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does chlorine shock raise ph

by Miss Clara Marquardt Jr. Published 3 years ago Updated 3 years ago

When you shock a pool, you test and adjust the pH level for a reason. With that said, if you shock a pool outside of the 7.2 to 7.4 pH range, not only will you waste a significant amount of the chlorine used, you will also end up with cloudy water.

Full Answer

Does chlorine free shock affect pH?

Chlorine free shock has a neutral pH, and will not affect any of your pool chemical levels. Click to see full answer. Moreover, does chlorine affect pH? Using liquid chlorine raises the pH of the water.

How does shock increase chlorine in a pool?

There are two ways that shock increases the free chlorine levels within a pool. The first way is by adding more chlorine to the pool. The second is by reacting to the stored, combined chlorine already in the pool’s water, releasing it. This process is confusing as many people mistakenly think adding shock to the pool is simply adding more chlorine.

Does chlorine raise the pH of water?

Liquid chlorine does not raise pH. When added to water, liquid chlorine (which has a pH of 13) makes HOCl (hypochlorous acid – the killing form of chlorine) and NaOH (sodium hydroxide), which raises pH. Additionally, is chlorine and shock the same thing?

What is the difference between shock and chlorine?

While shock is more fast-acting, it’s also available in both granule (most common) and liquid forms. Both oxidize and sanitize: Sanitizing will get rid of bacteria, algae and hazardous microorganisms in the water, while the oxidation power in chlorine will take care of any organic pollutants.

Does pH go up after shocking pool?

The PH rise is temporary, and as the chlorine is used up the ph will drop back to normal. Disregard high PH readings. We recommend shocking with liquid chlorine - granular products add additional things that you may not want in your pool.Aug 17, 2010

Does chlorine affect 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. This corrosion can affect metal piping, equipment, and the surface of your pool (tiles, liners, concrete, etc.).

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.Jul 6, 2019

Does liquid chlorine shock raise pH?

A fast dissolving shock that will help eliminate bacteria and other contaminants from your pool or spa water without leaving much residue. This also does not affect your pH so there is no change in your water chemistry and keeps the water balanced.Apr 6, 2015

Does chlorine raise pH in a pool?

7. Using liquid chlorine raises the pH of the water. Liquid chlorine does not raise pH. When added to water, liquid chlorine (which has a pH of 13) makes HOCl (hypochlorous acid – the killing form of chlorine) and NaOH (sodium hydroxide), which raises pH.Dec 8, 2016

Why does pH go up in pool?

When carbon dioxide dissolves in water, it forms carbonic acid. The presence of this in your pool lowers the pH of the water. When you lose carbon dioxide, which happens when the water is disturbed, say by splashing, you also lose carbonic acid and the pH rises.

Does shock lower the pH?

Shocking your pool is important, but if you're using cal-hypo (calcium hypochlorite), it can raise your pool's pH levels. Don't stop shocking your pool, but do test all your chemistry levels consistently, especially after shocking.

What happens if you put too much shock in a pool?

Adding too much shock or overshocking your pool will kill off algae. The negative of adding too much shock is it will upset the chemical balance of your pool. It's likely to do that regardless of if you overshocked the pool or not. The pH will either go up or down depending on which product you used.

Can I shock pool if pH is low?

Remember that a Low pH level is crucial to successfully shocking a pool. At a pH level of 8.0, over half of your shock is ineffective and wasted. At a pH level of 7.2 however, over 90% of your shock will become active algae and bacteria killers.

How do I lower the pH in my pool?

To bring down pH, use a made-for-pools chemical additive called pH reducer (or pH minus). The main active ingredients in pH reducers are either muriatic acid or sodium bisulfate (also called dry acid). Reducers are readily available at pool supply stores, home improvement centers and online.Jul 26, 2019

How do I lower the pH in my pool naturally?

You can lower the pH in your pool naturally by directing the downspouts from your house into the pool. If a pool becomes too full due to backwash it dumps water. Since rain is about 5.6 pH it is going to bring down the pH of the water naturally. The problem that you will have with rainwater is its low alkalinity.Jul 9, 2019

Does shock raise pH in Spa?

Natural contaminants on your body will lower the pH and make it harder for the chlorine to work. Adding too much shock, especially if the pH is already low, will make it harder to get your water in the proper range. When you add chemicals to your hot tub water, the goal is to keep it clean and clear.Sep 2, 2021

Chlorine shock raising PH level

I am just wondering approxiamately how much a 1 lb bag of Chlorine Shock will raise a pools Ph level. I know a bag of shock has a ph of around 11.

Re: Chlorine shock raising PH level

I can't tell you how much a bag of "shock" will raise the pH in your pool--a lot depends on your TA level, and whether the "shock" is dichlor or cal-hypo. I can tell you that a 1 gallon jug of 6% bleach in 18K gallons of water will raise your FC by 3.3 ppm, and will have negligible effect on your pH.

Re: Chlorine shock raising PH level

All forms of chlorine actually lower pH when they sanitize so the net effect of using unstabilzied chloirne (cal hypo, bleach, lithium hypochlorite) is basically pH neutral while the net effect of using trichlor and dichlor is acidic and will lower pH and TA (and raise CYA).

How does shock affect chlorine levels?

Shock increases the free chlorine level. There are two ways that shock increases the free chlorine levels within a pool. The first way is by adding more chlorine to the pool. The second is by reacting to the stored, combined chlorine already in the pool’s water, releasing it.

What are the two types of chlorine shocks?

There are two main types of Chlorine shock (that is, shock containing Chlorine) which are Calcium Hypochlorite (often referred to as Cal-Hypo) and Dichloroisocyanuric acid (often referred to as Di-Chlor).

What chemicals are in pool shock?

