To shock a pool using liquid chlorine, the general guideline is to add about 3½ quarts (approximately 0.9 gallons) of liquid chlorine per 10,000 gallons of pool water to raise the chlorine level to the shock range of 5-10 ppm
. For a stronger shock or to address algae problems, the amount may need to be increased accordingly. More specifically:
- For routine shocking, use about 1 gallon of 12.5% liquid chlorine per 10,000 gallons of water
- For a 40,000-gallon pool, about 2 gallons of liquid chlorine is typically sufficient if the water is balanced
- One gallon of 10% liquid chlorine raises free chlorine by about 10 ppm in 10,000 gallons, so adjust based on your pool size and chlorine concentration
- After shocking, it is recommended to run the pool pump for 8–12 hours and avoid swimming for at least 8 hours to allow chlorine levels to normalize
In summary, to shock your pool with liquid chlorine:
- Calculate your pool volume in gallons.
- Add roughly 3½ quarts to 1 gallon of liquid chlorine per 10,000 gallons, depending on concentration.
- For larger pools, multiply accordingly (e.g., 2 gallons for 40,000 gallons).
- Dilute the chlorine before adding it to the pool.
- Shock preferably at night to avoid UV degradation.
- Circulate water for several hours after application.
- Test chlorine levels before swimming again.
This approach ensures effective superchlorination to kill algae and bacteria and maintain clean pool water
