{"id":1446,"date":"2022-02-16T20:35:00","date_gmt":"2022-02-16T20:35:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/allaboutpools.org\/?p=1446"},"modified":"2022-06-24T12:47:03","modified_gmt":"2022-06-24T12:47:03","slug":"how-long-after-shocking-pool-can-you-swim","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/allaboutpools.org\/how-long-after-shocking-pool-can-you-swim\/","title":{"rendered":"How Long After Shocking A Swimming Pool Can You Swim In It?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

There\u2019s nothing better than finally getting to the summer season, with the promise of chilling by the pool. Many people love swimming in the water in order to deal with the heat and enjoy some fun in the sun. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

But here\u2019s the thing about pools, they aren\u2019t magically ready at the beginning of the summer season. During the winter, pools are closed off, left to be covered or even emptied. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When the summer season comes around for them to be open once again, they need to be properly prepared so that they are clean and safe in order to be used by people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One of the most important parts of preparing a pool for reopening is shocking it, and once it has been shocked, you need to wait for a certain amount of time before it\u2019s safe for the pool to be used. Some swimming pools will need pool shock multiple times throughout the season as well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How long do you have to wait after shocking a pool? Why do you have to wait? What is pool shock?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Let\u2019s get right into it! <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What Does Shocking A Pool Mean?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Before we answer the main question, it\u2019s worth explaining and clarifying what shocking a pool actually means, because no, it doesn\u2019t mean giving it an electrical shock, that would definitely be dangerous! <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Shocking a pool is the process of adding chemicals, such as conveniently labeled “swimming pool shock<\/a>” to it so that the water composition is prepped and ready for chlorine or other cleaning methods. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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It is essentially a big jump-start to the cleanliness of the pool so that the water is completely hygienic and safe. As the pool will have accumulated a lot of dirt and bacteria over the winter season, this is absolutely crucial before reopening! <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What shocking the pool does, is raise the levels of free chlorine so that algae and bacteria are eliminated, and the water becomes cleaner. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Many different types of chemicals can be used during this process, some of them stronger than others for when the pool is in a more serious need of being cleaned. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some of the main chemicals used during this process are calcium hypochlorite, lithium hypochlorite, dichlor, and potassium peroxymonosulfate.\u00a0Always remember to properly store your swimming pool chemicals<\/a> as well to be safe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How Long After Shocking Is A Pool Totally Safe To Swim In?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Once you have shocked the pool by adding all of the necessary chemicals, you need to wait for a certain amount of time, while they do their job and eliminate all of the bacteria. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It would be unsafe to use the pool while the chemicals are in there and working, as they are mostly dangerous and unsafe to come into contact with, let alone swim in them! <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The exact amount of time that you have to wait for before the pool is safe will vary according to the size of the pool, the chemicals used, and the number of chemicals used. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, as a general rule, you should allow for at least 24 hours after shocking the pool, before it is safe to be used by anyone. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

After the 24 hours have gone by, you should first test the pool, so that you can be 100% sure that the water is safe to go into. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is because sometimes the chemicals can take more than 24 hours. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Make sure the pH levels of the water are tested, along with the chlorine levels. If they are within a safe and correct range, then the pool is safe to be used and can be reopened to yourself or the public. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What Happens If You go Into The Pool Too Soon After It Being Shocked?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

It is very important that you allow for at least 24 hours<\/span> after shocking a pool before you can safely use it. <\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

But what happens if you somehow lose track of the time, and you get into the pool too soon? What are the consequences? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The symptoms would be similar to if you are swimming in a pool with too high a level of chlorine. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The chlorine turns the pH of the water acidic, and this can cause some serious irritation, along with other things. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here are the main symptoms you could suffer: <\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n