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Pool shocks are essential pool maintenance chemicals that prevent bacterial and algae growth and mitigate various contaminants. They also help your pool balance chemical levels and remain crystal clear, making it safe and enjoyable for you and your family to swim.
However finding the right pool shock for your pool can depend on a variety of factors like swimming pool size, usage, pool water quality, and location. Depending on the size and application method of your pool shock, you can expect to spend around $3-7 per pound for most pool shocks. Pool shock typically either comes in pre-packaged bags or a large gallon or bucket that needs to be mixed.
To help you determine the best pool shock for your needs, we examined the best products on the market. Here are our top picks.
Top 3 Pool Shocks
- Best Fast-Acting: DryTec Chlorine Shock Treatment
- Best Liquid: Austin’s Pool Tech Shock
- Best Water Clarifier: Robarb Super Blue Clarifier
Compare Top Pool Shocks
Product | Quantity | Treatment Amount | Active Ingredients |
---|---|---|---|
DryTec Chlorine Shock Treatment | 24 one-pound bags | Treats 10,000 gallons per pound | Calcium hypochlorite |
Austin’s Pool Tech Shock | One-gallon jug | Not listed | Sodium hypochlorite |
Robarb Super Blue Clarifier | 32-ounce bottle | Treats 5,000 gallons per ounce | Not listed |
HTH 52037 Swimming Pool Care Shock | 12 one-pound bags | Treats 13,500 gallons per ounce | Calcium hypochlorite |
In The Swim Pool Shock | One 25-pound bucket | Treats 10,000 gallons per pound | Sodium hypochlorite |
Clorox Pool & Spa Swimming Pool Shock | Six one-pound bags | Treats 12,000 gallons per pound | Sodium hypochlorite |
Product | Quantity | Treatment Amount | Active Ingredients |
Best Fast-Acting Pool Shock
Key Features
- Comes with 24 1-pound bags
- Treats 10,000 gallons of water per pound
- Uses calcium hypochlorite as the active ingredient
What Are People Saying About DryTec Chlorine Shock Treatment?
Customers praised this pool shock formula, stating it was strong, fast-acting, and long-lasting. However, some customers we found did have to use multiple packages to treat their entire pool.
“I travel frequently, sometimes for extended periods of time, which makes pool maintenance without hiring a service a real pain. This is particularly troublesome with an in-ground pool in Florida in Summer that has no shade. I waited to post a review until after I’d ordered 2 separate batches to test for quality control, and quite simply: this is the BEST shock I’ve ever used. I’ve come back from trips to solid green slime pits with heavy stripes of the dreaded black spot algae, and 2-3 bags of this stuff + a couple of chlorine tablets with the filter running will turn my pool back to blue overnight.” — Eryn Lockhart via Amazon
“Other one-pound shock packets dissolve very quickly when I sprinkle them around the pool with little residue, and within an hour, there remains no trace of any in the pool. This product does not dissolve well, with most of the product hitting the pool floor. It takes several hours for it to dissolve, even if I stir it up off the floor. It will just settle back down.” — David Lloyd via Amazon
Best Liquid Pool Shock
Key Features
- Comes in a one-gallon jug
- Uses sodium hypochlorite as the active ingredient
What Are People Saying About Austin’s Pool Tech Shock?
Customers we found were impressed with how easy this pool shock was to use and how quickly it cleared debris from their pool. Others liked that it was tightly wrapped and did not leak out easily from the jug. On the other hand, some customers had issues with the weakness of the shock, claiming that it required at least a quarter of the bottle to work effectively. Several other customers also felt this product was overpriced for what it provided.
“I wish that I would have found this sooner!!! After spending boatloads of money on different things to get my pool clear, am I ever happy with this product! My pool would not clear up. I poured in about 1/4 of this bottle in my big above-ground pool and in one day, it cleared up! In fact, I’m contemplating getting rid of the chlorine tablets altogether and sticking with this product. Best thing I’ve found on Amazon!” — Bonky via Amazon
“Way too weak to provide any shock value. Fine if you want to use 25% of the bottle every day, but that is clearly uneconomical. Stick with traditional shock and apply weekly.” — Lovemonger1 via Amazon
Best Water Clarifier
Key Features
- Comes with a 32-ounce bottle
- Treats 5,000 gallons of water per ounce
- Uses a non-toxic, non-irritating, biodegradable formula
What Are People Saying About Robarb Super Blue Clarifier?
