Water features are a beautiful addition to any outdoor living space. With the right maintenance, they can last for years creating a calming environment for you to relax next to or enjoy looking at. One of the ways you can keep this piece of your landscape functioning year after year is by making sure it’s ready for the winter season. When the weather turns cold, you run the risk of the pipes freezing which could do serious damage to your pond or fountain system. To avoid that, before the weather gets too cold, here’s the best way to winterize your water feature.
- Remove Any Plants: Water-loving plants make a wonderful addition, but they will not last if the water freezes up. Remove them and store them someplace safe during the winter so they can stay alive. Next spring, you’ll be able to install them once again.
- Drain the Water: Depending on the water feature you have, this step is very important. Ice expands despite the area it’s in. If it expands enough, especially if it doesn’t have a lot of space to work with, it could do a lot of damage to the water feature. To avoid this, drain as much of the water as you can from the feature and the pipes.
- Clean Thoroughly: It’s natural that algae, as well as other dirt and debris, can grow and contaminate your fountain, pond, or pool. Use an algaecide to clean up that area. That way it will be clean and ready to rejuvenate in the springtime. If you end up draining the feature give it a good scrub too.
- Remove the Pump: The pump used to move the water around is not designed for ice, at all. Whether you decided to fully remove the water or not, you must remove the water pump before it gets too cold. If not, the electrical components can become damaged throughout the winter, and you’ll have to replace them in the spring if you want to continue using your water feature.
