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Old Man Winter can do a number on our ponds, equipment, outdoor furniture and garden statuary. Here’s a few tips to protect yourself from Old Man Winter’s wrath:
Protect Your UV
The quartz sleeve in your UV is the most delicate part of the unit. It is not warranted by the manufacturer and is also quite expensive to replace. When water freezes inside the UV’s tube it will ALMOST ALWAYS expand and crack the sleeve. You can’t depend on moving water not freezing because if we have an ice storm the electricity more than likely will go out and the water will stop running. The best thing to do is simply take the unit off the system and store it in the garage until spring. You could take out the lamp and the quartz sleeve but, if you do, you take a chance of breaking them by handling them.
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protecting your UV from winter weather.
Protect Your Cement Birdbath or Fountain
If water freezes inside the bowl of a cement birdbath or fountain the bowl will crack and leak. Turn over the birdbath before the temperature drops below freezing. If you have a drain in your fountain, pull the plug and let all the water drain out. If you don’t, cover the fountain with a leak-proof tarp. Electric de-icers are available for fountains but keep in mind that if the electricity goes off the water will freeze.
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protecting your statuary from winter weather.
Protect Your Filter
If water freezes inside your filter it will expand and can cause damage and void your warrantee. The best thing to do is to drain the unit. If you have a bead filter and wish to run the system you can turn the valve to RECIRCULATE and the filter will be bypassed and not fill up.
Protect Your Plumbing
Any outside plumbing, flex or hard PVC, can rupture if water freezes inside it. Wrap all exposed plumbing with insulation or bury it. Drain the entire system, including pipes, if possible.
Protect Your External Pump
If water freezes inside the pump it will expand and could damage the pump. Drain the pump by opening the drain plug on the bottom of the leaf catcher. You could also keep it running. Remember, however, that if the electricity goes off so does the pump.
Protect Your Glass Gazing Globes
Though quality glass globes are tough and able to be left outside throughout all the seasons if a winter storm is in the forecast it wouldn’t hurt to bring the glass globes inside. High winds, falling limbs and extremely cold air can burst the balls. It’s better to be safe than sorry.
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protecting your garden gazing globes from winter weather.
From The Tour de' Ponds Edition of What's Up, Doc?, Sept thru Dec 2002 © Copyright 2002, Pond Doc's Water Garden Center. All rights Reserved. Reproduction of this article prohibited without prior consent of The Pond Doc.
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