Should I Keep My Pond Pump Running In Winter?

The above question is one that is raised by many newbie pond owners as winter approaches. The answer to this question and whether you should leave your pond pump running during the winter months or if it can be turned off depends on a couple of different factors – particularly your climate and if you have any fish or other aquatic life in your pond and their needs.

For example, if you are located in an area that does not usually have temperature drops below freezing, it will probably safe to leave your pond pump running throughout winter. However, if you do live in an area where the temperature regularly drops below freezing, this will mean the pond freezes over and it could mean that your pump freezes and gets damaged beyond repair.

It is important to consider your options, because even if your climate is very cold, there may still be good reasons for running your pump continuously. You need to also understand that when you are running your pump during winter, it requires additional maintenance.

Benefits Of Using Pumps During Winter

There are a number of benefits of using pumps during winter, including:

• Keeping the water in your pond circulating during winter, stops it from sitting still and freezing over – something you would want to avoid if you have aquatic life in your pond
• If you keep any kind of aquatic life in your ponds such as fish or turtles etc, it may be necessary to run a pump during winter to keep the water temperature at the right temperature for them
• The build-up of gas that occurs underneath ice can be toxic for aquatic life, so having a pump on during winter ensures there is a gap for the gas to escape safely
• Having a pond can prevent expanding ice can damage the lining and other parts of the pond

Benefits Of Not Using Pumps During Winter

There are also a number of benefits to not using pumps during winter, including:

• If you do not keep fish or other animals in your pond, not running a pump during winter makes maintenance easy
• If you are running your pump from your electricity supply, then obviously turning it off during winter when the pond is not being used for anything, means you save a little money.

Other Important Considerations

Some other important considerations to make whether you run a pump or not during winter include:

• Watching weather reports, to see whether you should turn your pump off or not though. If the temperature at night drops lower than 32 degrees Fahrenheit, switch the pump off.
• It may also be a good idea to empty your pond if it is above ground or concrete completely, as this will prevent ice causing cracks or damaging the lining.
• When choosing to run your pump during winter, keep a close eye on your pond for the build-up of ice from the flowing water. This can make a dam that diverts water out of the pond. This can be prevented by melting the build-up with dechlorinated, warm water onto it.