Excess chlorine can also cause irritation and redness in the eyes. I found the information helpful. Use a treatment of metal control to clear up the brown, and make sure the rest of your water chemistry levels are in the proper ranges before allowing the kiddies to swim. After 24 hours my chlorine reading is off the charts? Manage Settings An example of data being processed may be a unique identifier stored in a cookie. You need to, anyhow, check the chlorine level of your pool. With that said, typically, by the next day, a few hours of strong sunshine should make the water safe to swim in again unless youve also added cyanuric acid to the pool. once the water is clear should i be safe to swim this was about 48 hours ago. How Long Do You Have to Wait to Swim after Shocking the Pool? By clicking Accept All Cookies, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. The term shocking your swimming pool essentially means adding high volumes of concentrated chlorine to kill off any living contaminants (like bacteria or algae) that have developed within your pool. What is the Difference Between Chlorine Tabs? Most shocks with chlorine takelonger to interact with your pool than non-chlorine shock. Calcium hypochlorite shock is most commonly found in granular form; however, it can also be found in the form of chlorine tablets. Your chlorine shouldnt get too high unless youre dealing with an algae bloom. During the shock treatment, and especially after, it is important to keep your pump and filter on and running. This drastically raises the chlorine level in a short period of time. It is best to start the filter pump just before adding Algaecide and let it run for 2-4 hours to ensure adequate circulation. I have unsafe chlorine levels and put in 5x the amount of shock I should have. If I test this evening (around 6 hours), and chlorine level is back to desired level, is it then OK to swim. Evaporation, chlorine availability, and pump circulation will influence the evaporation rate. At the minimum, you will feel itchy skin and eyes because of the chemicals present in the water. No, you should NOT swim after shocking your pool. After you shock the pool As soon as your chlorine levels reach 5 ppm or lower, it's officially safe to swim. Do I need to wait before adding additional chemicals like calcium and alkalinity? Swimming in a newly-shocked pool can cause redness, burning sensations, dryness, and breathing problems. If you go into a pool that's just been shocked, you may breathe in chlorine vapor, which can result in pulmonary difficulties. Really useful. Chlorine- based shock contains high levels of pH and will alter both your pH and chlorine levels in the pool. In the end I decided to drain 1/3 of my pool and fill it with fresh water to fix high FC and CYA problem. In other words, while you shouldnt worry too much about adding a little extra pool shock, there is still a right way and a wrong way to shock your pool if you want to get the best results. The amount of time it takes for pool shock to dissolve varies. But its a vinyl liner and I understand high chlorine isnt good for that so Im wondering firstly if the water is in a good status (it looks great really clear)? 10. In short, if you want to be certain that your water is safe before returning to swim, test it. Thank you! You can add your chlorine an hour after stabilizing your pool. However, its best to avoid swimming in the heavily-chlorinated water until it dissolves. Get the chlorine level of your pool to 3 ppm first. How Often You Should Clean Your Pool Pump Basket. ), Switch from copper algaecide to polyquat algaecide. The ideal is 3 ppm. If you accidentally go into a pool that was just shocked, follow these instructions: These dangers are drastically reduced if you know how much shock to add to the pool. This will help keep you and your family safe from unhygienic water or water that has too high a level of chemicals. It's tough to wait to take a dip, but it's not worth messing with your health. The time you need to wait after adding shock depends on the type of shock you use and how much you add. Ask them to Always test for everything. The Relationship Between pH and Total Alkalinity. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. The Ideal Waiting Time For Swimming After Adding - Beninati Pools During the summer months, its normal for the pool to get a bit crowded with visitors and friends who need a break from the heat. Testing a pool for chlorine levels is a basic building block of water chemistry. Further, shocking the pool at night is also beneficial because the treatment will have plenty of time to get the job done. 1.1 Wait 24 hours 1.2 Testing Free Chlorine levels 2 When to Shock A Pool 3 Different Types of Pool Shocks 3.1 Chlorine Shocks 3.2 Liquid Chlorine Shock 3.3 Non-chlorine Shocks (The Best Advice! The general recommendation is to use one pound of cal hypo shock for every 10,000 gallons of pool water, and 10 ounces of sodium hypo with around 12.5% chlorine to sanitize your pool. Firstly, I wasnt sure whether I was supposed to put a normal (as in non shock related the ones I always use) chlorine block in the shutter filter straight after shocking. Can You Mix It With Chlorine? If the chlorine level is within the normal range, yes. When can you swim after adding bleach to your pool? This false reading may convince you that your pool doesnt have enough shock when, in reality, it does. Undissolved pool shock can cause irritation, discomfort, and more. Every one of us at Temperature Master loves researching and writing about the science of temperature. In terms of reducing the time you have to wait before you can swim again, its best not to shock the pool during the day. It has a non-foaming formula and can be used in all types of pools. Ooooph, this is a tough one. How long does the period of earthquake aftershocks last? Total alkalinity is to pH what cyanuric acid is to free chlorine. You should wait 2-4 hours (or one full cycle through the filter) to swim from the moment you use calcium chloride in your pool. What happens if you swim in a shocked pool, you might ask? "Eye effects would include pain, redness, blurred vision, and watery eyes," Alan said. There are a few potential issues. Shock and sanitizing chemicals such as granular chlorine, liquidchlorine, and chlorine tablets all contain chlorine and have similaractive chemicals that sanitize and clean your pool; shock products simply dissolve rapidly in the pool to give you a fast boost in chlorine levels, and your usage should be different compared to regular chlorine sanitizers. Youll remove a lot of chlorine from the water and have to add more during the next week. After a shock, it is important to rest and drink plenty of fluids. Also, if your pool store says your water is fine, but