.

How often should I shock treat my pool?

All that said, a general rule of thumb for most pool owners is you should shock once a week, knowing, however, that unusual events might require more frequent shockings. The ideal time to shock your pool is in the evening after all swimming is complete.

Why is my pool still cloudy after shocking it?

Sometimes you’ll get cloudy pool water after shocking. This is common and should dissipate over time. Just keep your filter running and it should clear up. Also, look into a new brand of shock (make sure you buy shock that has a main active ingredient of calcium hypochlorite).

Can you swim when chlorine is high?

What chlorine level is too high to swim? It depends on who you ask, but the acceptable range is between 1 to 5 ppm. (So, for example, 10 ppm chlorine is not safe to swim in — that’s too high.)

What do I do if my chlorine is too high in my pool?


Tips to Lower the Chlorine Level in Your Pool

  1. Stop Adding Chlorine and Start Swimming.
  2. Use the Sunshine.
  3. Heat the Pool Water.
  4. Dilute the Pool.
  5. Use Hydrogen Peroxide.
  6. Use a Chlorine Neutralizing Product.
  7. Try Sodium Thiosulfate.
  8. Nature2 CF.

How long does it take to lower chlorine in pool?

You need to let the shock oxidize and sanitize the pool water, usually at least 8 hours before attempting to lower the chlorine. You may have had your chlorinator, chlorine feeder, or chlorine floater set too high or have added too much chlorine to the device, resulting in the chlorine level drifting higher over time.

Do I really need to shock my pool every week?

It’s often recommended to shock your pool once a week. If you don’t do it every week, you should at least do it every other week. This is necessary to maintain your pool’s water chemistry. If you have a lot of people over in your pool or have a party, you may want to shock your pool more frequently.

How often should I add chlorine to my pool?

If the pool is used more than 2 days a week, the water quality needs to be checked 2 to 3 times a week. If the pH value is good, check whether the chlorine tablet has completely dissolved or not. Once the chlorine tablet has dissolved, it is best to add 1 chlorine tablet per skimmer.

Is shock and chlorine the same thing?

1) What is the difference between chlorine and shock? … Shock is chlorine, in a high dose, meant to shock your pool and raise the chlorine level quickly. Chlorine tabs (placed in a chlorinator, floater, or skimmer basket) maintain a chlorine residual in the water. You do need to use both tabs and shock.

Can you shock pool too much?

Can you put too much shock in a pool? SKIMMER NOTES: It’s unlikely but it could happen. It would take a lot of shock to really make the water unsafe for swimming. The best way to make sure you’re safe to swim is to test your pool water and make sure free chlorine levels are between 1-4ppm for healthy swimming.

Is Shocking a pool necessary?

Every pool is different, and pools don’t need to be shocked, unless they need to be shocked – to remove bacteria, algae, chloramines or other contaminants, or to help clear cloudy pool water or some other water problem. … Another use is when a pool cannot obtain a good chlorine reading.

How long does it take for shock to clear a cloudy pool?

Thirdly, tripple-shock the pool using stronger Chlorine like In The Swim calcium hypochlorite (3pounds for 10k gallons) to kill all the algae; depending on the number of algae in the pool, it may take 2-3 days for the pool to clear up. The filter should run 24 hours a day for faster results.

How long is pool cloudy after shock?

In most cases, a cloudy pool after shocking is only temporary and should clear up within 24 hours. Keep filtering your pool, add a little clarifier to help, and your pool should be clear in no time. If after 24 hours your pool is not clear, then you may need to look a little deeper for the solution.

Can too much shock make a pool cloudy?

An undesired aftereffect of shocking your pool is this: it can cause cloudy pool water. In some instances, the cloudiness is a temporary thing (source). Running your pool’s filter right after shocking can help it quickly clear away the particles and debris that cloud the water.

What is the highest chlorine level safe to swim in?

Commercial pools should run their chlorine levels at 3 -5 ppm as their bather load is usually much higher. Anything between 5-10 ppm is still safe to swim, but you are risking damage to equipment and certainly complaints from swimmers. Some experts recommend no swimming unless the chlorine is 8 ppm or less.

Can you swim in a pool with high free chlorine?

At chlorine levels over 10 ppm, swimsuits can begin to fade, and pool covers become damaged, and it may be unhealthy for swimmers. Generally speaking, for overall swimmer comfort and safety, close the pool and keep solar covers removed, until chlorine levels are below 5 ppm.

How high is too high for chlorine in a pool?

What chlorine level too high to swim in? Don’t swim in water with chlorine levels above 10 ppm. Otherwise, you run the risk of serious skin irritation and lots of discomfort. Levels of around 5 ppm are still high but are generally safe for swimming.

How do you neutralize chlorine?

Approximately 2.5 parts of ascorbic acid are required for neutralizing 1 part chlorine. Since ascorbic acid is weakly acidic, the pH of the treated water may decrease slightly in low alkaline waters. Sodium ascorbate will also neutralize chlorine.

How do you know if your pool has too much chlorine?


Chlorine toxicity in pools: causes, symptoms and solutions

  1. Nausea and vomiting.
  2. Coughing and wheezing.
  3. Burning sensation in eyes, nose and throat.
  4. Rash or burning skin.
  5. Shortness of breath.
  6. Dizziness.
  7. Watery eyes.

How do you lower chlorine levels?


Ok, let’s now take a look at 4 different methods you can use to lower your chlorine levels.

  1. Stop Adding Chlorine. The simplest step to bring down chlorine levels is to stop adding chlorine into the pool. …
  2. Remove the Pool Cover. …
  3. Use Chemical Agents to Reduce Chlorine Levels. …
  4. Drain Some Water and Refill the Pool. …
  5. Keep Testing.

Can you shock a pool too much?

You cannot overshock a swimming pool or add too much. Adding too much shock or overshocking your pool will kill off algae. The negative of adding too much shock is it will upset the chemical balance of your pool. It’s likely to do that regardless of if you overshocked the pool or not.

How often should you shock your pool in the winter?

On a monthly basis throughout the winter, you’ll need to perform some routine chemical maintenance. Never use chlorine tablets during the winter: you’ll want to opt for Assault 73 Shock or Quick Shock granular chlorine once a month (1 pound per 10,000 gallons.)