Pool Shock Treatment: The Risks and How to Avoid Them

Shocking your pool is critical to keep it in good working condition, safe and sanitary for everyone who wants to take a dip. Unfortunately, either because of mis-management or out of concern for the chemicals used, a lot of people are worried that they might have done something wrong, or that their pool might be more dangerous after they shock it.

The truth is that shocking your pool is sometimes necessary and the only way to keep it safe. That doesn’t mean that shocking your pool doesn’t come with some risks, or that you shouldn’t be careful before, during, and after shocking your pool.

Here’s what a new pool owner needs to know to know when to shock their pool, and how to manage the risks associated with it.

Pool Shock Treatment

What Are Pool Shock Treatments?

There are a lot of different kinds of pool shock, but they all work in similar ways. For this article we’re going to focus mostly on the most common method of shocking, which is adding a larger than normal amount of chlorine to the pool.

There are other techniques, depending on the kind of pool you have, but since the goals are the same, the risks and side effects also tend to be the same.

Shocks, in general, are what you do when your pool’s sanitizer isn’t working properly. You could use it when your sanitizer is breaking down quickly, to address bacteria or algae growth, or to address any number of other problems in your pool depending on the situation.

Typically though, you should only have to shock your pool when you’re opening it for a new swimming season, and closing it down. Shocking your pool between those times should always be considered a possibility, but should only be done if you’re

However, since shocking your pool involves using a higher concentration of chemicals than normal, there are some risks.

What Are The Risks Of Pool Shock Treatment?

There are a few risks when you shock your pool, but the main two are simple. For one thing, working with chlorine or other harsh pool chemicals can be dangerous, and spilling it or getting it on your skin can cause chemical burns.

If you do get a pool shock treatment on your skin it’s best to call poison control and get medical help as soon as possible.

The other risk is that you might get into the pool too soon after a shock treatment, or the concentration of chlorine or other chemicals in the water might stay too high for too long.

Swimming in a pool with too much chlorine can cause skin and eye irritation. Depending on how high the chlorine concentration is and how long you swim, the irritation can be severe.

In addition to causing irritation, high levels of chlorine can also cause premature wear and tear to the filter and other mechanical parts of the pool.

Fortunately, chlorine is light sensitive. So a few days of good sunlight should help burn off the excess chlorine and help get it back to normal levels.

The other significant problem would be if you shock your pool too often, which can cause the chlorine levels to be elevated longer, and a larger percentage of the time. Not only can that make your pool unusable when you are waiting for the chlorine levels to come down, but it can also cause premature wear and tear on your filter.

The last big risk to consider is a risk of exposure to the fumes from chlorine when you’re adding it to your pool, and for a while after when you are dealing with high concentration of chlorine in the pool. Chlorine exposure can lead to a condition called reactive airways dysfunction syndrome, or RADS, which is a form of asthma.

RADS can be managed, but it can cause permanent chemical sensitivities which lead to asthma attacks when you are exposed to certain chemicals. The severity of this condition is impacted by how much chlorine you are exposed to and how often, and tends to get worse if you aren’t taking proper precautions.

If you are working in an area with lots of chlorine fumes and limited ventilation, it’s a good idea to wear a chemical respirator in addition to your other personal protective equipment like gloves.

Who Is At Increased Risk Of The Dangers Of Pool Shock Treatment?

Unfortunately, not everyone has the same level of risk when it comes to chlorine exposure and the risks that come with shocking your pool.

In general, small children and seniors are both at slightly higher risk from chlorine exposure, both of developing chronic conditions like RADS, and also of having a more severe reaction to high chlorine concentrations in pool water.

The people who do most of the pool maintenance are also at higher risk because of their increased exposure, especially if they do not take appropriate protective measures or don’t have proper ventilation when they are working with pool chemicals.

People who have had a previous reaction to chlorine or other pool chemicals may also have increased risk of having another reaction for a time after the first reaction. In some people increased chlorine sensitivity may be permanent after having an adverse reaction to chlorine.

Bromine, the most common alternative to chlorine, has the same risks. However, since bromine is the gentler of the two chemicals, reactions to bromine exposure are usually more mild.

