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InsightHorizon Digest

How do you shock a chlorine well

Author

Andrew Mccoy

Updated on March 30, 2026

Overview. Use ordinary liquid laundry bleach to shock chlorinate the water system. Determine how much bleach to use, then pour the bleach down the well and circulate it through the whole water distribution system. Wait 6-12 hours for the chlorine to work, then flush the chlorinated water

How long do you have to run your water after shocking well?

Let the chlorinated water stand in the plumbing system for 12 to 24 hours. Do not run any water or flush toilets during this time.

Can I use pool shock to chlorinate my well?

Use liquid household bleach containing 5.25% chlorine for the disinfection process. Do not use bleach with a “fresh scent,” lemon fragrance, or other cleaners added. One gallon of bleach will treat up to an 8-inch diameter well containing 100 feet of water. … Avoid direct skin contact with bleach solutions.

Can you put pool shock in your well?

Chlorine granules, tablets and liquid chlorine in the form of household bleach can all be used to disinfect your well. Don’t use stabilized swimming pool chlorine products or non-chlorinated “pool shock” products, as they are not effective enough to clean your drinking water.

How long does it take to flush chlorine out of well?

Monitor the process, it can take 30 minutes to 24 hours or more to flush all of the bleach solution from the well. Use chlorine test papers to verify that the water coming from the outside faucet or yard hydrant is clear of any bleach solution. Flush the chlorinated water from water heaters.

Can you put too much chlorine in a well?

Do not use excessive amounts of bleach – more is not more effective. 5) For best results the bleach should be combined with water before adding it to the well. [By reducing the concentration there is less chance of corrosion of the cables and pipes in the well.

How long does it take to smell chlorine after shocking well?

Turn on the spigot and let the water in the hose run for about 1/2 hour into the well. After the 1/2 hour, smell the water coming out of the hose; if it does not smell of chlorine, continue to let it run into the well and smell it every so often until the chlorine odor is present.

How often should you chlorinate a well?

Homeowners with private wells should have their well water tested every 3 to 5 years for some contaminants, including bacteria. If these tests turn up positive for bacteria, chlorinating the well may be a way to resolve the problem.

Why does my well water turn brown when I add bleach?

The brown is the iron in the water that has oxidized as a result of the chlorination. Normally, the iron in water is in ion form and does not display itself until it combines with oxygen and forms common rust which turns the water reddish-brown.

Is it OK to put chlorine tablets in a well?

Pool chlorine tablets can be used in wells. Ground wells require maintenance just as other household components and one of the most important tasks is disinfecting it. Disinfecting a ground well involves adding chlorine which kills bacteria and microscopic organisms living in the water.

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How much does it cost to shock treat a well?

How much does it cost to shock a well? If you hire a company to do it, it can cost anywhere around $100 depending on where you live. Doing it yourself will only cost as much as the chlorine, 10 gallon bucket and the safety supplies to do it.

How do you shock a well with vinegar?

Pour 2 gallons of white vinegar directly into the well. 3. Turn on power supply and connect a hose to an outside house hose bibb or spigot and run the water directly into the well for 15 minutes. Turn off water supply and allow vinegar to settle for another 30 minutes.

Can you put hydrogen peroxide in your well?

Hydrogen peroxide well water treatment for bacteria may not be as popular as other options for the treatment of bacteria-infested well water, but it is just as effective as, say, chlorination or shock treatment and, according to experts, is in fact safer.

Why does my pool water turn brown when I add chlorine?

Using Fill Water From a Well Wells are commonly known to be one of the greatest sources of metals in a swimming pool, especially copper and iron. Iron reacts with chlorine to form iron III chloride, which is reddish in color. This is why your pool may turn to brown or rusty color when chlorine is added.

Should you put Clorox in your well?

Disinfecting Your Water You can disinfect your well with household chlorine bleach such as Clorox, Purex or a generic brand. The chlorine in the bleach kills bacteria. Note that it may take more than one chlorination for your well to return a satisfactory test. … To disinfect your well follow this procedure.

Will chlorine turns well water brown?

Brownish or dirty looking water can be caused by many things. Practically always after you shock-chlorinate your well the water turns brown. The chlorine used to shock the well reacts with iron, manganese and reducing bacteria in the well and it is pulled into the water chlorine solution. That is the brown you see.

Is it safe to drink brown well water?

Most of the time, naturally occurring minerals are the cause of discolored water and these are generally harmless. They can be unappealing and can have a strange taste and smell. It is best not to drink discolored water because they are contaminated and you do not know what bacteria and other things are in there.

Is shocking a well Necessary?

Shock chlorination is a method of disinfecting a water well. It is recommended when a water system is contaminated with bacteria. Contamination can occur when the well is installed, when repairs are made to the pump or plumbing, or when rainfall runoff enters the well.

How do you shock a dug well with bleach?

Dug well (1 meter/3 foot diameter) Add 1 litre (1 quart) of household bleach for every 1.5 metres (5 feet) of depth of water. If you don’t know how high the water stands, use the well casing depth to estimate how much household bleach to use.

How much chlorine is needed to clean a well?

CALCULATE AND POUR: Pour 3 pints of chlorine bleach per 100 gallons of water plus an additional 3 pints into your well as described above. MIX: Attach a clean garden hose to the outdoor faucet nearest the well and place the end of the hose inside the well.

Will shocking a well get rid of coliform?

When done properly, shock chlorination will kill all the bacteria existing in a well. A recent Penn State study of wells contaminated by coliform bacteria found that shock chlorination and installation of a sanitary well cap successfully removed the bacteria for one year in 15 percent of the wells.

How do you get sulfur out of well water?

Shock your well with chlorine bleach or hydrogen peroxide to get temporary relief from sulfur odors. Often keeps odors away for 1 – 2 months. 2. Chlorinator: Install a chlorine injector system (chlorinator) on your wellhead for continuous injection of chlorine when the water is running.

Is hydrogen peroxide better than chlorine?

Peroxide is more expensive than chlorine, works best in cases where iron and sulfur are present in the water. Since it works faster than chlorine, a contact tank may not be required. Peroxide is effective at a wider pH range as well, meaning it’s more effective on more types of water.

How do you remove iron bacteria from a well?

  1. Disinfectants are the most common chemicals used to treat for iron bacteria. The most common disinfectant is household laundry bleach, which contains chlorine. …
  2. Surfactants are detergent-like chemicals, such as phosphates. …
  3. Acids can dissolve iron deposits, destroy bacteria, and loosen bacterial slime.