Calcium hypochlorite is the usually main ingredient of shock, with the mixture holding around 70% chlorine and calcium.

What time of day is best to shock a pool?

Ideally you should shock a pool in the evening, to ensure that the sun is not eating away at the chlorine in the pool before it has a chance to work. The sun is always the enemy of any pool owners as it causes chemical reactions with the water to bond free chlorine with other chemicals like nitrogen.

How do the chemicals react differently?

Now that you know what is in the shock and how much of it each type of chemical can be held in each type of treatment, you need to know how they react. This is easily one of the most important parts about using a shock treatment, as most people only use them when a pool is green.

Why is it dangerous to add chlorine to a pool?

If you add too much shock, the water can become dangerous as the chlorine reacts with other chemicals in the water. The calcium in the shock can cause buildup, while the pool’s chlorine levels can stay high for more than a week, turning the pool dangerous to be in.

What does shock do to a pool?

But exactly what does pool shock do? Pool shock increases the total amount of free chlorine in your pool, either by adding more chlorine or other shock chemicals that break apart combined chlorine . The increased level of free chlorine then destroys contaminants such as algae, bacteria and chloramines.

Why shock a pool?

The idea behind shocking your pool is to quickly elevate the level of free chlorine in the pool, effectively killing all germs and contaminants.

How does chlorine work in a pool?

It works by oxidizing organic compounds in the water. By focusing on them, it allows the residual free chlorine in the pool to focus strictly on sanitizing the water. Chlorine Vs Shock: The Comparison. When comparing pool chlorine vs shock, there are certain characteristics they have in common.

What is the best chlorine for pool?

Trichlor comes in puck/tablet form and is the go-to choice for most pool owners as a residual chlorine. It has 90% available chlorine, and a low pH level of 3, making it ideal for use over long periods of time.

What is breakpoint chlorine?

Breakpoint chlorination is the level of free chlorine that’s required to destroy the combined chlorine in the water. Due to its higher percentage of free chlorine, shock can take care of all the pollutants that the residual chlorine no longer can handle.

What are the two categories of chlorine?

Chlorine comes in 2 categories: unstabilized and stabilized.

What is pool chlorine?

Pool chlorine is a sanitizer and oxidizer that keeps your pool water free from germs, bacteria, viruses, and organic pollutants.

What is CC in pool?

Combined chlorine (CC), often referred to as chloramine, is chlorine that has been used up in your pool after attacking (and combing with) pollutants, making it ineffective at keeping your pool water sanitized. Total chlorine (TC).

What is the best chlorine shock for a pool?

Power Powder Plus (Calcium Hypochlorite ) is our most popular chlorine pool shock, and for for good reason: it effectively gets the job done so you can return to the water faster. Leslie’s Cal-Hypo shock is 73% calcium hypochlorite, which means that it can handle the toughest algae and bacteria problems. Rescuing your pool from an algae bloom or major contamination is a snap with Power Powder Plus; it gives you the highest dose of chlorine available. If you plan to use Cal-Hypo Shock all season long, we recommend purchasing Leslie’s Power Powder Plus in the 25 lb bucket, which will save you time and money.

Why do you shock a pool?

Before we explain the different types of pool shock, let’s go over the main reasons shocking is needed. Shock is used when the chlorine levels are low , chloramine levels are high , algae blooms are present, or there has been an accidental fecal contamination in the water. Shocking is also beneficial after heavy pool use or a major weather event, ...

What are the different types of shocks in a pool?

Whether you’re a new pool owner or an experienced pool professional, it's important to understand the difference between the three main types of Pool Shock: Dichlor, Cal-Hypo and Chlorine-Free. Each of these types of shock has a different purpose.

Can you use chlor-brite in a pool?

Dichlor contains Cyanuric Acid (CyA), so it’s perfect if your pool has low CyA. Chlor-Brite can also be used for hand-feeding your pool.

Does chlorine free shock kill germs?

Chlorine-Free Shock will not kill germs or algae.

Can chlorine shock be used in a hot tub?

Since chlorine-free shock doesn't contain chlorine, it must be used in conjunction with a water sanitizer like chlorine, bromine, or a saltwater chlorine generator. We encourage hot tub owners to add a small dose of Fresh ‘N Clear after every use. Indoor pools can also benefit from chlorine-free shock!

What to do if your chlorine level is high?

If your total chlorine level is high, you will use a non-chlorine shock; if it is low, you will use a chlorinated shock. As a rule, you will need to raise free chlorine to 10 times your combined chlorine to hit what is known as “break point.”. Therefore, it is good to deal with combined chlorine while it is still small.

Why is my pool shocking?

The most common reason for shocking your pool or spa is to deal with combined chlorine. There are three measurements of chlorine in pool or spa water: free chlorine, combined chlorine, and total chlorine.

What happens when it rains in a pool?

Also, as the rain is falling through the air, it picks up contaminants such as pollen and pollutants and dumps them in your pool. Heavy rain may cause ground runoff to empty into your pool. Thou shalt shock if thy combined chlorine level is at .5 or higher.

How long do you have to brush and run a shock pump?

Thou shalt quickly disperse and distribute thine shock by brushing and running thine pump for at least 20 minutes after the broadcasting thereof.

Why do you have to shock someone in the evening?

In the evening because the sun will not be boiling the chlorine out of your pool , and after everyone is done swimming because shocking is going to bring the chlorine level up to a level that may be irritating to skin and eyes . Other times that may require an extra dose of shocking:

Why does algae grow faster in hot weather?

Also, because algae are a type of plant the extra sunlight causes faster algae growth.

What is the recommended chlorine level?

When this happens, you want to quickly get your chlorine level back up to the recommended 3-5ppm (parts per million) before algae or bacteria can gain a foothold. If this is the case, you will want to use a chlorine shock.

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