Those who gave this product positive reviews said that it was able to clean even the dirtiest of pools. They also mentioned it working in pools of various sizes. However, we noted that dissatisfied customers thought that the formula was watery and the instructions were difficult to follow.
“My pool was so cloudy, and my dad didn’t want to believe me that this stuff works. So I totally dumped half in mixing it around with the net, and four days later, I dumped the other half, and it’s crystal clear! It was so cloudy and foggy before! Make sure you mix it around in there so it doesn’t just sink to the bottom. I know i didn’t use it as directed but my pool was so cloudy and dirty, it’s 20,000 gallons so it helped ten fold. 10/10 recommend for reopening your pool and cloudiness.” — katie septelka via Amazon
“One thing the instructions fail to tell you is to dilute in a bucket of pool water before adding to the pool. Most seasoned pool owners know this, but first-time pool owners might not. Just beware, this product can stain your finish if dilution isn’t accomplished. Other than that, it works as advertised, although adding it once a week might be overdoing it depending on pool size.” — brazos2 via Amazon
Buying Guide to Pool Shock
While all pool shocks operate similarly, finding the best option for your situation can depend on several different factors. Before choosing a pool shock, it’s important to understand the types of shock available, as well as their active ingredients. You’ll also want to consider quantity, dissolving speed, and the type of pool you have to find the best product. Read our buying guide below for more information on choosing the best pool shock for your home
What are the different types of pool shock?
Pool shock comes in liquid, granular, or tablet form and use one of three active ingredients to remove cloudy water:
Calcium Hypochlorite
This is the most common type of pool shock on the market. It’s strong and fast-dissolving, but it can damage vinyl pool linings.
Sodium Dichlor
This pool shock isn’t as strong. It slowly raises your pool’s pH, so you have to wait some time for it to dissolve before you can swim.
Potassium Monopersulfate
This non-chlorine shock removes bacteria and algae by oxidizing the water. You can use it when you don’t want to raise the available chlorine level of your pool.
What amount of pool shock is enough to treat your pool?
Generally speaking, you need about one pound of pool shock per 10,000 gallons of water. Before you purchase pool shock, determine how much comes with the order. Some manufacturers sell pool shocks in bulk to reduce the number of orders you have to place during the swimming season.
How is dissolve speed measured in pool shock?
Pool shock comes in quick-dissolving and slow-dissolving formulas. If you need to use your pool shortly after shocking it, choose a quick-dissolve version.
What pool types work with pool shock?
Most pool shocks are designed for chlorinated indoor or outdoor pools. However, certain types of pools may require specialized pool shock. These types include:
- Fiberglass-lined pools
- Hot tubs and spas
- Saltwater pools
- Vinyl-liner and above-ground pools
Pool Shock Functions
All pool shock treatments will act on organic contaminants and encourage clear water. However, some specialize in certain functions. Common specializations include:
- Algae mitigation
- Bacteria removal and prevention
- Chloramine removal
- Improvement of free chlorine levels
- Balancing of pH levels
- Storm debris breakdown
- Water clarification and tone enhancement
- Winterization prep
Frequently Asked Questions About Pool Shock
Does pool shock contain chlorine?
Pool shock uses calcium hypochlorite, sodium dichlor, or potassium monopersulfate. Of these chemicals, only potassium monopersulfate is chlorine-free.
How often should I put pool shock in my pool?
For ideal pool care, shock your pool once a week during the active swimming season as well as at the beginning and end of the season.
You may wish to shock your pool following heavy rainstorms, as the added water can upset the chlorine balance.
You can also shock your pool if you notice that you have cloudy water or tinted green.
What does it mean if my pool shock is stabilized?
Stabilized pool shock contains a UV protection compound that prevents it from burning in the sun. Any pool shock with sodium dichlor is stabilized.
How We Selected the Best Pool Shock
To provide our readers with the best recommendations possible, we rely on several key sources of information to help guide our selection process.
Initial Research: Our research process began by generating a list of pool shock options with a significant number of verified-buyer reviews and an average customer review rating of 4–5 stars. We looked at positive and negative reviews alike, focusing on information from both satisfied and critical buyers.
Expert Insights: Through our years of experience, we’ve learned that listening to what others have to say is key to building accurate, well-rounded articles. To complement our in-house expertise, our team looked at reviews and videos from trusted publications and independent testers, spoke with subject matter experts, and drew insights from reader contributions.
Final Product Selection: We then began fine-tuning our list by replacing older models with the latest versions and eliminating any discontinued models. From there, we pared the list down further by comparing each model’s feature set and selecting the best-in-class options for various buyers, budgets, and scenarios.
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