How to find and repair leaks in garden ponds
Can a leak in a pond be fixed?
Yes.... Leaking concrete ponds, preformed liners, rubber pond liners, plastic liners and clay lined ponds can all be repaired. Whilst leaking rubber and plastic liners can be fixed I would normally recommend replacing them especially if they are a few years old.
I have included some easy to follow DIY instructions on this page.
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How to trace a leak in a garden pond
This works for rubber pond Liners, ponds made from clay and concrete lined ponds.
In the warmer summer months you will get some water loss due to evaporation and splashing from water features like fountains and waterfalls. However, once you have discounted this and have a significant or sudden loss of water you will need to find the leak.
To check the leak is actually from the pond and not the stream or waterfall or more likely the plumbing. Follow the steps below to find the leak.
Checking the main pond for leaks.
Turn the pump off, if the water level continues to drop the leak is almost certainly from the pond and not the plumbing or water-features so skip the full plumbing/water-feature check outlined below, (it may be worth a partial check of the plumbing/water-feature with the pump on once you have fixed the leak in the pond just to be sure). Providing the level isn't dangerous to fish, (plants will survive a couple of days without water) allow the pond to continue to leak until it stops and mark the level all around the pond with chalk.
When the water level has stopped look closely all around the chalk line for any damage.
- Leaks in rubber liners could be a large gash or even a hard to see tiny pinprick.
- Leaks through concrete could be caused by cracks in or deterioration of the concrete. In older or poorly constructed ponds this might be visible over much of the concrete lining.
- Leaks in Clay lined ponds will be through cracks that are not always easily visible. Mainly caused when the water level is allowed to drop allowing the clay to dry out or possibly by root damage.
Now check the plumbing and water-features.
- Turn off the pump. If the water stays the same level in the main pond. This almost certainly points to the leak being either from the plumbing, the waterfall or the stream and not the pond. Check the joints in the plumbing and replace or tighten up any loose or broken joints or bits of pipe.
- Once you are sure the leak is not from the plumbing. Check the waterfall and stream for leaks and for a simple overflow overflow caused by plants or other obstructions raising the water level. The easiest way to check for overflow over the liner edge is to check around the perimeter for wet spots and remove the obstruction. A wet spot may also simply mean that the edge of the liner has fallen below the water level. In which case simply pull the liner up and pack under it.
- Can't find a visible leak in the plumbing, stream and waterfall or pond. Occasionally, where the waterfall and pond have been lined with separate sections of liner instead of a single continuous liner running under the waterfall into the pond. You could end up with water leaking through the joint between the two liners. This is a fairly major fault to repair and will mean dismantling the waterfall to find and fix the problem. Adjust/fix the joint/overlap in the liner or replace the complete liner, preferably using a single strip of liner.
The simplest way of finding the leak from the pond. This applies to all types of pond liners. Is to let the water settle to its own level, which will be just on or slightly below the leak and mark the level all around the pond with chalk. Look closely all around the chalk line for any damage to the pond liner.
Diy tips and equipment to repair leaks in garden ponds.
Now that you have traced the leak let's look at the different ways and equipment you can use to fix the leak. Leaks in rubber and plastic are mostly about patching with waterproof materials whilst concrete and clay liners are more about filling and blocking the leak. We will look at these one by one in this article, Starting with fixing leaks in rubber liners.
How to repair a leak in rubber pond liners
Works on PVC, Butyl Rubber, Butyl Epalyn, EPDM and Firestone.
Can be used to Fix all leaks in rubber pond liners, is durable lasting years and is easy to use, works like a sticking plaster.
Works Underwater and is 100% Non-Toxic and fish friendly. Just follow the instructions.
Unlike similar "quick fix kits" this kit is very easy to use, just follow the full list of instructions provided and you can't go wrong.
How to repair a leak in a clay pond
Sodium Bentonite Seals and repairs leaks in clay ponds, waterfalls and streams.
How it works. The granules swell up to eighteen times its dry size when it becomes wet and forms an impermeable gel seal which makes an excellent pond sealant.
Bentonite for sealing clay ponds:
When properly applied it is environmentally safe and does not affect the water, fish or pondlife. Also makes an excellent liner for new clay pond construction.
How to seal a leak in a clay pond.
- Bentonite can be applied directly to the leak in the clay in the pond.
- Or it can be sprinkled on the surface of the water and allowed to follow the flow of the water into the leak, where it expands making a watertight repair. Full instructions come with the pack.
Bentonite is easily applied. In the case of garden clay ponds, it can be applied with simple hand tools and for larger ponds, with ordinary farm equipment. Follow the instructions.
How to repair a leak in a concrete pond
Repair kit for all leaking concrete lined water-features including garden ponds, streams, waterfalls and bird baths.
It seals leaks in concrete ponds by forming A Non-Porous Seal
I recently fixed a clients leaking waterfall with this, the water feature was losing 4-6 inch's of water everyday, it took 3 coats and completely stopped the leak.
I have also applied it by pouring directly into a clean and dry pond and then spreading it and painting it around with a brush.
But I recommend following the full set of instructions that come with it. Mike
We repair or fit replacement liners in Somerset, North Somerset, Bristol, Clevedon, Portishead, Nailsea, Weston-Super-Mare, Yatton, Street, Wells and Glastonbury. Contact
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