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Should I Run My Pump When I Shock My Pool?

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It is necessary to shock your pool water to keep it clean and safe, but a question arises amongst pool owners, “Do I need to run my pump when I shock my pool?” The short answer is yes! Because running your pump after shocking helps to disperse the chemicals, making sure they work properly. So in this guide, we’re going to show you the best practices for shocking your pool and how you can use a robot pool cleaner to help keep the water clear.

The Importance of Using Your Pump After Shocking

Pool shock needs to be properly dispersed through the most area possible to effectively remove contaminants and bacteria. Running your pool pump helps:

Apply chlorine or shock treatment evenly

Preventing chemical accumulation in a single location

We recommend sprinkling evenly around to achieve the best results.

Poor circulation means parts of the pool may not receive adequate sanitizer, which can promote algae growth and cloudiness. In addition, pairing it with a pool vacuum or pool robotic pool cleaner will really support cleanliness.

1 Properly Shock Your Pool

Test Your Water First

Check the water’s pH, chlorine and alkalinity levels with a test kit before shocking your pool. For the shock to work optimally, your water pH ideally should be between 7.2 and 7.6.

Pick the Right Shock Treatment

Pool shock comes in various forms, including:

Calcium Hypochlorite – Cheapest and most popular

Sodium Dichlor –Sodium dichloroisocyanurate, stabilised chlorine, quick dissolver

Non-Chlorine Shock: Ideal for maintenance, useless for deep cleaning

Pre-Dissolve Shock in a Bucket

Be sure to dissolve the shock in a bucket of water before adding it to the pool to prevent damage to your pool liner and to enhance effectiveness.

Cast the the Shock Around the Pool

Disperse the shock around the pool evenly, emphasizing the areas close to the skimmer and return jets for better mixture.

Run Your Pump for 24 Hours

Once you've added shock, run your pool booster pump for 24 hours to circulate the shock and break down waste.

Vacuum the Pool with a Pole Vacuum or Robotic Pool Cleaner

Once the shock has settled, eliminate any residual debris or dead algae with a pool vacuum robot such as the Beatbot AquaSense 2 Ultra, Beatbot AquaSense 2 Pro, or Beatbot AquaSense 2. It also helps keep your pool fresh and prevents filters from clogging.

Further Pool Maintenance Tips

In rare instances when you spot algae growth, use a pool vacuum for algae or a wall climbing pool cleaner to scrub any affected surfaces.

If deep cleaning is needed, learn how to acid wash a pool.

If you need to drain your pool for maintenance purposes, read up on how to drain an inground pool without a pump safely.

Maytronics pool cleaner or swimming pool robot cleaner will ease the pressure on maintenance.

Will a Pool Robot Get Rid of Algae?

Yes! Most modern pool cleaning robots are made for sucking up algae and fine debris. They help maintain crystal-clear water when you use your pool shock routine.

Conclusion

Always run your pump when shocking the pool to ensure your pool is at the top of its game. This ensures chemicals are evenly distributed and most effective. A robot pool cleaner, for example, the Beatbot AquaSense series, can help you collect debris and keep the water clean and clear. You can maintain a sparkling and well-kept swimming pool all season long by by using the right tools and following these steps!