Why Should I Use Shock . . . I Already Added Chlorine.

I’ve heard this comment/question more times than I could probably count.  Most pool and spa owners understand the basic principle of disinfecting and why one must use chlorine to keep things clean, clear, and most importantly safe.  The chlorine used to maintain a level of chlorine around 3 parts per million is doing its’ job by killing off bacteria and preventing the growth of new bacteria.  Once the chlorine is effectively “used” it combines with the bacteria to form a chloramine.  Now you have decaying organic material floating around in your pool or spa creating odors, irritating eyes, and giving you false readings of chlorine in the water.  This is where the good old shock comes in.  By adding either liquid chlorine or some sort of granular shock you release the organic materials out of the water and help to rejuvenate some of the existing chlorine.  Often times I find people give chlorine a bad name when in fact, they just aren’t shocking enough to allow everything to work properly.  So next time you think that chlorine tablet isn’t doing enough remember that is only part of the equation.  Just make sure your liquid chlorine is good and fresh, because with a loss of 50% of its strength in the first 60 days you want to ensure you are getting the best bang for your buck.