It's generally recommended to dissolve shock in a bucket of water before adding it to the pool to ensure it dissolves properly and doesn't settle on the bottom of the pool.
How often to shock a chlorine pool will depend on factors such as pool usage and weather conditions, but a general rule of thumb is to shock the pool every 1-2 weeks.
Losing up to 2 inches of water from a pool per week is considered normal due to evaporation and splashing, but excessive water loss could indicate a leak.
The frequency of changing the sand in a pool filter will depend on factors such as pool usage and filter size, but it's generally recommended to change the sand every 3-5 years.
The length of time to backwash a pool will depend on the filter and the level of debris in the filter, but it's typically recommended to backwash until the water runs clear.