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Pond Pump Winter Care

How’s your pond pump weathering this winter? Is it laying on a shelf in your garage or frozen at the bottom of your pond along with your plants and fish?

If you live in an area that doesn’t get colder than 5C/23F, your pump may be running problem-free all winter, and that’s great! But be careful not to subject the warmer water on the bottom of your pond to cooling with a pump that pulls water from the bottom. The cold currents could harm ornamental fish which pass the winter months hibernating in warmer bottom water. If you have a submersible pump, raise the pump from the bottom of the pond and set it on a shelf or crate so that it only circulates top water. This will help to prevent surface ice and protect your fish.

Try to position the pump in a spot that will facilitate removal if necessary. Also, try and keep the power cord in an area where you won’t have to chip away at ice to remove it. This could result in damage to the cord.

If you have a small pond and live in an area where water temperatures routinely fall below 42° in winter, freezing can be a problem. It’s relatively safe for fish and plants if you turn off your pump in these circumstances. Cold water retains oxygen longer than warm water and during the winter fish need less air to survive. However, if the ice lasts for more than a few days, gasses will start to accumulate and you will have to melt a hole in the surface. You might consider investing in a floating heater or de-icer as breaking surface ice can harm your fish.

A submersible pump should be removed if a pond is going to freeze solid or if a winter storm threatens to shut the electrical system down.

Be sure to completely drain your pump after you pull it from your pond as water freezing inside the housing can crack the casing.

Check out our Pump Buyer’s Guide for additional information on pond pumps.

Our Product Experts are standing by to help you select the pond pump best suited to your needs. Visit us at www.pumpproducts.com or call 1-800-429-0800