How Long to Wait After Shocking a Hot Tub (before using)?

Written by Jeff Campbell in Hot Tub Maintainence

how long to wait lg

Ideally, you want to shock your hot tub weekly to keep it clean and sanitary. But before going for a soak, you’ve probably wondered how long to wait after shocking a hot tub.

Here’s what I know, having owned 4 of them:

Ideally, wait for 24 hours after applying a chlorine-based shock. However, 20 minutes is sufficient when using non-chlorine-based shock. In both scenarios, run the jets and leave the lid off, restarting the jets as needed for the first 20 minutes. 

But there’s a lot more to know.

In this article, we’ll find out if you can put too much shock and how quickly hot tub shock works. We’ll also discover if you can get into a hot tub faster using non-chlorine-based shock.

Let’s get going.

Ready to Spend Less Time On Maintenance and More Time Enjoying Your Hot Tub?

Let’s face it. Balancing the water, cleaning filters, dealing with rashes, and trying to figure out which chemicals to buy and add can make you feel more like a chemist than someone who just wants to relax after a long hard day!

That’s exactly why The Hot Tub Handbook and Video Course is so valuable!

This is from Matt over at Swim University and he developed it for people looking to save money, time, and frustration. His tips on chemicals can save you $100/year just by making sure you buy only what you need.

So if you’re ready to stop being confused or frustrated with your hot tub and start spending more time in it, check out The Hot Tub Handbook and Video Course.

Just click that link to learn more on their website.

Do you have to wait 24 hours after shocking a hot tub?

You don’t have to wait for 24 hours after shocking a hot tub if you apply a non-chlorine-based shock. In fact, twenty minutes after its application, you can soak in the hot tub.

However, if you applied a chlorine-based shock, ideally wait for twenty-four hours.

But ultimately, the 24-hour mark is to help us to avoid entering a hot tub where the chlorine levels are too high.

After 20-minutes, it’s okay to dip a test strip in to see what the levels are. However, this still depends on how much sanitizer or shock is added and where the levels were before adding it.

The difference in the time you have to wait is because both shocks have different consistencies and work slightly differently.

Chlorine-based shocks are more concentrated and more effective.

They are slow-acting, and because of the high concentration of chlorine, they can irritate the eyes, skin, and lungs. Naturally, you wait for a longer time before you get to soak.

Non-chlorine-based shocks, on the other hand, are fast-acting but not as effective because they do not eliminate algae and bacteria. But they have no effect on pH, leave no residue or odor, you get to use the tub faster.

So, do you have to use a non-chlorine-based shock if you use bromine? 

Check out a recent article I published. I get into whether it’s okay to use a chlorine-based shock if you’re currently using bromine as a sanitizer and the differences between shocks and sanitizers. But I also shared the difference between chlorine and non-chlorine-based shocks.

Just click the link to read it on my site.

Can you put too much shock in a hot tub?

Yes. It is possible to put too much shock in a hot tub. When it occurs, it is not the end of the world. But avoid soaking for 24-48 hours until the levels on a test strip are normal. If the levels are really high, also consider partially draining the tub and topping it off with fresh water from the hose.

Putting too much shock can be detrimental to your body and the hot tub.

When you’ve used too much, it could trigger skin and lung irritation. So, you always want to wait for the suggested time, test the water, ensure the chemical levels are okay and that the chemistry is balanced before you soak.

There are two main causes of over-shocking:

1. Too-much chlorine:

Before you shock your hot tub, you want to confirm your chlorine level, by testing the water. If it’s too much, and you went ahead to add shock, you’ll probably apply too much. You’ll need to wait much longer before you can use the tub.

Interested in knowing more about whether it’s safe to go into a hot tub with high chlorine? This is what I explored in a recent article I published.

In it, I explained if you could go into a hot tub with high chlorine and what happens if the chlorine level is too high in a hot tub. But I also revealed what you could do if the chlorine level is too high.

Just click the link to read it on my site.

2. Shocking too often:

Ideally, you shock the hot tub once a week or every other week if you use it sparingly. If the hot tub is used a lot or by many people, you could shock it twice a week.

But note that the more frequently you shock it, the more you run the risk of over-shocking it.

How quickly does hot tub shock work?

