The third step in maintaining perfect pool water is to shock your pool water weekly. Bacteria and organic pollutants can build up and resist normal chlorination resulting in contaminated and cloudy pool water. To break up these contaminants it is necessary to raise the chlorine level quickly by shocking your pool. Shocking helps to rejuvenate pool water by burning off chloramines. Chloramines’ is the chlorine in your pool that has already worked to kill algae or bacteria and now has become ineffective. Chloramines in your pool cause strong chlorine odors, burning eyes when swimming, and prevent the chlorine in the pool that still has sanitizing capabilities (free available chlorine) from doing its job.

We suggest shocking at the same time and day each week. It is best to apply shock in the evening so it can work overnight and be down to normal levels by the next day. Be sure to run your filter for at least one hour after shocking. In some cases, you may need to shock more than once a week.