Let's rule out some basic things (before panicking that there is a leak in the pond)
Evaporation or pond leak?
To rule out evaporation you need to:
- Check to see if there is an autofill. If you need help identifying your pond equipment, check out our Pond Equipment Photo Comparison guide. This is something that automatically puts water into your pond. These are usually found in the skimmer and usually look like the float in the back of your toilet – but not always! (I’ll put some pictures below). When you have an Autofill, you might not realize when there is a leak in the pond. Read more about Autofills.
- Know how often and how much water you are adding. I find this is easiest to look at by the week. How many inches of water have you added to your pond each week (right now it does not matter how large your pond is)? Maybe you have to put 4 inches in every other day, so that is about 3 times a week.
Evaporation is not a leak when you are replacing 2 inches in your pond each week. (3 inches if it has been very hot or crazy windy).
This is an Autofill by Aquascape. (Compact)
This Autofill has a longer arm.
Don’t forget that an autofill (also known as a float valve) only runs during the summer or when the sprinkler system is active. If it is early Fall and you are wondering why the autofill isn’t working, ask yourself- Has the sprinkler system been turned off? You may find your answer!
Skimmer faceplate
A decrepit faceplate is one of the most common places for water loss to occur.
The faceplate is the piece of plastic around the skimmer window that sandwiches the liner into place.
Touch the faceplate to see if it easily moves. Sometimes the screws rust out or the sealant wears out and it needs to be resealed.
A dam
Sometimes there are beavers, building dams and you just don’t know it….
That would be funny! Actually, that is not likely. Check out these things instead of worrying about beavers:
- Top of the waterfall. The first place I check is at the top of the waterfall. Bioballs, lava rock, or other media could have floated up and are diverting water out. I often put plants in there and they love to wait until I’m not looking and grow enough that water just pours over this side!
- Plants. – Check plants all the way around the pond and on all the edges of the stream and waterfall. Iris, Cattail, Water Celery gone wild can all grow just a little over the liner, pushing it down just enough that water gets out.
- Light cords or other cords. Often equipment or lights that go into the water have a cord that must go over the top of the liner to get into the pond. Sometimes for whatever reason it pulls too much and scrunches the liner down, allowing water to escape. Find the cords where they go in and make sure this isn’t happening.
Low liner
Liner can get pushed down on the edge by a variety of things. Dogs or people walking on it, or more likely, walking on the rocks on top of the liner and it just gets a little low. Low enough that water can get out.
Walk the edge of the pond and feel your foot steps. If your step suddenly seems spongy – look at the liner near the area and at the liner just above the spongy area.
No luck and still losing water?
You are going to have to test for a leak in the pond itself.
- Unplug the pump.
- Add water until the pond is at its normal water level. (Remember to add a dechlorinator to protect the fish)
- Mark the level of the water. The water level can be deceiving when looking at it later! Seriously. Find a way to measure it with a tape measure. Eyeballing it will not be helpful.
- Re-measure the water level the next day and see if the water went down.
If the water level did not go down, the good news is, the pond is holding water! There may be water loss in the stream or waterfall but the pond is secure!
If it did go down, the bad news is that there is definitely water loss in the pond. Keep the pump unplugged and see how far down it will go. Where it stops – that is 100% where the water loss is.
What if it loses water when the pump is on?
If you have already confirmed that the pond itself is holding water and yet, there is water loss when the pump is running, then something is going on in the stream or waterfall. If you have already checked the items listed above and cannot locate the leak, call us to find a solution to the leak!
What do other sources have to say about pond leaks:
Paradise and Waterfalls wrote this.
Read more about ponds on Kristi’s Pond Blog and if you think your system may have a leak read How to Measure Water Loss When there is a Pond Leak.