How to diagnose and fix a pond leak

If your pond is losing water and you think you may have a pond leak,  there is no reason to get upset!  At Aqualife Ponds, we have seen just about everything.  There’s a good change your water level drop isn’t life or death for the fish.  It could be an easily addressed leak or issue like evaporation.  If it’s a larger issue, we can help you deal with it—no problem!  Here’s what you need to know about a pond leak:

Why your pond could be losing water

If the water level of your pond is dropping, it doesn’t necessarily mean you have a leak.  There are quite a few other possibilities:

Evaporation is real and can look like a pond leak

Depending on the temperature, humidity, and the amount of sunlight your pond gets, one to two inches of water could evaporate each week. And the more surface area, the faster water evaporates. So, if you have stream rocks and splashing falls, you’re going to lose water faster.

Splashing and Liners

Splashing can also cause water loss. If water splashes off the rocks in your stream or waterfall, make sure it falls inside your pond liner. If it doesn’t, reposition the rocks to redirect the water.

Greenery

Thirsty plants can also go through water quickly. If you have a lot of blooming plants, they could be causing a noticeable drop in water levels. But if the water level drops at the same rate on sunny and cloudy days, plants probably aren’t the cause.

Low edges

The most common cause of a pond leak?  Low edges! This holds true often with new ponds, where the soil is still settling.

Look for areas in the stream or waterfall where the soil or mulch on the edges are wet. If you find a wet area, lift up the liner and add some dirt to hold it into the correct place. You might need to move some rocks to do this, but it’s pretty simple. Work your way around your pond to make sure you’ve identified all problem areas.

When it’s a pond leak

If the items above are not the issues, then you probably do have a pond leak!  Here’s what to do:

The first thing to do is turn off the pump. If you have fish, put an aerator in the pond to keep oxygen levels up.

Let your water feature sit for 24 hours to help isolate the problem. If the water level doesn’t change in those 24 hours, you know the issue isn’t with the pond, but with the stream or waterfall. If the water continues to drop, let it keep going. Once it stops, you’ll know the depth of where the leak is located.

If your pond liner is old or wasn’t the highest quality to begin with, it might have multiple holes. UV damage, animals, and shifting rocks can also damage a liner. You might need to have your entire liner replaced—they don’t last forever!  If the liner is fairly new and there is just one hole, you can patch the hole and see what happens.

If you can’t find a leak, look at the water feature’s mechanics. Examine the skimmer faceplate to make sure it’s sealed correctly. The other option is that it could be the plumbing that’s leaking. That’s not a good thing!

When to call in the pond experts

There are times a pond leak can be addressed by the homeowner.  However, you may not WANT to handle it yourself or may not have the right equipment.  That’s where we come in.

If it is an old/bad liner or a plumbing leak, those are not fixes you want to deal with yourself. We are always willing to work with you and give you our professional opinion.  Contact us for more information.