Pond Fountains and Pond Liners: Avoiding Damage Below

A common EPDM pond liner has a nominal thickness of about one millimeter. That thin sheet holds back every gallon in the pond, and it also carries whatever you set on the bottom. When you compare pond fountains for sale, spray height and horsepower tend to grab your attention first. The parts that touch the floor deserve an equal look, because they sit on that same sheet for years to come.

Not all pond fountains for sale meet the liner in the same way. A floating fountain hangs its motor under the surface and relies on ropes and anchors. A submersible pump rests on the floor itself, perhaps with a fountain head on top. Each setup puts pressure on the liner in a different place.

Where Pond Fountains for Sale Put Weight on a Liner

Here is the thing about liners. Makers ask for a smooth base free of sharp stones, with a protective fabric layer between the soil and the membrane. One installer adds that water weight alone can press a liner onto a hidden rock or root over time.

You cannot see what sits under an existing liner, so the safest move is to keep new loads light and spread out. Think about these contact points before you buy:

• Anchor blocks for a floating fountain rest their full weight on the pond floor.
• Shore stakes may land close to the buried edge of the liner.
• A submersible pump presses its base, and anything under it, into the membrane.
• Ropes can rub along rock-covered shelves as the float shifts.

Softening the Load From Floating Fountain Anchors

Consider the anchors first. Floating units can tie back to the shoreline or to cinder blocks on the bottom, and each option affects a liner differently.

Cinder blocks have rough faces and corners. When an installer covers a liner with stone, they also lay fabric over the liner first. A folded offcut of liner under each block follows the same idea. Lower the block by its rope rather than dropping it from a boat.

Shore ties sound like the easy answer, yet they bring their own risk. One liner maker describes anchoring the edge in a trench around the perimeter, so a stake in the wrong spot could pierce it. Set stakes a little outside that trench, where you know only soil sits below.

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Setting Submersible Pumps Off the Liner Surface

Pumps are a different story, since they sit right on the floor. More than one pump maker tells owners to stand the unit on a brick or flat stone in a pond. One set of instructions calls for a depth of 6 inches to 3 feet below the surface. It also asks for a stable spot clear of sludge and sand.

Grit matters here too, as another maker notes that sand and abrasive material wear the pump and cut its output. A brick raises the pump, but it also brings hard edges onto the membrane. Placing a pad of spare liner under the brick, perhaps doubled over, seems like a fair compromise. Browse outdoor pond pumps with that brick-and-pad setup in mind.

Depth Clearance When Shopping Pond Fountains for Sale

Before you buy, measure the deepest point of your pond and note the lowest level it reaches in dry weather. Floating fountains list a minimum operating depth, and it increases with size. In one product line, it starts at 17.5 inches for a 3/4 HP unit and reaches 26 inches at 5 HP.

A lined backyard pond with two feet of water might suit the smaller unit but not the larger one. Leave yourself some margin for the summer drop, too.

Motor Oil, Seals, and EPDM Pond Liners

This next point involves a little chemistry. The data sheet for one widely sold EPDM liner says to avoid contact with mineral oils and petroleum products. Fountain motors differ on this front. Some lines use oil-free submersible motors, while others use sealed motor assemblies.

One maker of sealed units advises replacing the seals and changing the oil after three years. That schedule matters a bit more in a lined pond, so write the install date somewhere you will find it.

Oddly enough, sunlight is less of a worry. The same data sheet lists strong resistance to UV and ozone, so a few exposed inches of liner in August may look worse than they are.

Servicing Pond Fountains Without Scratching the Liner

Service days bring the last round of risk. Liner makers warn against dragging the membrane over sharp objects during installation, and the same logic applies later. Pull a floating unit in by its ropes, never by its cord, and lift it out at the edge instead of sliding it over shelves. Leave spades and rakes on the bank unless you truly need them in the water.

A lined pond can host a fountain for many seasons without trouble. The trick is to treat the bottom as part of your equipment list. When you are ready to compare floating units by depth and size, start with the range of pond fountains.