Chlorine-based shock is highly concentrated and slow-acting and could take up to 24-hours before fully activated. Non-chlorine-based shock, on the other hand, works a lot faster in about twenty minutes.

Then always test the water again before getting in.

Make sure you run the jets and leave the lid off, restarting the jets as needed for the 1st 20 minutes either way. Say you applied chlorine shock to a hot tub that has been heavily infested with algae. You may need more than 24 hours before it effectively does its work.

In some cases, it could take up to 48 hours.

But the vital thing is that whether you applied chlorine or non-chlorine-based shock, you test the water before using the hot tub. It’s something one has to do after sanitizing or oxidizing a hot tub.

Can I get in a hot tub faster if I use non-chlorine shock?

Yes. You can get in a hot tub faster if you use non-chlorine shock. Twenty minutes after shocking the hot tub, you can test the water to ensure that its chemistry is balanced, after which you can soak in the hot tub. 

However, you would need to wait for twenty-four hours if you applied chlorine shock instead.

Non-chlorine shock offers certain advantages over chlorine-based shocks, and it’s a couple of these that makes it feasible that you can use the hot tub faster.

Chlorine-based shocks come with the strong unpleasant chlorine smell we’re all too familiar with. And folks with sensitive skin may find the water that has been oxidized with chlorine shock harsh.

The strong chlorine smell is not a good sign and not a sign that the hot tub is being maintained well. It’s actually a red flag.

Non-chlorine shock, on the other hand, does not have the chlorine smell (which is actually the odor of chloramines).

And it is mild on the skin. But like most things, it has its cons. So, you get to soak faster, but it lowers the pH of the water, does not really sterilize the water, and does not remove combined chlorine (chloramines).

Suppose you’ve just refilled your hot tub; do you need to shock it? 

Check out a recent article where I get into it. I explained when is the ideal time to shock your hot tub and the chemicals you need after you’ve refilled your hot tub. But I also revealed what shocking a hot tub does.

Just click the link to read it on my site.

How quickly does liquid shock work?

Liquid shock works quickly. It starts dissolving in the hot tub water immediately because it is already in liquid form.

Before you apply it, remove the hot tub’s cover and check the pH level. Leave the cover open for 20 minutes afterward. Then, you’ll need to wait for 2 hours before you test the chlorine levels to ensure they are safe. Waiting for 24 hours is ideal.

So, you may want to apply it after you have finished using the hot tub.

Liquid shock (sodium hypochlorite) leaves no residue and does not add calcium or cyanuric to the water. But it has a high pH level.

Still a tad unsure if shock and chlorine are the same?

In a recent article I published, I explored what is a hot tub sanitizer and if you could add sanitizer and shock at the same time. But I also explained how much chlorine you need to shock your hot tub.

Just click the link to read it on my site.

Conclusion

In the article, we found out if you have to wait for 24 hours after shocking a hot tub before using it.

But we also looked at if you can put too much shock in a hot tub. Then, we looked at how quickly hot tub shock works. We also looked at whether you get to use a hot tub faster if you applied non-chlorine-based shock.

Lastly, we wrapped things up by exploring how quickly liquid shock works.

Ready to Spend Less Time On Maintenance and More Time Enjoying Your Hot Tub?

Let’s face it. Balancing the water, cleaning filters, dealing with rashes, and trying to figure out which chemicals to buy and add can make you feel more like a chemist than someone who just wants to relax after a long hard day!

That’s exactly why The Hot Tub Handbook and Video Course is so valuable!

This is from Matt over at Swim University and he developed it for people looking to save money, time, and frustration. His tips on chemicals can save you $100/year just by making sure you buy only what you need.

So if you’re ready to stop being confused or frustrated with your hot tub and start spending more time in it, check out The Hot Tub Handbook and Video Course.

Just click that link to learn more on their website.

Image that requires attribution:

Hot Tub by Michael (a.k.a. moik) McCullough is licensed under CC2.0 and was cropped, edited, and had a graphic and text overlay added.

Image by OpenClipart-Vectors from Pixabay

Jeff Campbell

Jeff Campbell is a father, martial artist, budget-master, Disney-addict, musician, hot tub lover, and recovering foodie having spent over 2 decades as a leader for Whole Foods Market.

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