What should pH be before shocking pool?

Before you add shock treatment, you need to test your pool water and balance its levels. The pH level should be between 7.2 and 7.6, with total alkalinity being between 80 and 120 ppm.

What should pH level be to shock a pool?

The most optimal and effective pH level to shock a pool is anywhere between 7.2 and 7.4. If the pool water is anywhere outside of this range, the water will not be suitable for the shock, making the treatment significantly less effective.

Does Shocking a pool lower pH?

Adding shock breaks up the combined chlorine and creates an increase in free chlorine. This increase can spike your pool's pH level. Pool shock is available in both chlorinated or non-chlorinated versions. If your pool already has a high pH level, using chlorinated shock will only make things worse.

Do I Adjust pH or shock first?

That said, Absolutely pH first. And once it's good, don't bother testing pH again until the shock process is complete and FC has dropped below 10. High chlorine reacts with the reagent and shifts the color, so it won't be accurate.

Can you shock with high pH?

High pH levels

pH levels pose great importance while shocking. A high pH level of 8 or more in water may result in ineffective shock treatment and create cloudiness in water. For effective water treatment, make sure you balance the pH of your water first so it's between 7 – 7.4.

How Often Should You SHOCK Your POOL? | Swim University

How long after adding pH up can you add shock?

It is recommended to wait at least 20 minutes to an hour after adding water balancing chemicals.

Does adding chlorine lower pH?

High chlorine levels decrease the pH of your pool's water, making it more acidic. The more acidic the water, the higher the likelihood of corrosion.

Should you adjust chlorine or pH first?

Generally speaking you adjust PH first, chlorine second, and worry about everything else more gradually. However, there are many situations where you can adjust two or more numbers at the same time if the correct combination presents it's self. For example baking soda raises TA and PH.

What chemicals should I balance first in my pool?

Total Alkalinity (TA) is the first thing you should balance in your pool water. TA refers to the amount of alkaline material in the water. And since alkaline is a pH stabilizer, the number of alkaline substances in water will affect the pH balance. The ideal Total Alkalinity range for pool water is 80 – 120 ppm.

Should I lower pH before shocking?

Before you add shock treatment, you need to test your pool water and balance its levels. The pH level should be between 7.2 and 7.6, with total alkalinity being between 80 and 120 ppm. Pool water testing is easy to do using test strips or liquid test kits.

Does pool shock raise pH and alkalinity?

It's also not uncommon for pool owners to go a bit overboard when shocking their pool, and since chlorine-based pool shock is a high-alkaline substance, it will also naturally raise your pool alkalinity.

Can I add shock to a pool with a high pH?

Yes, but don't let your chlorine drop to that level until you have successfully completed the shocking process. Until your pool is clear (and you have passed the other two tests), you do not need to let your FC level drop below shock level. Make sure you have your filter running 24/7 to help clear things up.

Does high pH in pool affect chlorine?

A high pH level can be caused by several factors, the main culprits being additional chlorine stabilizers and sudden increases in temperature. In addition, high pH runs a risk with your chlorine, as your chlorine will no longer disinfect fully. There are also physical consequences of high pH for swimmers.

Does high pH lower free chlorine?

Extreme pH changes can also affect how the chlorine works in your pool. Chlorine works most efficiently in water with a neutral pH level between 7.4-7.6. If the pool is too alkaline, or more than a pH of 8.0, the efficiency is less than 20 percent.

Does chlorine work with high pH?

Water with a high pH level reduces chlorine's effectiveness. This can lead to other problems like cloudy water and algae buildup.

What should be adjusted first alkalinity or pH?

Alkalinity is the total alkaline material in your pool water. You should test alkalinity first because it will buffer pH. Your reading should be in the range of 80 to 120 parts per million (ppm).

Should I add shock or chlorine first?

Low chlorine levels often cause green or hazy water, so if your water looks a little cloudy and you haven't shocked in a while, adding shock is the first step. It is always best to shock the pool in the evening, when the sun if off the water.

Can I add acid and shock at the same time?

Despite being chlorinating agents, they are incompatible. Do not add at the same time or mix muriatic acid and chlorine. Such interaction produces a toxic gas that is dangerous to health even in small amounts. A good rule of thumb is to never mix pool chemicals with each other.

At what pH is chlorine most effective?

The optimum pH for pool water is 7.4, since this is the same as the pH in human eyes and mucous membranes. A pH of 7.4 also gives good chlorine disinfection.

Why is my pool pH always high?

The most common reason for a consistently high pH level in pools is the use of liquid chlorine or a saltwater system as the primary sanitizer. Sodium hydroxide is produced, which has a pH of around 13. New pool plaster or pebble finishes will also raise pH in pools for about a year after installation.

How long does it take for pH to balance in a pool?

After adding pH increaser or decreaser you'll want to wait about two to four hours, although some chemical manufacturers suggest a full turnover cycle, before retesting. The smaller the increments you need to adjust for pH, the less time you'll need to wait for the results to become stable.

Is alkalinity the same as pH?

In simple terms, pH is the concentration of acid protons [H+]. On the other hand, the alkalinity of a solution is its ability to neutralize acids. Alkalinity consists of ions that incorporate acid protons into their molecules so that they are not available as a free acid that can lower the pH.

How long should you run filter after shocking pool?

While shocking your pool will help kill any germs any algae, it won't actually get rid of them; for that, you need your filter. So be sure to run your pool filter for at least 24 hours.

Can you shock and adjust pH at same time?

Never add chemicals at the same time, whether you're balancing the water, shocking the pool, or adding a specialty chemical. For most water balance changes, the pump needs to run on the high setting for at least four hours before you can add another chemical or retest the water.