When should I winterize my pond?
Winterizing your pond depends on all sorts of different factors like where you live, how long the water freezes over, and what kind of filters you have. For some pond owners, you will never have to winterize your pond because it rarely freezes over. There are even those of us who still enjoy running their pumps during freezing conditions because of the beautiful icescapes it makes, which I’ll talk more about later. First, it’s important to find out when you should winterize your pond, and some helpful tips on how to do so?
Should I winterize my pond?
If you live in warmer climates that rarely see freezing temperatures for very long, then I would say don’t bother. Warmer waters speed up the rate at which organic waste decomposes, so make sure you are providing enough oxygen for your fish. I recommend a cold weather bacteria additive to help in breaking down the extra dioxins in the water. One thing to keep in mind, by not winterizing your pond, your electric bill will be higher from running your pump all winter.
At what temperature should I turn off my pond’s pump?
For those in colder climates, always check your manufacturer’s recommendations since not every pump is designed to run in the winter. The last thing you want to do is break your pump. I recommend winterizing your pond when the water temperature dips below 48 degrees Fahrenheit.
How to winterize your pond pump
When winterizing my pond pump, I like to start by giving it a good cleaning. Remove any dirt and debris, and while you’re at it, check for any damages that need to be fixed. When you’re ready to store it for the winter, drop it in a bucket of water to keep the gaskets from drying out and keep it in a warm place. I like to store mine in my garage under my workbenches.
The next step is to make sure you drain the water out of your pond’s plumbing. This is essential to prevent water from freezing in your pipes and expanding, which causes cracks and preventable repairs.
If you have a pressurized filter or UV sterilizer, I suggest taking them offline and storing them away for winter too in the same location as your pump. Since you have to put them away, I recommend using a silicone lubricant on any o-rings or gaskets that the filter or UV sterilizer may have to prevent dry rot. You should also clean the quartz sleeve in your UV sterilizer so that it will be ready to go come spring. Here’s a quick tip: purchase replacement inserts and UV lamps now for next spring, since these items may be in short supply when you need them.
Running your pond pump in the winter
Some pond owners decide to run their pumps over the winter because of the beautiful ice-scapes your waterfalls can create. If you do decide to run your pond pump during the freezing winter, then the first thing you should do is make sure it is safe to do so. I said earlier that not all manufacturers recommend doing so. I also don’t recommend you do this since there is a lot of maintenance involved in running your pump over the winter. But, if you do insist on doing so, please keep a few things in mind:
Run your pump continuously
In order to prevent your pipes from freezing over, your pump must continually be pumping water through them, and this is easier to do if your pump has a high GPH (about 2,000 is recommended). If there are multiple days of sub-zero temperatures, then you may have to shut everything down since the ice can build up to fast for your pump. When the ice has melted, you can hook it up again.
Keep water in your pond
Even though you might not think so, water still evaporates even in the winter. Without access to water spigots, filling it up can be tricky. Some people have told me that they run a hose from their sink and out the window to fill up their pond. Do whatever works best for you, but just make sure you keep an eye on your water levels and top it off continuously.
Prevent Ice Dams
While the beautiful sights you get from the ice build-ups around your pond and waterfalls look stunning, you have to keep an eye out for ice dams. If the ice buildup becomes too much, it could divert water out of your pond. If the water drops too low, your pump could run dry which is never a good thing. Make sure to break up any ice that is diverting water out of your pond.
Expect higher energy bills
If you’ve got nothing better to do with your money, then running a pump all winter is a great idea. For a lower energy bill, I recommend running a de-icer to keep your pond oxygenated. Click here to learn more about de-icers.
Enjoy a beautiful wintery pond
If you do decide to rough it out over the freezing winter, you will be rewarded with some of the most beautiful photo opportunities of your pond. Not much beats seeing a natural ice sculpture in your own backyard. The great thing is, you can still winterize your pond at any time. Just make sure you follow the steps above to prevent ice from creating any unnecessary damage.
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