Ponds, pondless waterfalls, and fountains are low-maintenance additions to any Oklahoma landscape — but all of them need a pump to operate, and most run 24/7. Eventually, even the best equipment has issues. Here's how to troubleshoot the most common ones and get your water feature back in shape.
Pond Pump Only Operates Some of the Time
- Cause — You probably don't have enough water in your pond or fountain.
- Fix — “Just add water” sounds too good to be true, but sometimes that's all you need to do. Pumps must be submerged to work properly, and low water levels can trip a pump's thermal shut-off. Once it cools down, the shut-off deactivates and the pump starts running again — so keep enough water in the system to avoid that on-again, off-again cycle. This is one of our most common phone conversations.
Pond Pump Doesn't Run at All
- Cause — An interruption in the power supply — a crummy electrical connection, a tripped breaker, or a blown fuse.
- Fix — Make sure your electrical connections are working and were installed and tested by a qualified electrician. If you're using long extension cords, you might see a drop in voltage at the pump and a jump in amps — which can heat up the pump and burn out the motor.
Pond Pump Pushes Only a Small Amount of Water
- Cause — Debris in your plumbing.
- Fix — Time to clean. Disconnect the pump from the pipe to let the plumbing drain and any debris flow out. Inspect the plumbing to make sure there's no more gunk in there — when in doubt, give it a good rinse.
Pond Pump Hums but Very Little Water Is Moving
- Cause — Debris might be stopping the impeller.
- Fix — Unplug and remove the pump from the pond, and check for gunk, rocks, or sticks lodged around or above the impeller. Remove whatever you find. While the pump's out of the water, lay it on its side, plug it in, and make sure the impeller spins — if it doesn't, use a screwdriver to give it a little push.
“Just add water” sounds too good to be true, but sometimes that's all you need to do.
Still Stuck?
Professional Pond Pump Help
If you're “done” with your pump, or you'd just rather not deal with it, we can help. Continental Ponds is happy to troubleshoot your setup and help you prevent future issues.