your test strips say its off. In the article, the last paragraph in BOLD explains the answer. A simple ratio and a standard rule of thumb to follow when you shock your pool is to dissolve one pound of either calcium hypochlorite or sodium dichlor for every 10,000 gallons of pool water. To make a more exact calculation, you can determine your pools chlorine demand by conducting a chlorine demand test. If you are not sure how many gallons are in your pool, here is an easy formula: Length of your pool (ft.) x width (ft.) x depth (ft.) x 7.5 = volume in gallons, You can also use the Pool Volume Calculator that is built into the Pool Calculator App, available as a desktop app, or as a Native App on iOS or Android. Continue with Recommended Cookies. How Do I Raise the Chlorine Level in My Pool? Years of being in the pool industry, as well the wealth of knowledge provided by the technicians in our office, as well as the underrated ability to read instructions on product labels. Is it safe to swim with no pump running and winter chemicals in the pool? Shocking your pool water is a needed step for proper pool maintenance. For more protection, you can administer algaecide after the shock. Some of our partners may process your data as a part of their legitimate business interest without asking for consent. The Association of Pool and Spa Professionals recommends free chlorine levels for both swimming pools and hot tubs be kept between 2.0 and 4.0 ppm. Im going to have to say, no. Check it again to see if you need to add more before swimming. Generally speaking, most balancing chemicals,(such as pH, alkalinity, and calcium hardness)become part of your pool water within an hour or so after adding them, at which time, you should be able to swim. I've been battling algae and my chlorine levels are almost non-existent, hence the CYA. You should also shock your pool if there is a powerful smell of chlorine coming from the pool this is a sign of dirty pool water. The pH of the water, meanwhile, should be between 7 and 7.6. It may be challenging to hold back from taking a dip, especially on those hot summer days, but if you swim too soon after shocking your pool, you can risk damaging your skin, eyes, and even lungs. Download my free, printable pool maintenance checklist to help you with regular pool care tasks for any type of swimming pool. However, this level is unsafe for swimming. You add algaecide after shock, only when the chlorine level has dropped to 5 ppm, Complete Guide To Pool Chlorine Types. (Best Not To Without Real Need! In this article, I will answer this question and cover other safety elements concerning pool shock and other pool chemicals. Especially during high usage months, you should shock your swimming pool regularly. As a reminder, you want your pH to be between 7.2 and 7.8ppm and your free available chlorine to be 1-4ppm for safe swimming. Should you adjust pH before shocking pool? The waiting period after shocking a pool can be influenced by the quantity of shock used, explains Hubert Miles. The skin around the eyes can also get extremely dry and itchy. Did you fill the pool with well water? Generally, pool shock will last between 24 and 48 hours. I took my pool water sample to Pinch a Penny Pool store for more accurate reading and their test report showed FC @7.5 and CYA @100. Each unique shock product may come with different instructions, and the videos you find on the internet certainly offer a range of advice that isnt necessarily applicable to the product you have. Water treatment and testing. (What Is The Best? Its also very acidic, so youll need to monitor your pH level after use. It is always best to test first! This typically takes about 24 to 48 hours, depending on factors such as the amount of shock used, water temperature, and circulation.. Please check your entries and try again. After shocking FC went up to 10ppm. How long after adding pH down can you add shock? It is recommended that you apply an algaecide after shocking your pool. To successfully shock a pool, especially one with algae growth, youll need to bring the chlorine level to at least 30ppm. At a minimum, "you would definitely get dry skin," Gary Goldenberg, MD, assistant clinical professor of dermatology at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York City, told Health. The ideal total alkalinity level is 80 to 120 ppm.What Should Chlorine Levels Be in Swimming Pools and Hot Tubs?The Association of Pool and Spa Professionals recommends free chlorine levels for both swimming pools and hot tubs be kept between 2.0 and 4.0 ppm. Surprisingly, when it comes to shocking your pool, this rule of thumb can be safely set aside. Is your water still at shock level or has it returned to normal? Just used test strips from Walmart (test 6 things) and to my surprise it read Total and Free Chlorine @10ppm and CYA (stabilizer) @300 (as high as it can go). Why you can't just jump right into a newly opened pool, according to experts. The purpose for such a large dose is to break down the combined chlorine, organic waste, and other contaminants in your pool and re-establish a positive level of free chlorine. Re-entry into treated pools is prohibited above 4 ppm.. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. There is no clear answer as every pools situation is different and also filtration type. Order from Amazon using the link below: Kem-Tek Pool and Spa 60-Percent Concentrated Algaecide, 1 Quart 2 Pack. With the right chlorine level, correct pool chemistry, the filter system effective, and algae growth tackled, if the water is still cloudy, there may be particles in there. What if my free chlorine is 4 but my total chlorine is low is it ok to swim in? In any case, do check the chlorine level before you dive in. Be aware, though, MPS is an oxidizer. You can find the amount of chlorine that needs to be added by using an online pool calculator. What Do I Do Now? However, the time you should wait is subject to the size of the pool, so in some cases, you may be waiting up to 24 hours or more! After shocking a pool, waiting until the free chlorine levels drop back to the range of 1 to 3 parts per million (ppm) before swimming is recommended, says Hubert Miles, certified pool and spa inspector through NACHI. National Capital Poison Center. Can too Much Chlorine Cause Cloudy Water? While this can sometimes take between 8 and 24 hours, it can also happen considerably faster than expected under the right circumstances, even potentially sooner than 8 hours. The risks of getting into the pool when chlorine levels are this high include skin irritation or unpleasant skin symptoms or flare-ups of existing skin conditions. And again, since sodium dichlor is a solid, granular shock, be sure to dissolve it in water before introducing it to your pool.