FAQ's Home > Pool Chemicals and Water Chemistry > When I shock my pool, should I use chlorine or non-chlorine shock?
When I shock my pool, should I use chlorine or non-chlorine shock?
Both treatments accomplish the goal of destroying and removing bather waste and preventing the formation of combined chlorine.
Superchlorination, the addition of large amounts of chlorine, has some drawbacks. Because it requires large amounts of chlorine, it can damage liners and swimsuits and upset water balance. Additionally, it is difficult to determine proper dosage amounts and it requires swimmers to wait until the level of chlorine drops, often a day or more, until they can swim.
Non-chlorine shock, on the other hand, does not require excessive chlorine use and allows swimming almost immediately after application, does not harm liners, has easily determined dosage rates and does not upset water balance.
Question Related To: pool chemicals, swimming pool maintenance, pool chemistry