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Keep your pool water clean, clear, and safe all season with our selection of pool shock, including chlorine shocks, non-chlorine oxidizers, super shock, and more. Pool shock is an essential pool chemical that is used to quickly raise free chlorine levels, eliminate contaminants like bacteria and chloramines, and restore sparkling clarity to your pool water after heavy use, storms, or just for routine maintenance.
Shock is a highly concentrated oxidizer designed to “shock” your usual pool sanitizer. It’s typically chlorine-based, but non-chlorine options are available for chlorine-free pools. Shock is used to treat pool water and kill bacteria, algae, and other contaminants. Essentially, it’s a more powerful, and faster-acting, version of the sanitizer that you use to keep your pool clean.
Chlorine shock rapidly raises the free chlorine level in your pool to effectively destroy contaminants such as bacteria, algae, and chloramines. This sanitizes the water, making it cleaner and safer for swimming.
First you need to ensure that all of your pool chemicals are correctly balanced, as a chemical imbalance will reduce the effectiveness of your shock. For a full guide on how to balance your pool, check out our guide How To Balance Pool Water.
During the swimming season, it is recommended that you shock your pool every 7 - 10 days. Additionally, you should shock your pool after a rainstorm, pool party, or high bathing load. This will help break down any chloramines and improve your sanitizer’s effectiveness. Shocking your pool also helps restore chlorine levels by eliminating bacterial buildup.
The amount of shock required for your pool depends on the size of your pool, the reason for shocking, and the type of shock that you are using. Always refer to the recommended dosing on the packaging or our website. As a general guideline, you can use the following estimates:
To increase chlorine levels, it is recommended to use ½ lb. (or half a bag) of shock for every 10,000 gallons of water.
Use 1 lb. (or one bag) of shock for every 10,000 gallons if your water appears cloudy.
To calculate how many gallons are in your pool, check out our blog How to Calculate Gallons in a Pool (Without Overthinking It).
For treating algae, it is suggested to use 2 to 6 lbs. (2 to 6 bags) of shock per 10,000 gallons, depending on the severity of the algae. The greener and darker the water, the more shock you should add.
For regular maintenance, you can use either chlorine-free shock or chlorine-based shock. If you notice algae growth, it is recommended to use chlorine shock or super shock. In the case of an existing algae bloom, consider using super shock. A higher dose of super shock of mega shock should be considered for severe algae bloom.
