DIY Pond Liner Repair
A pond can be a great addition to your backyard. It provides a home for fish and other animals and plants, plus it’s beautiful to look at. If there’s a tear, you want to perform a pond liner repair quickly so you can return to enjoying the water’s tranquility.
The good news is that you don’t need to call a pond repair professional for many pond liner leaks. If you’re dealing with a minor tear or crack, you can handle the repair independently, saving you time and money. If you have an EPDM pond liner, follow these repair instructions to get your pond working quickly.
Pond Liner Repair Steps
Leaks are common in pond liners as they age, so don’t worry. If you have a tear in your liner, you’re only a few steps away from fixing it.
Remove Fish
If you have any fish or other aquatic animals in your pond, remove them before beginning the repair process. Put them in a tub with water from your pond to keep them safe and happy while you fix the leak.
Find the Leak
First, find the leak. This should be fairly simple if you have a small pond. Look for any cuts or holes in your liner. You can also look for wet areas that should be dry. Finding the leak will help you repair the right spot.
Remove Water
Once you find the leak, you need to have the ability to fix it. Remove the water in your pond until the water level is at least six inches below the damaged area. If the leak is low, draining the entire pond is often best.
Clean the Liner
To ensure that your pond liner repair works as intended, you need to clean the area of the liner first. Fortunately, you don’t need to purchase a special cleaner to do this. You can use dish soap or vinegar and water to clean the area. Use a soft bristle brush to prevent damage from occurring to the liner as you clean.
Clean an area about 10 or 12 inches around the damaged section to ensure you have a large enough area to work with. Once you’re finished cleaning, let the area dry completely before moving to the next step.
Patch the Hole
Many vinyl pond liner repairs include patching. You can add smaller pieces of the vinyl liner over the damaged area. If you have any scrap pieces from the installation, this will work perfectly. Use seam tape to tape the patch onto the liner. Again, ensure the area is clean and dry for the seam tape to adhere properly.
Apply a Sealant
To ensure your repair lasts, apply a pond liner sealant to the repaired area. If you have an EPDM liner, use a product like Pond Pro 2000 for a three-year guarantee on proper applications.
Apply the sealant following the instructions that come with it. Once it’s applied, allow it to cure completely. Depending on the product you use, this can take up to 24 hours.
Refill the Pond
Once the sealant has cured, you can refill the pond and return your fish. This will let you test your repair job and ensure all leaks have been addressed. Assuming the water level doesn’t drop, you’re all finished.
Use Pond Pro 2000 for Pond Liner Repair
To ensure proper waterproofing and integrity of your repair, use Pond Pro 2000 as your sealant on all EPDM liners. Doing so will give you peace of mind that your repair will last, and you can enjoy your pond for years.
