As hypochlorous acid encounters ammonia or nitrogen in the water—introduced by swimmers in the form of perspiration, saliva, and urine—it oxidizes those compounds, leaving behind chloramines. Chloramines have little capacity to sanitize water, and they can actually be an irritant. When a pool has a strong chlorine smell or stings swimmers’ eyes, it’s usually a sign of too little chlorine.

The cure is superchlorination, also known as a shock treatment—a high dose of chlorine added to the water to break down chloramines. You’ll know it’s time to superchlorinate when a strong smell becomes evident or ordinary chlorination does not clear the water.

A shock treatment is something you can administer on your own, using a chemical shocker (also called an oxidizer or burner). It usually comes in the form of a powder that’s sprinkled into the water. You’ll typically need to shock the pool about once a week during the swimming season—more frequently if the pool is heavily used.

Different shockers release different amounts of available chlorine to do the job, so check the instructions on the package. Also make sure the pump and filter are turned on. Keep everyone out of the pool for several hours after a shock treatment as it takes that long for the chlorine level to return to normal.

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Swimming Pools & Spas
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