Should you keep your pond pump running in Winter?

This is a question that we get asked a lot in winter from a wide array of our customers. The answer, as always, can be nuanced and leaving your pond pump running over winter depends on several criteria:
• What type of pond do you have? Ornamental, fish, wildlife ponds etc.
• Do you like the sound of running water? i.e. a waterfall or fountain.
• What is the local climate like? Is your area prone to freezing cold temperatures or not?

If you have any fish in your pond, then keep your pump running. This helps to prevent the water from freezing, which can prevent fish deaths in the winter. If there is no livestock, the only reason to keep the pump running would be for the aesthetic (i.e. a waterfall or fountain).

The next consideration is your local weather. If your area is prone to freezing temperatures, it may be best to keep your pump turned off to prevent it from becoming damaged. Though, as above, it is normally best to keep it running for as much as possible.

If you decide to turn off your pump for winter but you have fish in your pond you will need to take other measures to stop your pond freezing over. You can find out more information on our blog post.

Reasons for running your pump during winter.

If you leave your pond running in the winter your pond will flourish. The constant flow of water keeps the water clear and aerated. But there are more benefits than this; such as below.
• If you keep your filter installed as well, any debris that is suspended in the water will be filtered out of the pond and the bacteria in your ponds filter system will stay alive during the winter months ready to spring into action when the weather warms up.
• The pump will stop your pond freezing over. This is highly important because if the surface of your pond freezes over, harmful gases are trapped and begin to pollute the water, which can negatively impact on your fish and potentially kill them.
• Keeping the water in your pond circulating will help stop your pond freezing over when winter hits. This allows harmful gases to be released, keeping the water safe for your fish in their hibernation period.

When you don’t need to run a pump in winter.

If you do keep your pump running and it is a submersible pump, then raise it up from the bottom of your pond. This will minimize the different water temperatures from mixing, as this could affect your fish. By raising the pump from the bottom of the pond, only the top layers of the water will mix; preventing your fish becoming shocked or stressed out. This will help to prevent temperature-related fish deaths throughout winter.

If you don’t have fish in your pond, there is no reason to keep your pump running. Even if the water freezes over, there is no livestock in your pond and so no harm will be done. Keeping your pump turned off in this case will save you money on your electricity bill!

If electricity costs are a main cause for concern, you may want to look into investing in a solar pump during winter. These can come with rechargable battery packs and you can use them in winter to keep the pond circulating.

Further to the above, it is normally best to stop running waterfalls, as any ice that forms can create a ‘dam’, which may allow water to overflow and deplete the pond of its water. You do not want to check on the pond and find that the water has all escaped. If you do keep any waterfalls or fountains running, you should check on the pond to ensure it has not depleted.

If you have any queries, please do not hesitate to email us on info@pondkeeper.co.uk.