A pond leak inspection from Just Add Water costs $250 and includes one hour of inspection and troubleshooting. What the repair costs after that depends on what we find. A full pump replacement runs $450 to $2,000. A filter upgrade with a new biofalls filtration system starts around $3,500.
Here is how to tell if you actually have a leak, what we check, and what each kind of repair usually costs in Des Moines and Central Iowa.
Pond repair prices
| Repair | What it covers | Average price |
|---|---|---|
| Leak inspection | One hour of inspection and troubleshooting to find where the water is going | $250 |
| Pump replacement | A full pump replacement, submersible or external | $450 to $2,000 |
| Filtration upgrade | A filter upgrade and a new biofalls filtration system | $3,500 and up |
These are averages from repairs we have done around the area. We always explain the fix and the price before any work starts. See all of our pond repair services.
Is it a leak or just evaporation?
Some water loss is normal. On a hot Iowa summer week, a pond can lose 1 to 3 inches to evaporation alone.
A leak is more likely if:
- The pond drops faster than 1 to 3 inches a week, or keeps dropping in cool weather
- The water stops dropping at the same level every time
- You find wet ground, soft mulch or a muddy spot near the pond, stream or waterfall
- The pump runs dry or the skimmer sucks air
If you are not sure, our guide to telling a pond leak from evaporation walks through how to tell the difference.
Where pond leaks usually are
We have repaired more than 2,000 ponds. These are the usual causes.
- A low spot along the liner edge. Rocks settle and plant roots pull the edge down. Water finds the low spot and runs out under the rocks.
- The waterfall or stream. Water splashes or leaks outside the liner.
- Plumbing connections. Freeze-thaw cycles loosen or crack fittings between the pump, skimmer and waterfall.
- A puncture in the liner. A hole or tear lets water out below the surface.
One homeowner was losing 160 gallons a day. The liner had pulled down around the edge of her stream next to an electrical post. Another had run a large water feature for years with a leak he could not find. Our team found it and fixed it quickly. You can read both stories on our reviews page.
How a leak inspection works
We start by watching how the water level behaves. Then we narrow it down.
- Shut off the pump. If the water stops dropping, the leak is in the stream, waterfall or plumbing. If it keeps dropping, the leak is in the pond itself.
- Check the liner edges. We walk the whole perimeter looking for low spots and wet ground.
- Check the waterfall, skimmer and connections. We look closely at every place water moves through equipment.
- Explain the fix. Once we find the source, you get the fix and its price before we do the work.
What makes a repair cost more
- A leak we cannot see. Some leaks hide under rock and gravel. Finding them can take more than the first hour.
- Tired equipment. An old pump or undersized filter can cause problems beyond the leak itself. Replacing them is where the $450 to $2,000 pump range and $3,500 filtration upgrade come in.
- A poor original build. If the pond keeps leaking because of how it was built, a partial or full renovation can save money over years of patching.
Repair or rebuild?
Most ponds can be repaired. Leaks, tired pumps and poor filtration can usually be fixed without starting over. A full renovation makes sense when the liner is failing in many places, the design keeps causing problems, or you want a very different look. Sometimes the best answer is converting a struggling pond into a low-maintenance pondless waterfall.
We give you an honest recommendation after we see the pond, including when a repair is all you need.
Fixing it yourself
If you want to try a repair first, our guide to fixing pond liner leaks covers the methods that work, and pond liners explained covers what your liner is made of. If the water keeps dropping, call us.
How to book a leak inspection
Call (515) 208-4099 or request a visit. We serve Des Moines, West Des Moines, Ankeny, Johnston, Ames, Indianola, Urbandale, Waukee, Grimes, Clive, Altoona and the surrounding Central Iowa communities.
Pond repair cost questions
How much does a pond leak inspection cost? Our basic leak inspection is $250 and includes one hour of inspection and troubleshooting.
How much does it cost to replace a pond pump? A full pump replacement usually runs $450 to $2,000, depending on the size of the pond and whether the pump is submersible or external.
Do you repair ponds you did not build? Yes. We fix leaks on ponds built by other contractors and by homeowners.
Can freeze-thaw damage my pond? Yes. Central Iowa winters can shift rocks, pull the liner edge down and crack plumbing fittings. A proper winter shutdown and a spring cleanout head off most of these problems.
