Outdoor water features can create beauty and interest, in both residential and commercial applications. Regardless of what type of water features you have; professional cleaning should be a regular part of your comprehensive maintenance plan. Keeping up with seasonal cleanings, start-ups, shut-downs, and regular weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly cleanings helps your water feature to function at its best, increases its lifespan, and ensures your water feature remains healthy and beautiful. Read on to learn more about professional water feature cleaning and its benefits, so you can ensure your water feature receives the love and care it deserves!
What Are the Benefits of Professional Water Feature Cleaning?
There are many great reasons to invest in professional water feature cleaning. To begin with, by keeping up with regular cleaning, you can prevent issues before they arise, protecting the structural integrity of your water feature. This is because regular maintenance can help prevent problems with pumps and other components, effectively reducing long-term expenses and maintenance costs, while extending the life of your water feature by reducing wear and tear on the components.
Regular cleanings also help to remove dirt and debris such as leaves, twigs, and other organic matter or contaminants that can accumulate in your water feature over time. This helps to keep the water clean and clear, by preventing an overgrowth of algae. The cleaning process also removes any sedimentation that can build up over time, reducing the risk of clogging, which can interfere with proper circulation and cause damage to the water feature’s components.
Furthermore, professional water feature cleaning is important for the safety of your family and pets. Harmful bacteria, mold, and fungi can quickly accumulate in standing water if it is not cleaned on a regular basis. This can create an unhealthy environment that may be hazardous to anyone who comes into contact with the water. Regular cleaning will help reduce this risk, as well as eliminate other health hazards such as mosquito larvae and other insects that could be present in your pond.
Another benefit of professional water feature cleaning is that it allows you to enjoy your water feature without having to worry about cleaning it yourself. That way you won't take time away from the things and people you love to research how to clean your water feature and then attempt to complete the job. With the professionals at the helm, you won't risk dealing with potential issues that may arise from improper cleaning or maintenance but can instead rest assured the job is done right.
Simply put, professional water feature cleaning is essential for keeping your water feature looking its best. This can help to significantly improve the value of your outdoor space and will help to ensure that your water feature remains safe and functional for years to come.
What Types of Cleaning Are Available?
When it comes to professional water feature cleaning, there are several different options that may be helpful. They will be discussed in detail below:
Spring Cleaning- Ideally, water features should be winterized each fall. Thus, in the spring, your system will need to be cleaned up and restarted. This process often includes emptying the water feature, power washing and rinsing the feature, adding treatments as applicable, cleaning all components including baskets, filters, and skimmers, elevating foliage to a higher location, and refilling your pond/water feature. Once this process is completed your system is ready to be enjoyed all summer long!
Fall Cleaning- When fall arrives, it is time to start thinking about having your pond/water feature cleaned once more in preparation for winter. If you live in an area that does not require you to winterize your pond/water feature, a thorough cleaning can prepare your system for old man winter. Typically, this process includes placing foliage roots down low, so they do not suffer from frozen roots, cutting back plants, placing a net to catch leaves and debris, adjusting aerators to keep water in motion so unfrozen areas remain for gas exchange and oxygenation, and the installation of heaters when applicable to keep ice thawed. Ultimately, preparing your pond in the fall ensures it will remain healthy throughout the winter and be ready to be enjoyed again in the spring.
A Full Fall Winterization- If you live in an exceptionally harsh climate or simply do not feel comfortable leaving your feature or pond up and running throughout the winter season, a fall shut down may be in order. If this is the route you choose, the professionals will trim plants back in preparation for winter, place foliage lower to protect root systems, remove the pond pump and place it inside so it does not freeze, blow out the pipes so no water freezes inside and causes damage, add a net, and adjust aerators. Choosing a total shutdown can ensure your water feature is safe, secure, and protected from freezing and expansion over the winter that could damage its components.
Intermittent Cleanings- In addition to seasonal cleanings and winterization services, the professionals also offer regular maintenance cleanings on a weekly, bi-weekly, monthly, or quarterly interval. Keeping up with regular cleanings can ensure your water feature or pond is always clean, sanitized, aesthetically appealing, within HOA regulations, and safe.
Prevent problems before they start, keep your water feature beautiful, and keep your property values high with professional water feature cleaning!
What Types of Water Features Should Be Cleaned?
No matter the size or complexity of a water feature, or whether it is placed in a commercial or residential area, water feature cleaning is important to keep your pond/feature looking and functioning at its best. This includes everything from small fountains to large ponds, natural swimming pools, koi ponds, water gardens or other complex water features such as streams, cascades, waterfalls, fountains, and bubblers. Regardless of the feature, one fact remains the same, all water features need regular cleaning as part of their comprehensive maintenance plan.
In conclusion, regular water feature cleaning is an essential part of keeping your system in good condition. Without it, algae can build up, components can become clogged or corroded, and HOA regulations may not be met. Professional service providers should be called upon to winterize, clean, and maintain your water feature/pond in order to ensure its health and longevity, as well as your enjoyment for many years to come!