You’re out enjoying the garden when you notice that there is an eerie silence. The pond is quiet, and the fountain is not moving. What has happened to the pond pump? If you want to try fixing your pond pump by yourself, here are a few basic repairs and troubleshooting techniques that you can try.
Examining the Pond Fountain Pump
Check the electrical cords. Are they plugged in? Did the circuit breaker switch off?
Check the water levels around the pump. Is the pump covered in water? If the pond pump is not entirely covered in water, the thermal sensor inside the pump will prevent it from getting hot when it runs dry and will turn the pump off. The pump should work again if you place it in deeper water, but it may take over an hour for the pump to begin running again. A dry pond pump situation may happen in the summer when evaporation can remove a lot of water from the pond.
Basic Repair Safety: Handling the Pond Pump
Before you touch the pond fountain pump, switch off the pump and unplug it. This is a very important step, because you do not want to be electrocuted. Gently pull on the string around the handle of the pump to remove the pump from the water. Do not pull on the pump’s electrical cords, since this can loosen them and lead to problems once the pump is back in the water.
Make sure that all of the electrical cords are connected to the pump, secure, and not fraying. If they are, it is time to get a new pump, since this is dangerous to both you and to the animals that live in the pond.
Common Repair Strategies and Troubleshooting for Pond Pumps
Run clean pond water through the parts of the pump, particularly the hose. Do not use soaps and scrub brushes that contain cleaning products, since these can hurt the sensitive fish and invertebrates in the pond.
Check the screen. In the summer and fall, pond pumps may get clogged with debris, especially if you have not been diligent in cleaning out the pond filter. The summer brings algae in the pond, while the fall brings leaves and other seasonal debris.
Basic Repairs for a Broken Pump Impeller
If you haven’t solved the pump problem yet, take a look at the impeller. If there is something stuck in it, the impeller will not move and pump water. Often, you can get to the impeller by removing a few screws. Make sure that the power is off before you do this. Caution: this may void the warranty, so if you are concerned, you can also bring the pump to a registered repair person. Do not force anything apart. It is unlikely that you will be able to get it back together.
Many pond pump problems are caused by simple things like clogging or inadequate water or power supply, and it is possible to fix these problems yourself. If you decide to repair your pond pump yourself, be safety conscious and ensure that you wear safety equipment and unplug the pump.
Tricia Edgar - Tricia Edgar is a gardener, environmental educator, and science writer from the Pacific Northwest.
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