A beautiful pond brings peace and joy. It creates a lively home for plants and animals. Pond liners are necessary for this ecosystem. It is a barrier that stops water from leaking into the ground. Liners can break down over time, even the tough ones. Spotting liner problem early is vital as it saves money on repairs. Besides, it maintains a healthy and thriving pond environment.
If you overlook a damaged liner, it can lead to:
- Significant water loss
- Impact fish health
- Badly stress out aquatic plants
- Degrade the overall aesthetic appeal of your pond
In this post, let’s get familiar with the five signs indicating replacement of the liner in your pond.
1. Low water level
When you see drop of water level consistently, it is sign of liner trouble. Water loss occurs through evaporation, which is normal. But a big, steady drop of water level, even when it rains indicates there is a leak. Before you blame the liner check other things like:
- Plants absorbing a lot of water
- Waterfalls or filters can have leaky pipes.
Mark the water level and watch for a few days. If it still drops after evaporation, the liner is possibly leaky.
2. Visible tears, cracks & punctures
A regular visual check of the liner is essential to spot damage. Check the liner carefully, looking above and below the water for tears, cracks or holes. Even check the edges and plumbing areas because roots or rocks can cause small holes. Large tears are due to sun damage or aging. Fix any damage quickly to keep it from worsening.
3. Excessive algae growth
Some algae in the pond are fine but too much is bad for the liner. A failing liner can leak minerals and chemicals from the soil into the pond water. This increases nutrients in the water, which feeds algae and creates blooms. Liner is a barrier but cannot act as an impermeable barricade as it is damaged. Test the water and make adjustments to reduce the issue temporarily. But, ensure to address this underlying problem of failing liner to control algae long term.
4. Dead or dying aquatic plants
Aquatic plants are essential to keep pond environment healthy. It offers habitat to pond life and maintains water quality. Suddenly dying plants mean possible pond leakage. Watch for yellow leaves or stunted growth. Leaks upset the balance of pH and nutrients, hurting the growth of aquatic plants. A failing liner allows the soil chemicals to seep inside the pool, poisoning the plant life.
5. Sagging or uneven pond edges
Pond edges may sink or look tilted as water leaks and soaks the ground. Unstable soil makes this issue worse. The weight of water and the failing liner erode the supporting soil. It leads to noticeable shift in the landscape around the pond. It is not visually appealing but it can weaken the pond’s structural integrity. Even the leak worsens, if ignored causing more harm to the area.
If you do experience these problems and think that your pond liner is due for replacement, get in touch with a professional pond care service. In Kent, the professionals at That Pond Guy Services know how to deal with the intricacies of pond maintenance and can properly identify the problem, recommend the optimal liner replacement solution, and deliver skilled installation work. Replacing a pond liner is no small job, but with the proper information and expertise, you can revive your pond to like new condition and have it for the next few years.
