It’s time to winterize your outdoor water features, protecting them from damage over the cold winter months.
As the temperatures drop and winter approaches, it’s essential to protect your outdoor water features from freezing damage. Whether you have a pond, fountain, waterfall, or birdbath, knowing how to properly winterize outdoor water features helps preserve your investment and ensures they’re ready to shine again in spring.
Why Winterizing Matters
When water freezes, it expands—this simple fact can lead to cracked basins, burst pipes, and damaged pumps. By taking time to winterize outdoor water features, you prevent costly repairs and prolong the life of your system. Even if your water feature is built to withstand some cold, Maryland’s freeze-thaw cycles will take a toll over time.
Step 1: Turn Off and Drain the Water
Start by shutting off the water supply and disconnecting any automatic refill systems. Drain all water from the feature, including basins, pipes, and pumps. Leaving even a small amount of water behind can cause cracking or internal damage when it freezes.
If your feature has a pond, you may not need to drain it entirely—just lower the water level below any piping or skimmer lines. For fountains, tilt basins slightly to ensure complete drainage.
Step 2: Clean the Surfaces
Before storing or covering your water feature, remove debris like leaves, algae, and dirt. Cleaning prevents staining and discourages bacteria or mold growth during the dormant months. A simple scrub with a mild, non-toxic cleaner will do the trick.
For ponds, consider adding a net or cover to prevent falling leaves from collecting in the water throughout late fall and early winter.
Step 3: Protect the Pump
The pump is the heart of your water feature, and it needs special care. After draining, remove the pump, clean it thoroughly, and store it indoors in a bucket of water. Keeping the pump submerged prevents seals from drying out and cracking during the off-season.
If your pump is designed for sub-zero temperatures, you may be able to leave it in place—but check the manufacturer’s instructions to be sure.
Step 4: Add a Protective Cover
Covering your outdoor water feature helps keep out snow, ice, and debris. Use a breathable cover to prevent moisture buildup underneath. For fountains and statues, specially designed fountain covers are available to fit snugly and protect against harsh elements.
Ponds can be partially covered with floating de-icers or pond heaters to maintain a small area of open water, allowing gases to escape and protecting any aquatic life.
Step 5: Insulate Exposed Components
If your water feature includes above-ground pipes or plumbing, wrap them in foam insulation or use heat tape to prevent freezing. For decorative fountains, you can also stuff the basin with absorbent materials like burlap or towels before covering to add an extra layer of insulation.
Step 6: Check Throughout Winter
Even after taking all these precautions, it’s smart to check your setup occasionally during winter. Heavy snow or ice can weigh down covers or shift them out of place. A quick inspection helps ensure your water feature stays protected until spring arrives.
Enjoy a Stress-Free Spring Startup
By learning how to winterize outdoor water features, you set yourself up for an easy transition back to warm-weather enjoyment. Come spring, your pump and plumbing will be in great shape, ready to flow again without leaks, cracks, or costly replacements.
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