Frogs will often hang out inside the skimmer box because it offers a pocket of warm air compared to the outside temperature, and frogs like that. It is not unusual to open a skimmer lid and see 2-3 frogs perched along the net supports this time of year. Frogs will swim into the bottom of a skimmer to be closer to the source of the warmth…the pump, and tend to get their leg jammed in the pump’s intake.
Do yourself a favor and take a minute to check for frogs in your skimmer during this time a year. 

If you are located in the Oklahoma City Metro and need help removing your pump, preparing your pond for the winter or have any pond maintenance questions, call or Contact us.

Ponds, pondless waterfalls, and fountains are low-maintenance additions to any Oklahoma landscape. All needing a pump to operate and most running 24/7. Eventually, even the best equipment can have issues. Learn how to troubleshoot your pump to keep your water feature in tip-top shape. If you are having pump issues try these quick fixes to get things running smoothly in no time.

1. 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. Keep in mind that pumps must be submerged in water in order to work properly. Low water levels can activate a pump’s thermal shut-off. Once the pump has cooled down, the shut-off will deactivate and the pump will start running again. Keep enough water in your system to avoid this on-again, off-again drama. This is one of our most common phone conversation.
2. Pond pump doesn’t run.
   Cause: This can be caused by an interruption in the power supply. You might have a crummy electrical connection, a tripped breaker, or a blown fuse.
   
   Fix: Make sure your electrical connections are working and have been installed and tested by a qualified electrician. Keep in mind that if you’re using long extension cords, you might experience a drop in voltage at the pump and a jump in the amps. This can heat up the pump and burn out the motor.
3. Pond pump pushes only a small amount of water.
   Cause: You might have debris in your plumbing.
   
   Fix: It’s time to clean. Disconnect the pump from the pipe. This will let the plumbing drain – and debris to flow out. Inspect the plumbing to make sure there’s no more gunk in there. When in doubt, give it a good rinse.
4. Pond pump hums but very little water is moving.
   Cause: Debris might be stopping the impeller. 
   

          Fix: Again with the debris! Unplug and remove the pump from the pond. Take a look at the pump to make sure there’s no gunk mucking up the            works. Look for rocks or sticks that might be lodged around or above the impeller. Remove whatever junk you find.

         
 While you have the pump out of the water, lay it on its side and plug it in. Make sure the impeller spins before you put it back in the pond. If it’s not spinning, use a screwdriver to give it a little push.

Professional Pond Pump Help
If you’re "done" with your pump, or if you don’t even want to deal with it, we can help. Continental Ponds is happy to troubleshoot your setup and help you prevent future issues. Contact us online or give us a call at 405-834-2291

For daily pond tips Monday thru Friday like and share our facebook page. To receive our monthly newsletter click here. Remember we are always just a click away from solving your pond problems!

Our outdoor design center is located at 9105 NW Expressway, Yukon, OK  73099. Please feel free to stop by for more water feature inspiration.
 
Continental Ponds is offering this pond information as a personal information source to our website visitors. Pond services are performed in Oklahoma City, Norman, Moore, Nichols Hills, Edmond, Yukon, Shawnee, Newcastle, Mustang, Bethany, Piedmont, Guthrie, Jones, Chandler, Midwest City, Del City, Shawnee, Tuttle, Blanchard, Bridge Creek , Warr Acres, Woodlawn Park, Lawton. Fish and Koi Pond Maintenance and Construction, Streams and Waterfalls, and Fountains are all in our wheelhouse of talent. Explore our website for more ideas. Like our Facebook page for daily tips and inspiration.
 

Every year we get hundreds of calls from Oklahoma City pond owners saying "my pump went out can you come fix it?" and our answer is of course we can. But..what if I told you to check a few things first and that might save you a couple hundred dollars. Now that I have you attention, listed below are a few quick things to check before calling your Oklahoma City pond contractor or electrician.   

​When your Oklahoma City pond/water feature pump quits running there are a series of necessary steps and precautions to take. If your pump were to quit running it is best to conduct a thorough check in detecting where the problem is. Before contacting a professional, it can be helpful to narrow down the possibilities. If you do not trust yourself to do so, then contacting a professional may be your best option. 

​The first thing to do if your pump quits running is to check the outlet. Unplug everything and make sure the GFI is reset if tripped. Ensure that you hear the click after hitting the reset button to be sure that it was properly reset.  After doing so, plug everything in one by one, allowing 30 seconds between items. As you are plugging each plug back into the outlet, listen closely so that you do not hear a clicking sound. If you do hear a clicking sound after plugging the plug into the outlet,  the device that plug is associated to may be the culprit.  

​From there, the next step may vary. Of the few options, two of them are to take the pump apart, or call a professional. If you decide to take the pump apart, there are manuals and instructions on how to do so from the manufacturer. Light research may bring the desired outcomes.  We talk about pump problem and how to fix them in another article which can be found here.    

Once again we have given you all the tools to make an informed decision on weather or not you need to call your Oklahoma Pond Contractor or electrician. So please do not make the mistake of NOT resetting your GFCI and then complaining when you get billed $200-$500, for someone to come to your house and push a button! As the old saying goes "your not paying for time, your paying for the knowledge." 

​For daily pond tips Monday thru Friday like and share our facebook page. To receive our monthly newsletter click here. Remember we are always just a click away from solving your pond problems!

Our outdoor design center is located at 9105 NW Expressway, Yukon, OK  73099. Please feel free to stop by for more water feature inspiration.
 
Continental Ponds is offering this pond information as a personal information source to our website visitors. Pond services are performed in Oklahoma City, Norman, Moore, Nichols Hills, Edmond, Yukon, Shawnee, Newcastle, Mustang, Bethany, Piedmont, Guthrie, Jones, Chandler, Midwest City, Del City, Shawnee, Tuttle, Blanchard, Bridge Creek , Warr Acres, Woodlawn Park, Lawton. Fish and Koi Pond Maintenance and Construction, Streams and Waterfalls, and Fountains are all in our wheelhouse of talent. Explore our website for more ideas. Like our Facebook page for daily tips and inspiration.