Whilst many people enjoy the perks of owning a swimming pool, they often forget that they require a lot of maintenance even without a running pump.
Whether you have a large-sized pool with a broken pump, or you have a smaller pool without a pump at all. It is important to know how to shock a pool without the pump running.
Shock-chlorination is a highly effective method of sanitizing a swimming pool.
However, you often need to have a pump circulating water in order for this method to be effective.
If your pump is not working properly, you should follow the following guidelines in order to keep your pool water clear (see also ‘How To Clear Green Pool Water In 5 Steps‘) and free of algae or bacteria.
If the volume of water within your pool (see also ‘Pool Volume Calculator‘) is small, then you will not need to renew it as often.
Disinfecting your pool will not be as much of an issue either, especially if you have the correct water treatment equipment.
However, many pools of a larger size do not contain a filter pump, nor do they have the correct means of incorporating one.
In this instance, changing the water would be hugely expensive and thus, you will need to disinfect the pool water via chemical treatments.
These treatments include using a combination of multi-action chlorine that can kill harmful bacteria and anti-algae agents that will rebalance the pH level.
You should also attempt to add flocculant (see also ‘The Difference Between Pool Clarifier and Flocculant‘), as this will help any unwanted particles to fall to the bottom of the pool and be removed using pool cleaner.
You can either purchase flocculant separately or purchase chlorinated products that contain it.
It is also recommended that you monitor the pH level of the pool water (check out our thoughts on the Eco-Smart water monitor) consistently, as this measures the acidity contained within the water.
The pH level should remain between 7.2-7.7 in order to remain safe for swimming and bathing.
Otherwise, any added chlorine will lose its efficiency. It is best to use a pH tester in order to ascertain the exact figure contained within the water.
Chlorination is undoubtedly essential in order to thoroughly sanitize and disinfect your pool.
It is typically inexpensive and easily destroys the build-up of algae, bacteria, fungi and other microorganisms. You should aim to keep the chlorination at between 0.6 and 1.5 mg/l.
Chlorine is sold in many forms including tablets (see also ‘The 8 Best Chlorine Tablets Reviews‘), granules and liquids.
Maintaining a swimming pool without using a filter requires two specific elements.
These methods include chlorination treatment and a consistent water change once a week. In order to do this effectively, you should check the pH balance of the water on a regular basis using testing strips.
You can also buy kits that make it easy to test the pH level and levels of chlorination within your pool water. These kits typically include active oxygen tablets (see also ‘Oxygen Tablets For Ponds & Lakes (Are They Safe?)‘), test strips, a flocculant, anti-algae product and chlorine.
How To Shock A Large Pool Without The Pump Running
When it comes to shocking a larger pool without the pump running, it is less easy to empty the water frequently. Chlorination will also remain ineffective without a pump.
Therefore, the best way to shock a pool in this instance is to apply liquid chlorine to the pool water. Then, you will need to ensure that you are circulating the pool manually by using a paddle or pole.
This will also help to ensure that the chlorine is dispersed effectively.
You may be wondering how long a swimming pool can last without a pump running. The answer to this question is that it depends on the type of pool that you have purchased and the chemical levels within the water.
Your pool may be able to run for a number of days without any issues without the pump running. However, you should remember that a standard swimming pool needs to have a pump running for at least once every 24 hours.
If this fails to occur, you may notice that algae begins to bloom and the water becomes cloudy.
Therefore, irrespective of whether you have effectively sanitized the pool without a running pump, you should still aim to ensure that your pump is ready to run again as soon as possible. `
Conclusion
To conclude, you can shock a pool without the pump running using chemical treatment.
However, you need to ensure that you are using a pole or a similar tool in order to disperse the chlorine within the water.
It is also important to regularly replace the pool water within smaller pools without a pump and to measure the pH levels within your swimming pool accordingly.
Following the guidelines that I have outlined above will ensure that you prevent any algae or bacteria from forming and causing your pool water to become clouded.
If you do not clean your pool water on a regular basis, it will be harder to restore it to crystal-clear clarity at a later stage.
Therefore, you should ensure that you have the time available to maintain the hygiene of a pool prior to purchasing one, as rectifying the pool water can be expensive.
Remember that the pH level should be between 7.2-7.7 in order to make the pool water safe for use.
In order to easily ascertain the pH levels contained within the pool water, you should purchase testing strips online, as this will indicate the level of acidity within the water itself.
Some forms of microorganisms will thrive under acidic conditions, whilst others form when the pool water is higher in alkalinity (see also ‘How To Raise Pool Alkalinity: Step-by-Step‘).
Therefore, purchasing these strips and testing your water on a regular basis will ensure that you do not need to purchase excess chemical agents in order to restore your pool water to its original condition.
It is also important to ensure that the chlorine levels within the water are kept to approximately 5 ppm during the summer months, as chlorine will dissipate easily during periods of warmer weather.
However, you should ensure that the chlorine levels are kept at a minimum of 3 ppm all year round.
