Powdered Swimming Pool Shock Buyers Guide

As pool owners every where open up their swimming pools, they have to decide how they are going to take care of their pools. One of the first things they do when they open up the pool is add shock. But should they use liquid shock or powdered shock? This is really a matter of opinion, some pool owners like liquid and others use powdered. When you use powdered shock you will have to mix it with water beforehand so you don't stain the swimming pools walls. If you own an in ground swimming pool and your filter system has a multiport you can actually adjust the position of the multiport to re-circulate and add the powdered shock to the skimmer as the water re-circulates. You will get more evenly distributed chemicals, which is very important to the swimming pool and you won't have to pre-mix the shock with water. Let's take a look at some of the different powdered shock brands there are.

HTH Sock It (Shock-N-Swim)

HTH is one of the most recognizable names in the swimming pool chemicals industry. They have a wide variety of products including powdered shock called Sock It (Shock-N-Swim). The Shock-N-Swim concept is what makes this product very popular and more widely used. Usually when you shock a swimming pool you have to wait a few hours before you can go swimming. But with Shock-N-Swim you can go swimming right after you use the Sock It swimming pool Shock. This product contains about 45% of available chlorine making it even stronger. Sock It can be used as a shock treatment to keep your swimming pool clear but it can also be used as a way to kill off any bacteria as well as help get rid of any algae that may be forming. This product contains the popular ingredient Calcium Hypochlorite. The shock is buffered to aid in reducing any changes in the pH. Some added benefits of the Sock It Shock is that it helps keep your swimming pool crystal clear and it will make your skin feel soft after a swim in the swimming pool. When you use the Sock It Shock you will only need to use 1 to 2 pounds for every 11,500 gallons of water. The price starts around $21.99 but will depend on which size bag you buy.

Super Pool Shock

Another great brand of powdered shock is In The Swim's Super start up pool shock that you can buy. This shock contains about 73% of Calcium Hypochlorite.  The best time to use this product is when you first open the swimming pool. When algae starts to form and you need to clear up the swimming pool. Some homeowners have had some experience where the shock sits on the water's surface for a while and the pool turns cloudy before it turns clear. But when you use the Super Pool Shock it is a fast dissolving, chlorinated shock treatment. The Super Pool Shock comes in individually sold in one-pound bags. You will need a one-pound bag per very 15,000 gallons of water. Pool owners look for how much Calcium Hypochlorite there is in the product, how much chlorine and whether or not the powdered is quick to dissolve. This product is one of the most popular and most effective on the market. The price starts at $ 26.99 and may change depending on which size bag you purchase.

ChemLab Vinyl Pool Shock

ChemLab is not as popular as the HTH or In The Swim Brands but it works very well.  This swimming pool shock is a quick dissolving powdered pool shock. What makes this brand different than the others is that is was specially designed for use in swimming pools that have vinyl liners. Often shock may stain pool liners if it is not applied the right way. But ChemLab Vinyl Pool Shock was made for swimming pools with vinyl liners. This powdered swimming pool shock will not stain the pool liner and it will not turn your swimming pool water cloudy. This pool shock is quick dissolving chemical that uses a super chlorination system that is able to help control and fight bacteria and algae that forms in the pool in the summer time. ChemLab Vinyl Pool Shock comes in a 6 pack 100 ounce bag, it is also pH neutralizes for better water chemistry. You can find this swimming pool powdered shock online on the BIC Superstore website. You can shop around and find the best place on line to find Vinyl Pool Shock. ChemLab Vinyl Pool Shock costs about $20.65.

HTH Super Sock It

We profiled the Sock It Powered Shock in this article it is more designed for maintenance and for the first time you open your swimming pool. But for those who experience more stubborn pool problems they should try HTH Super Sock It. This powdered shock is used for harder to clear swimming pools and harder to get rid of algae. This product was designed to act 15% stronger than HTH Sock It. HTH Super Sock It has 53% available chlorine making it easier to get rid of any bacteria in the swimming pool. This swimming pool powdered shock is quick dissolving and is made from a patented process that ensures effectiveness. This product is safe to use, even as a weekly shock treatment. By using this product you can keep your swimming pool free of algae and bacteria and help keep your swimming pool crystal clear throughout the summer. Like The HTH Sock It, this product contains Calcium Hypochlorite. You can have a great summer and not have to worry about your pool being overcome with algae or becoming cloudy. It is a great way to open the swimming pool and keep up on your weekly maintenance. You will need about one pound for every 12,000 gallons of water. Price for the HTH Super Sock It starts around $23.99 and higher depending on what size bag you buy. The HTH products are available at local stores like Wal-Mart, Target and local swimming pool stores such as Leslie's or Island Recreational.

BioGuard Swimming Pool Shock

BioGuard is a popular swimming pool chemical company. They offer so many different products that will help keep your swimming pool crystal clear for the entire summer. One of these products is the Burn Out Extreme 12LB Chlorine Pool Shock. This product contains 47% of Calcium Hypochlorite. Burn Out Extreme Pool Shock can be used with either vinyl swimming pools or plaster swimming pools. It is a bit expensive, starting at $45.70. Another powdered pool shock from BioGuard is the Burn Out 35 Lithium Pool Shock 12LB Box. This product contains 12% of Lithium Hypochlorite and it works hard to get rid of bacteria, algae, suntan oil and even urine from swimming pools. This product comes in one-pound pre-measure bags that won't cloud up your swimming pool. It is fast acting and you can use when the swimming pool pump is on. The recommended usage is about one pound per 6,000 gallons of water. The price is $99.14. Any one of these powdered swimming pool shocks would be a great asset to your swimming pool. All of these products are fast acting and won't cloud up your swimming pool. The HTN Sock It allows you to swim right after you add your shock treatment. Don't let the prices of these products fool you; the most expensive is not necessarily the best treatment for the swimming pool. Think about what you need for your swimming pool. Do some comparative shopping and see what works best for you. You can find HTH products online or in your local swimming pool supply stores, the others you may have to shop online and find the best place to get the best price.