Fixing Common Pond Leaks: Tips and Tricks

A pond leak can be a huge headache for pond owners. They can be tricky to find, time-consuming to fix, and can cause damage to the area around or the plants and animals inside the pond if left unfixed long enough.

Knowing how to fix common pond leaks can make it much easier for you to tackle the issue head-on. This will get your pond back in working order quickly.

Finding the Pond Leak

The first step in fixing a pond leak is finding the pond leak. This will help you determine if it’s a leak you’re dealing with or another issue. Assuming you know it’s not normal evaporation and you’re losing water at an alarming rate, follow these steps to find your leak efficiently:

• Take any fish and removable plants out of your pond and put them in a tub filled with water from the pond.
• Turn off any auto-fill devices or other systems you have running.
• Fill your pond up to its normal level.
• Allow the pond water to drain. Depending on the size of the leak and its location, this can take 12 or more hours.
• Watch for the water level to even out. Once it does, you’ve found the approximate level the issue is coming from.
• Check the water level line for the leak’s location. Look for low edges, pond liner tears, etc.

Another common way to look for a pond leak is using the Milk Method (or Dye Method). Take a gallon of milk or non-toxic dye and pour it into your pond from the top of the feature. Watch the colored liquid to see where it goes; it will likely go to the leak like the water does.

Once you find your leak, you can fix it the way that works best for the issue.

Fixing Low Pond Edges

If your pond is newer or you’ve recently replaced the liner, your leak may be due to low edges. Most often, low edges are found around a stream or waterfall where your pond settles after a few rainfalls.

Inspect the edges of your stream, waterfall, and the entire perimeter of your pond. If you find areas where the dirt has settled to make the pond liner lower than it should be, that’s likely the source of your leak.

Fortunately, all you need to do is lift the liner and push some soil under it to bring it to the right level. That should fix your low-edge leak immediately.

Fixing Small Holes

If you find a hole in your pond liner that’s a few inches long, using a sealant to repair it is a popular option. Choose a sealant like Pond Pro 2000 to repair the leak in your EPDM liner and know it won’t leak again.

To use sealant on a small hole, follow these steps:

• Remove any fish and plants and drain your pond.
• Clean the affected area and let it dry entirely.
• Apply the sealant per the instructions provided.
• Allow the sealant to fully cure before refilling your pond (about 24 hours).

Repairing Larger Holes

If you find a larger hole in your pond liner, you may need to apply a patch before you apply your sealant. Use a repair kit or seam tape to cover the hole. Then, you can finish the repair by putting Pond Pro 2000 over it.

Summary

Don’t let pond leaks stop you from enjoying your pond. Minor leaks in your pond liner can be fixed following a few steps once you know the source of the leak. Using Pond Pro 2000 to fix any tears in your liner will make your pond as good as new in no time.