How You Can Fix Pond Liner Leaks Using 5 Different Methods

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How You Can Fix Pond Liner Leaks Using 5 Different Methods

Patch Your Water Feature So Your Home In Des Moines Doesn’t Have A Swampy Back Yard

Worried your water feature might be leaking? Well, you’ve come to the right place! In this post, you can find out the signs your water feature is leaking. You can also find out what we recommend you do to determine where the leak is and how to fix it. It’s the same steps we take during our leak detection and repair service.

Watch the video below to see our process for finding and fixing pond liner leaks

Any ‘Gators Out There?

“I hope not, otherwise we might need airboats,” jokes Angela.

Adam chuckles. “Nice comeback. But, I think we might need to be a little more serious about this possible pond leak. If it’s there, we need to know how to fix pond liner leaks.”

Angela looks at him curiously. “What makes you think it’s a liner leak? Could it be evaporation vs a leak?” Adam shrugs. “From what I hear, most of the time it is. We should look up how to find and fix pond leaks. Maybe we can do it ourselves instead of hiring somebody.”

Angela nods. “I agree. Let’s see what Google has to say.” She picks her phone up off of the table and starts searching. “Here we go, this pond contractor’s blog post might have answers for us.”

Here’s what the couple discovers:

Finding Out If It’s A Pond Leak

If you’re losing 2 to 3 inches per week, it’s probably a leak. Now we have to see where the leak is.

Turn off any auto-fill devices and let the pond continue leaking. If you keep losing water after 12 hours, let it continue draining. The point of this is to watch and see where the water level settles. Once it does, we know the leak is somewhere above the water level.

90% of the time the leak is a low liner edge in the stream. Low liners let the water run over it and into your yard. If it isn’t this then it’s likely a leak in the plumbing.

A lot of the time, finding a pond leak takes a lot of work. Our techs are constantly on their hands and knees checking liner, looking around rocks, and checking the plumbing.

The Milk Method To Find A Pond Leak

If you suspect a leak, take some milk or dye and add it to your pond. Watch the path it takes. If there’s a leak, some or all of the milk should go towards it and then out into your yard. It’s efficient but it doesn’t always work.

5 Methods For How To Fix Pond Liner Leaks

Fixing pond liner leaks depends on damage size. Sometimes all you need to do is reposition the liner. Pond leak sealant is great for small repairs. Repair kits are for medium-sized repairs. Joining tape is for adding more liner. If the damage is bad enough you may need a whole new liner.

1. Repositioning Your Liner

Sometimes the liner just needs to be put back into place. The ground around it may be settling, the weather may have pushed something out of place, or anything else could’ve happened.

Whatever the reason, the liner isn’t where it should be and it’s swamping your yard. You can just put it back where it’s supposed to be and shore it up with dirt or mulch or gravel.

2. Using Pond Liner Sealant For Small Damages

It’s kind of like sewing a patch onto clothes but without the sewing part. Most repair kits come with a primer, a self-sticking patch, and a roller. They come in 2-by-2 inch squares and go up to 30-by-30 inch squares.

Drain the water down to the hole
Dry the area around it
Apply the primer
Cut the patch into a circle
Use the roller to apply the patch
Wait a few minutes for it to set
Refill your pond

It’s easy to use, blends in well, only takes a few minutes to set, and it comes with everything you need. The downsides are you have to drain the pond and dry the damaged area.

3. Pond Liner Repair Kit

Drain the water down to the hole
Dry the area around it
Apply the primer
Cut the patch into a circle
Use the roller to apply the patch
Wait a few minutes for it to set
Refill your pond

It’s easy to use, blends in well, only takes a few minutes to set, and it comes with everything you need. The downsides are you have to drain the pond and dry the damaged area.

4. Pond Liner Joining Tape

It may just be your pond contractor didn’t leave enough liner around the sides. No need to get a whole new liner if there’s no damage or just a small one. You can use pond liner joining tape (it’s sticky on both sides) and some extra liner.