Shocking your swimming pool without a working pump can seem like a challenge. After all, the pool pump is an essential part of your shocking process. But can you still shock the pool if the pump is not working? And if so, what are the things you need to consider when you do that? We will talk about all these aspects of this guide.
Can you shock a pool without using the pump?
The short answer is yes; you can shock your pool without running the pump. It will, however, take a lot more effort and consume your energy a lot more. This effort comes from the fact that you will have to get involved manually in the shocking process.
You might not obtain the same results either since the pump is a lot more efficient than any tools you might use to replace it. But you definitely can go through this process without using the pool pump.
How to shock your swimming pool without running the pump
Many of the shocking steps will remain similar to the classic process, in which you use a pump. But trying to shock your pool while skipping the proper water circulation comes with its differences. Here are the steps you should be taking if you want to shake your pool without the pump running.
Get your chemicals ready
The first thing you do when you shock your pool is getting your shocking solution ready. According to the type of shocking product you are using, you might need to prepare it in different ways. Some shocking solutions come already mixed, so you don’t have to worry about this step. Others require you to dissolve them in water. This is the case for granular chlorine in particular. If you use a lithium hypochlorite, you will not have to worry about diluting it, and you can pour it into your pool.
It is essential to read the instructions of your chlorine solution before you start using it. Adjust the quantities to the size of your pool as well, before you begin the shocking process.
Shock the pool
It is time to add the chlorine solution or the mix you obtained from it into the pool. All you have to do is pour it in the pool and circulate it manually. Since you are not going to run your pump, you will have to use a long stick or any other similar tool and make sure your water is circulating well.
This step is essential if you want to get the chlorine solution in all the corners of your pool. After all, you might not know where the germs reside, and you need to eliminate all of them to complete the shocking process. Here is where the pool pump usually comes handy. But as we mentioned, you can do it without it as well.
After you did these steps, all you have left to do is let the water sit overnight. A period of 24 hours will usually suffice, and the chlorine solution will have plenty of time to take effect.
Check the water levels
Once you successfully shocked your pool, you need to make sure your chemical levels are at their optimum parameters. Use a pool testing kit to see where the calcium level is, the pH level, and the chlorine level. If everything looks good and all your levels are within the right parameters, you are good to use your pool again.
Conclusion
Even if you can shock a pool without using a pump, you might not obtain the same results. The pump, as well as the filtration system, are essential for circulating the water in your pool correctly. While you can do this circulation manually, it will not be at the same speed or quality. So, it is essential to fix your pump as soon as possible or replace it with a new one. But until you do that, shocking your pool should still be an option!
