July 19, 2018
Ponds and fountains are low-maintenance additions to any landscape. But once in a while, even the most stalwart equipment can have issues. Learn how to troubleshoot your pump to keep your water feature in tip-top shape.
Cause: This can be caused by an interruption in the power supply. You might have a crummy electrical connection, a tripped breaker, or a blown fuse.
Fix: Make sure your electrical connections are working and have been installed and tested by a qualified electrician. Keep in mind that if you’re using long extension cords, you might experience a drop in voltage at the pump and a jump in the amps. This can heat up the pump and burn out the motor.
Fix: “Just add water” sounds too good to be true, but sometimes that’s all you need to do. Keep in mind that pumps must be submerged in water in order to work properly. Low water levels can activate a pump’s thermal shut-off. Once the pump has cooled down, the shut-off will deactivate and the pump will start running again. Keep enough water in your system to avoid this on-again, off-again drama.
Cause: You might have debris in your plumbing.
Fix: It’s time to clean. Disconnect the pump from the pipe. This will let the plumbing drain – and debris to flow out. Inspect the plumbing to make sure there’s no more gunk in there. When in doubt, give it a good rinse.
Cause: Debris might be stopping the impeller.
Fix: Again with the debris! Unplug and remove the pump from the pond. Take a look at the pump to make sure there’s no gunk mucking up the works. Look for rocks or sticks that might be lodged around or above the impeller. Remove whatever junk you find.
While you have the pump out of the water, lay it on its side and plug it in. Make sure the impeller spins before you put it back in the pond. If it’s not spinning, use a screwdriver to give it a little push.
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