pond repair

Pond Repair or Renovation – Let’s Break it Down!

Okay, so you probably admitted to yourself (and your bank account) that your Orange County pond needs some attention these days. We’re also guessing that’s why you landed on this blog as well.

Many pond owners who know they need some “TLC” on their pond, question whether it is a pond repair or a full-blown renovation.

A “repair” is something less invasive and usually refers to fixing or replacing a small part that is broken or malfunctioning. An isolated problem if you will. A renovation is a complete overhaul, usually resulting in an almost brand new product!

When it comes to ponds, the rules of home improvement apply – So let’s take a look at the difference between a repair & renovation.

Pond Repair

What is a “Repair”?

If you think your Orange County pond is leaking and you’ve spent some time assessing that it’s an actual leak – and not just evaporation or low edges, you have the option of a pond repair or a renovation. The options depend heavily on the extent of your problem. Not sure how to test a pond leak yourself? More on that later.

A good rule of thumb to help with your decision, is if the cause of the leak doesn’t interfere with the structure of the pond, or the health of the pond wildlife, you can go ahead and troubleshoot, just fixing the isolated problem.

Problems that can be repaired include: a hole in the liner, the liner detaching from the skimmer or bio falls, or a broken pipe, just to name a few. HOWEVER, we have found that when there is one hole, it is likely there are others and the liner may need to be replaced.

The most challenging part of any pond repair is determining what is causing the problem. We often get asked the question, “Why is my pond leaking? This opens a variety of potential causes, which can be narrowed down through a few key tests.

Go for a Walk, around the pond that is, checking for visible wet spots. Wet soil or gravel is a good indicator there is a simple issue of a low liner, allowing the water to flow over the edge.
Fill up the pond to its normal level. Turn off the pump and come back 24 hours later to check for a change in water level.
If the water level is unchanged, the problem arises somewhere in the pipe, filter, or waterfall.
If none of these are the causes, your issue lies somewhere in the pond or stream and a renovation is likely the best solution.

Pond Renovation

What is a “Pond Renovation”?

A renovation is considered a complete Orange County pond replacement. This means we remove the pond and replace all of the parts.

A renovation allows you to change anything you didn’t like about your preexisting pond, and address any issues, even minor ones. Get creative and add more tunnels for fish, install lighting, and use more plants to encourage a healthy ecosystem. You could even increase or decrease the size of the pond or add an additional or larger waterfall or other feature. Let those creative juices flow just like that waterfall you’ve always wanted!

We completely understand the idea of a total renovation may be intimidating, but it really is a perfect excuse to create the pond of your dreams. In the long run, you will save more time and energy and less time worrying, by making temporary repairs on a flawed or dissatisfying pond design.