Opening My Pool, Shocking, And Swimming

by Janet
(Dallas, TX)

We just opened our pool last week and shocked it. The pool chlorine is up pretty high. I know it's over 15ppm.

I was wondering how long before we can swim in the pool. My kids really want to go swimming and I need to know.

Thanks

Janet

Thanks for your question Janet

After opening your pool and doing a pool shock, you normally want to wait until the pool chlorine level is down between 1.5 - 3.5ppm. This should take a few days with the Sun doing most of the work to get rid of the excess chlorine.

Adjust Your Swimming Pool Chlorine..Chemistry..Salt Water Maintenance..Inground

Swimming Pool Chlorine..Chemistry..Above Ground Maintenance..Care..

If you need to use the pool quickly there's a couple of options. You can drain 1/3 of the water out which will dilute the pool water but this might cause the other chemical readings to go off.

Swimming Pool Chemistry..Care..Inground Maintenance..Salt Water..Weekly..

Swimming Pool Tips..Maintenance..Above Ground..Inground..Care

You can also use a product called Thiosulphate which is a chlorine neutralizer. You can follow the directions on the container.

I don't recommend using Thiosulphate too often as I've found with the YMCA pool and hot tub that it tends to mess up the water if used to often.

Hope this helps and good luck with your pool

Robert