How To Avoid The Risks Of Pool Shock Treatment?

There are a few key ways to avoid the problems associated with shocking your pool.

The first is that you should never work with any pool sanitization chemicals without proper protective equipment and good ventilation. The open air is best, but if you are working in an enclosed space you should be able to open the windows and get good airflow as a bare minimum.

You should also try to shock at the right times of day. Shocking early in the morning is a good option because the sunlight through the day will lower chlorine levels faster. However, you should still avoid using the pool for the rest of that day, or until you can retest chlorine levels to ensure that they are low enough.

Alternatively, you can shock in the evening, before sunset, and then let the pool sit.

In either case you should wait a full 24 hours before swimming again.

If you’re having to shock the pool too often, it may be time to look at other potential problems rather than continuing to shock. Shocking too often can lead to elevated chlorine levels that make the pool unusable, and it takes time to get those levels back to normal.

If you are having problems and needing to shock too often, you can also consider shock treatment alternatives like UV light sanitizers, copper ionization treatments, or switching to a saltwater pool.

Alternatives To Pool Shock

There are quite a few alternatives to chlorine shock. Chlorine is just the most well known and generally the most affordable option.

If you still want a shock treatment that’s fast acting and can be used as needed, you could switch to a peroxide based treatment. These treatments don’t have the powerful chlorine smell, but they work as powerful oxidizers, tackling organic contaminants just as easily as chlorine would.

You can also install a UV light system. UV light is a common disinfectant, and can kill bacteria and eliminate harmful pathogens like viruses. It’s not as effective against larger parasites, but those can be handled by the pool filter as well as the other chemicals in your pool.

Switching to a saltwater pool is another good option, though it can mean changing over some of your other pool equipment.

Saltwater pools still use chlorine, but it’s chlorine naturally generated through electrolysis with the salt in the pool. The salt helps keep the water clean, and the result is that you don’t need as much chlorine.

Pool Shock And Children

When it comes to having a pool and having kids, shock treatments can be one of the harder things to manage. Since kids tend to be more sensitive to the chemicals in a shock treatment, they can get irritated even being in your home while the pool is particularly fumy after a treatment.

Children can also be impatient to get into the pool after a shock treatment, which can cause problems if they decide to go for a swim without parental permission.

Lastly, it’s important to think about how you can protect your children from chlorine exposure, since breathing too many chlorine fumes can lead to RADS and other respiratory distress. The younger the child, or the more sensitive their respiratory system, the more dangerous chlorine exposure can be.

Pool Shock Treatment And Pets

Another important consideration if you’re getting a pool, or trying to decide whether chlorine shock treatments are right for you is whether you have pets.

Like children, pets have less tolerance for chlorine than most adults. Dogs, cats, even reptiles and birds can all have serious health consequences from chlorine exposure, including chlorine fume exposure.

The biggest problem is that you might not spot these problems right away in your pets. Since they can’t tell you that something is wrong, you might not notice the signs of respiratory distress or chemical burns until urgent medical attention is needed.

While serious reactions in pets that don’t get directly in the pool or in the way of the pool treatment chemicals are rare, they are possible, and can be a major consideration. It’s also important to think about how much airflow from over your pool gets into your home.

If you do have pets and need to shock your pool, it’s best to close up windows and minimize exposure as much as possible.

Final Thoughts

Pool shock treatments are one of the most important forms of maintenance you can do. They are a critical part of opening up your pool for the season and getting it winter ready, not to mention one of the best tools for dealing with problems in the middle of the season.

But, there are gentler alternatives to chlorine shock treatments. A lot of the alternatives are more expensive, but they can also leave your pool water more comfortable and minimize the risks associated with pool maintenance.

No matter what kind of pool maintenance schedule you choose, making sure your children, any vulnerable adults, and your pets are safe throughout the treatment process is paramount. And if you’re ever worried about whether your pool, or a treatment, is safe, it’s better to consult with a professional before you continue.

Lastly, always be sure to take all appropriate safety precautions, and make sure you’re wearing your personal protective equipment any time you are working with pool chemicals.