Winter Maintenance
Fall Pond Netting & Maintenance ServicesServing Lexington & Central Kentucky
300 Watt Pond Heater / De-Icer
Submersible Pond Thermometer
Aquascape Pond Aerator
Aquascape Pro Air Pond Aeration Kit
Winters here in the Lexington / Central Kentucky area are much like a box of chocolates. You never know what your going to get!. However, on average we typically have mild winters with short periods of sub-freezing temperatures. If you’ve completed your Fall Maintenance preparation tasks you should be all set. If your pond is properly installed your fish will have plenty of water to keep them safe all winter. Your only concern is to make sure you keep a hole in the ice by either running your waterfalls or purchasing a pump or pond deicer. If you do choose to leave your waterfalls running you will also need to make sure you keep a small hose in your garage or basement so that you can add water to your pond periodically (if you leave the hose outside it will be frozen when you need to add water)
Do I Leave My Waterfalls Running or Pull the Pump?
Winter Pond Maintenance is usually the determining factor in whether or not Central Kentucky pond owners keep their pump running in the winter. The primary maintenance responsibility at this time is to make sure there is enough water for the pump(s) to operate properly all winter long. A Pond pump that provides at least 2,000 gph can be operated throughout the winter here in Central Kentucky without a problem, as long as it runs continuously. The moving water will usually keep a hole open in the ice around the waterfalls and in front of the skimmer.
There is nothing more breathtaking than a waterfall covered with ice formations and snow during the winter. You must, however, be careful with ponds that have long or slow-moving streams. In such cases, ice dams can form and divert water over the liner.
Think I’ll Shut My Waterfall Down..
Many of our Central Kentucky Pond customers choose to shut down their pond for the winter because they don’t want to worry about ice dams or pay for the cost to run a larger pump. If you chose to shut down your waterfall for the winter, you’ll need to replicate the effects of the waterfall by keeping the water oxygenated.
Since we do get sub freezing weather here in Kentucky, you should pull the Waterfall Pump from your skimmer & store it for the winter in a frost-free location, submerged in a bucket of water.
You’ll also need to add a floating heater or de-icer in order to keep a hole open in the ice. Most heaters are equipped with a thermostat that, when set at the proper temperature, switches the heater on only when needed.
Do not confuse a floating pond de-icer with a water heater. A pond de-icer won’t heat the water; it will simply keep a small hole open in the ice. A floating heater alone, however, will not oxygenate the water, so it should be used in conjunction with a Agitating pump or Pond Aerator.
Additional Tips About Operating Your Pond Through The Winter Months
Can a Pond Run Through the Entire Winter?
Won’t the Waterfall Freeze Solid?
Will the Filters and Pipes Crack?
The Bottom Line
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