Winter is just around the corner, and with it comes a variety of necessary maintenance for those of us with outdoor ponds, fountains, and water features. Throughout September, we will release weekly blogs to help you prepare for any harsh conditions that will be coming at the end of this already-stressful year. We will touch on pumps and other equipment, pond liners and stone, plant life, and lastly, how to help your fish during the winter months.
No matter where you live, it’s always a good idea to inspect your equipment before winter to make sure there isn’t any damage that could cause issues in the coming months, especially to the electrical cords. A thorough cleaning of any tubes or pipes, filters, pumps, etc., should also be done to ensure a worry-free winter.
If you live in an area with harsh, freezing temperatures, you’ll need to take different measures to ensure your ponds, fountains, and water features survive the season with no issues. Because water expands when it freezes, any water left running through your water pumps or filters will cause damage. You may want to consider disconnecting your equipment and bringing it indoors for the winter. Next, you’ll want to clean the pond of leaves, fish waste, dirt, and other organic materials.
For regions with less-harsh conditions, you’ll only need to turn off the equipment, stop the running water, and make sure that any tubing or plumbing doesn’t have water left in them.
A piece of equipment you may want to consider is a deicer, which will keep a portion of the pond from freezing. Leaving a small section free of ice is vital to allow gasses to escape that would otherwise be trapped underneath the surface and cause issues. If you don’t want to buy a deicer, you could also float a piece of foam or other items in the water. Another option is placing a water pump just below the surface of the water to keep that area from freezing.
Stay tuned for our next blog detailing how to prep your pond liners and stone fixtures for winters.
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