If you take care of your pool on a regular basis and check your water chemistry levels, the water should always be ready to swim in. But from time to time, it might be necessary to shock your pool to ensure the water is fully sanitized and safe for swimming in. 

The question is, how long do you have to wait after shocking your pool before you can swim in it?

What is Pool Shock?

You may add certain additives and chemicals to your pool to keep its pH balance in check and prevent harmful contaminants from festering. Things like cosmetics, body lotion, sunblock, sweat, algae, and other things can enter your pool water, especially if it’s used very frequently. There may also be major storms that can throw off the chemistry levels of your pool. 

In these cases, it may be necessary to shock the pool. Doing so will control these contaminants and minimize the work that your filtration system must do. 

Shock kills contaminants and helps bring the water back into balance. It’s essentially a more aggressive cleaning process that uses a lot more chlorine than you’d normally use to clean your pool water. 

How Long Do You Have to Wait to Swim After Shocking Your Austin, TX Pool?

Generally speaking, you should wait at least 24 hours after shocking your pool before swimming in it. But just in case, test the chlorine levels beforehand before diving in to make sure the levels are safe. 

In the event that you’re eliminating a large volume of algae, the amount of time you may have to wait can vary. In this case, you may want to bring in the experts in Austin pool building and maintenance about your specific issue. 

Get in touch with your local Austin pool builders if you have any issues with your pool, or if you’re looking to completely transform your backyard!