Water Feature Repair: What You Need To Know
Today we are going to take a look at water feature repair.
At Epiphany Ponds, we have been helping homeowners install and maintain ponds and water features since 2011 - and we'd love to share our experience and expertise with you!
We'll take a closer look at the main issues that can arise with water features and what you should do if they occur. So, let's get started!
Water feature repair: learn how to keep your pond in top condition
Water Feature Repair: Leaks
How to Tell if You Have a Leak
Leaks in your water feature can be caused by a hole or tear in your pond liner. If you get a hole in your liner you will either need to get it repaired or if it is too bad, you will have to replace your liner.
Before going to the trouble of repairing or replacing your liner, you need to be certain that you actually have a leak. If you notice that your water levels have decreased, you shouldn't automatically assume that you have a leak. Lowering water levels can be caused by other factors.
Leaks vs. Evaporation:
It may be difficult to determine whether or not your pond has a leak that needs to be repaired or if your water level is just going down due to evaporation. This is because during the warmer months your pond water level can decrease between 1 and 2 inches of water every week. This is normal. If you live in a really hot climate you could experience as much as 8 inches of evaporation in one week.
Water feature repair: Discover how evaporation works
However, the key to determining whether or not your pond is naturally evaporating or if you actually have a leak is the rate that the water is going down. Natural evaporation will occur gradually over time whereas with a leak you will have a sudden decrease in water level.
To test whether or not you have a leak, fill up your pond and then the next morning measure how much it has gone down. If you experience a 2 inch or more decrease in your water level overnight, then you know it must be a leak. If the leak in the liner is small, you can try to fix it yourself. However, if the leak is large or there are several leaks all around the line, then you can contact a professional to do it for you.
Water Feature Repairs: Waterfalls
If you have a waterfall or a fountain as part of your water feature, you could also be experiencing higher levels of evaporation. The size of your waterfall will also affect the amount of evaporation that you have. For example, a 4' by 6' pond that has a 20' stream and a 5' cascading waterfall could lose as much as two inches or more of water every day.
This is because the moving and splashing water from the waterfall is more exposed and therefore more susceptible to evaporation than standing water is. If your pond is quite large, 16' by 21', then you probably wouldn't even notice that evaporation at all.
You can also experience water loss if your waterfall is splashing too much. Water cascading down your waterfall may be hitting rocks and being diverted out of your pond instead of back into it. To fix excessive splashing simply readjust the rocks directly under your waterfall so that the splashes it makes are directed back into the pond and not outside of it.
Water feature repair: Adjust the rocks beneath your waterfall to prevent excessive splashing and water loss
Water Feature Repair: Too Low Pond Edges
Before deciding that you have a leak in your pond liner there is one more thing you should check. A common water feature repair is pond edges that are too low. You can experience leakage if the edges of your pond are too low. Over time, or over the winter, your pond edges can start to settle. This settling can mean that you have lower edges where water can start to leak out from. This is more common with newer ponds.
A common spot to find lower edges is around your waterfall or stream if you have one. Carefully check out this area to see if some settling has occurred and if the edges are low enough for water to seep out. If you see wet mulch, wet gravel, muddy areas, or small puddles of water around the outside edges of your pond then these are good indicators that water is escaping here.
If you discover too low edges, then you can fix it by lifting up the liner at that spot and piling some soil under the liner to make the edge higher. This should solve your problem.
Water Feature Repair: Check around the edges of your pond for signs that water is escaping
Water Feature Repair: Clogged Filters
Another common water feature repair you may need to do is to fix a clogged filter. Over time your pond filter will get clogged with debris and mechanical media. You can tell if your filter has clogged if you notice that your water isn't as clear as it usually is, or if there is a strong odour or if you have fish, they seem sick.
One way to prevent this is by doing a regular clean out of your filter. It is a good idea to clean your filter a few times each year. You can tell if your filter needs cleaning if you open your filter box and see a thick layer of debris covering the fronts of the pad and in between the layers inside.
If your filter is becoming clogged, one of the reasons may be that it is not large enough for your pond. It is always better to have a larger filter than necessary rather than one that is too small, especially if you have fish in your pond. If you are not sure whether your filter is large enough for your pond, consult a professional.
Water feature repair: If you water isn’t as clear or your fish seem sick, your filter may be clogged
Need a Water Feature Repair? Contact the Professionals at Epiphany Ponds
If you are having problems with your water feature, Epiphany Ponds can help. We can repair, fix, or replace any issue that you are having and restore your pond to its original healthy condition. And we’ll do it at a price you can afford.
Looking to install a water feature? Epiphany Ponds, can expertly design and install the perfect recreational pond to perfectly complement and enhance your backyard space. All of our water features are created using the highest quality materials and installed with expertise to provide you with a natural swimming space that you can enjoy for years to come.
Our unique and environmentally friendly pond pools can include a variety of plants and fish of your choice.