“Shock the pool” is one of the most overused phrases in pool care, and it causes a lot of bad advice. We walk through what shocking really is: raising free chlorine to a level that actually matches the pool’s chlorine demand, then giving it time to work and verifying it with testing instead of wishful thinking. If you’ve ever added gallons of chlorine and still seen the test read zero, we explain why that happens and how to avoid the endless loop of underdosing and retreating. We...

Show Notes

“Shock the pool” is one of the most overused phrases in pool care, and it causes a lot of bad advice. We walk through what shocking really is: raising free chlorine to a level that actually matches the pool’s chlorine demand, then giving it time to work and verifying it with testing instead of wishful thinking. If you’ve ever added gallons of chlorine and still seen the test read zero, we explain why that happens and how to avoid the endless loop of underdosing and retreating. 
 
We share real, field-friendly targets for green pool cleanup and mustard algae, including a simple ballpark ratio for severe cases and why many pros would rather push chlorine to 40 to 50 ppm than gamble on a “perfect” calculator number. We also cover swimmer safety, what level you need to drop to before the pool is safe again, and why the pool can look dramatically better while the chlorine reading crashes overnight. 
 
Then we clear up confusion around non chlorine shock (potassium monopersulfate): where it shines for pool parties, oils, and chloramine odor, and why it will not fix algae. Finally, we dig into the factor that quietly wrecks many shock attempts: high cyanuric acid (CYA), how it changes chlorine effectiveness, and why generic bag instructions can’t account for your water. 

• why low chlorine leads to green water and algae blooms
• shocking as a process of reaching and holding a chlorine level
• a ballpark dosing rule for severe green pools and mustard algae
• why a zero reading can behave like “negative chlorine”
• when aiming for 40 to 50 ppm prevents underdosing
• swim safety and waiting until chlorine drops below 10 ppm
• what non chlorine shock is and when it actually helps
• why high cyanuric acid changes effective chlorine needs
• what to expect on day two after a heavy shock
• using phosphate remover, enzymes, PoolRx, and algaecide to speed cleanup

Send us Fan Mail

Support the Pool Guy Podcast Show Sponsors! 

HASA 
https://bit.ly/HASA

The Bottom Feeder. Save $100 with Code: DVB100
https://store.thebottomfeeder.com/

Try Skimmer FREE for 30 days:
https://getskimmer.com/poolguy 

Get UPA Liability Insurance $64 a month! https://forms.gle/F9YoTWNQ8WnvT4QBA

Pool Guy Coaching: https://bit.ly/40wFE6y





Support the show

Thanks for listening, and I hope you find the Podcast helpful! For other free resources to further help you:
Visit my Website: https://www.swimmingpoollearning.com
Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@SPL
Podcast Site: https://the-pool-guy-podcast-show.onpodium.com/

UPA General Liability Insurance Application: https://forms.gle/F9YoTWNQ8WnvT4QBA

Pool Guy Coaching Group

Join an exclusive network of Pool Service Technicians to access the industry’s leading commercial general liability insurance program. Protect your business.

Premium is $64 per month per member (additional $40 for employees and ICs)

$59 per month for Pool Guy coaching Members - join here! https://www.patreon.com/poolguycoaching

Limits are $1,000,000 in occurrence and $2,000,000 in the aggregate - Per member limits

     [ $1,000,000 per occurrence and $4,000,000 aggregate available for $75 per month ]

$50,000 in HazMat Coverage - clean up on-site or over-the-road

Acid Wash Coverage - Full Limits

Listen On

Also In Season 10