Pool Shocking is the process of super-chlorinating the pool water to give the sanitizer extra abilities to kill algae in a swimming pool. It’s necessary if you want to maintain clean, crystal clear pool water. The circulation and filtration systems play a crucial role in making sure the shocking process is a success. On that point, can you shock a pool without the pump running?
Yes! However, the shocking pool process won’t be as quick and effective as when you shock it while the pool pump isn’t running. That’s why you will need to devise a way to substitute the role of a pool pump, which is to distribute the chemical to all corners of your swimming pool.
Pool shocking also requires the pool filter to be operational, which won’t happen if the pool pump isn’t running. Before you can decide to shock your swimming pool without a pool pump, read the content below to know what you’re getting yourself into and how to go forward with it.
How Can You Shock a Pool without the Pump Running
As I mentioned before, a pool pump is a crucial piece of equipment required to be running optimally during pool shocking. But if it’s broken down and you want to keep the water clean for the period your pool will stay without it, preferably a week, then you got to know how to do it right.
In such a situation, Chlorination is a must; it’ll disinfect your pool, kill algae and keep it fresh. It’s an inexpensive and effective way of destroying algae, fungi, bacteria, and any microorganisms in the pool water. It’d be best to keep its amount between 0.6-1.5 mg/dl.
Here are the tips to follow if you’re shocking your pool without the pump running:
1) Determine the shock chemical and amount of use
Start by determining the best pool shock chemical to use and the amount you need. Assuming you already know your pool capacity, refer to the manufacturer’s instructions on the amount of pool shock to use.
If not available, you can use experts’ recommendations. According to pros, you need around 10 ounces of liquid pool shock or 1-pound of powder pool shock for a 10,000-gallon pool to raise the free chlorine by one ppm (parts per million.)
So, if you have got a 50,000-gallon pool, you will need 50 ounces of liquid shock and a 5-pound powder shock. If there are algae present in the swimming pool, it’d be best to triple-shock it. That means tripling the dose.
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2) Balance the Pool Chemicals
For pool shock to be as effective as you need it to be, the pool chemicals have to stay balanced. That means keeping in the ranges shown in the table below:
| POOL CHEMICAL | BALANCED LEVELS |
|---|---|
| CHLORINE | 1 – 3 ppm |
| PH | 7.4 – 7.6 |
| TAL ALKALINITY | 80 – 120 ppm (parts per million) |
Use a digital pool test kit and check the pH level. If unbalanced, balance it before adding the pool shock chemicals. You will also need to monitor it during the shocking process continuously.
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3) Add the pool shock to the pool water
This is a crucial step as you want to distribute the chemical evenly and make it easy to stir it around to touch all the pool corners.
Pour the pool shock in a 5-gallon bucket, stir to mix, and start bucketing the solution evenly around the pool edges.
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4) Adding Important Chemicals
You can use this opportunity to add an algaecide to kill the microbes and protect against pool algae that might be stubborn.
And since the filter isn’t operational, adding flocculants can help bind dirt and microscopic particles together, allowing them to sink to the pool bottom, and you can vacuum them out.
5) Stirring the Mixture (Where the Pump Services Comes In)
Now that your pool pump isn’t operational, you will have to stir the water manually. Use the pool leaf net, a wooden paddle, or anything to move the water to mix the chemicals. The process can be tedious; try your best to make sure the water moves around.
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6) Leave it for 24-hours (stir thrice)
Remember, with the pool pump operational, you’re required to wait for at least six hours. When the pool pump isn’t running, it will take longer. Leave it for at least 24 hours and keep stirring at intervals to force the chemical distribution.
7) Invest in a Chlorine Diffuser
Now that your pool water isn’t circulating, it’d be best to get a chlorine diffuser if you’re using solid chlorine such as tablets.
As the water remains in the frozen-like state and without filtration, it’ll take forever for the chlorine to dissolve unless you use the diffuser.
If you get the diffuser, use it right. Don’t throw the chlorine tablets in the water directly. It’d be best to place them in the diffuser and apply it. It will prevent liner damage.
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Why Is It Important To Run The Pump When Shocking Your Pool?
A pool pump is the ‘heart’ of a swimming pool circulation and filtration. It ensures all the water in your pool is circulated and passed through the filter to remove the contaminants. It’s a necessary piece of pool equipment to keep the pool water moving to prevent stagnant water and prevent algae growth.
When you shock without the services of a pool pump, you risk getting chemical hotspots. Some parts of the pool water will have concentrated shock, and some won’t. Even though you could try and mix it using a leaf net skimmer or a manual vacuum, the process isn’t effective, and it’s tedious.
So, it’d be best to get the pool pump fixed or replaced as soon as possible. Your swimming pool shouldn’t stay without a pool pump for long, a week utmost. If it remained without it for more than a week, you might need to drain the pool and add fresh water to extend its freshness.
Also, refrain from opening the swimming pool for swimming when the pool pump is down. That will save you from the tedious shock after swimming and prevent the water from getting dirty quickly. If you have a pool cover, you can cover it and maintain it as it waits.
Related Questions
Should you run the pump after shocking?
YES. If your pool pump is operational, keep it running during and after shocking the swimming pool. If it were to get fixed right after you shocked your pool, run it for 24-hours to mix the chemical and distribute it to all corners. It’ll also allow the filter to remove the dead algae and other microscopic germs killed during the shocking. If 24-hours is too much for you, don’t go for less than 6 hours. At least meat your pool turnover.
Why does my pool still look green even after shocking?
Shocking the pool doesn’t clean the pool. It kills the pool algae, which clouds the water with either whitish or greenish clouds. That is normal, especially if the pool filter isn’t an operation. Wait for the 24-hours and see. If still green even when the filter is running, then your pool shocking wasn’t applied. Take a brush and brush off the surfaces before shocking. Balance the pool chemicals and repeat the shocking pool process.
Final Verdict!
Of course, you can shock your pool without the pump running. However, it won’t be as effective as it should be. But you can make it as close by using a stirrer, which is anything that can move the water like a leaf net. If your pool start turning green, drain it, fill it with fresh water and get the pool pump fixed as soon as possible.
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