Owning a swimming pool is no easy feat. Sure it’s fun, but you have to clean it almost every day, filter the water and maintain the overall landscape. Taking care of your pool can sometimes become quite overwhelming. And if you’re not careful, you could end up with phosphates in your pool.
A green, murky and cloudy swimming pool isn’t aesthetic — it’s dangerous. In fact, it’s a sign that your pool’s pH balance is way off the charts, and it needs to be neutralized asap.
But what are phosphates, and how can you get rid of them? If you’re curious, keep on reading this blog.
What Are Phosphates?
Phosphates come from phosphoric acid and, ultimately, phosphorous. Although, despite being bad for your pool, they’re considered to be organic chemicals. This is because almost every organism in this world contains this element. Not to mention, phosphates are used in agriculture since they help to boost the growth rate of plants and other organisms.
That is how your pool gets infected in the first place. The phosphates present in the dead leaves, landscaping properties, and lawn fertilizer all mix in with the water, contaminating it.
Ultimately, it doesn’t matter how great phosphates are because they cause harm to your beloved swimming pool.
Where Do Phosphates Come From?
Given how phosphates are everywhere and make up about 90% of the earth, it’s hard to pinpoint where exactly they come from. It could, quite literally, be anything.
Nevertheless, there are a few certain sources that cause high phosphates in pools, such as:
- Sweat
- Fallen Leaves
- Skin cells
- Fallen hair strands
- Twigs or branches
- Algae
- Fertilizer
What Do Phosphates in Pools Do?
Technically, phosphates themselves aren’t the problem. It’s only when they’re paired with algae that it can lead to extreme damage.
Moreover, the number of phosphates also matters. For instance, a low phosphate count won’t do anything. However, high levels of phosphates in the pool promote algae growth. Plus, algae are known to feed on phosphates, which furthers the harmful effect.
In addition to that, a higher count of phosphate consumes more chlorine. This makes it extremely difficult to kill off the algae, making your swimming pool super toxic.
How to Get Rid of Phosphates in Pool
If you suspect there are phosphates in your pool, don’t just brush them away. It only takes a small amount to cause severe reactions later on. It’s best to neutralize your pool as soon as you can to avoid algae growth.
There are multiple ways to do this, but the most effective method is to call a professional pool cleaning service. Or, you can install pool cleaners and phosphate removers to get rid of the bacteria.
Although, it’s important to keep in mind that you can’t completely clear your pool water. What you can do is maintain the swimming pool and manage the minimum amount of phosphates inside of it.
Looking to Get Your Swimming Pool Professionally Cleaned?
There are quite a few dead giveaways that can alert you of the phosphates in your pool. If you want to clean them and install a pool filter, reach out to Town & Country Pools at (281) 252-6337. For more information, you can also drop by our office situated in 32403 FM2978 Suite # 118, Magnolia, TX 77354, right beside Texas Truck Works (TTW).