Ponds leak for all sorts of varying reasons: low liner, liner tears/chew holes, plumbing breakage or even a dammed up waterfall from plant over-growth. For the average DIY pond owner, the above issues are pretty easy to detect and to fix. Having checked for liner and waterfall issues, DIY pond owner's regularly call about their mystery leak.So what about when you've tried everything that's been the problem before and you can't figure out what's happening this time?
Screws and Gromets
What are screws and gromets in a pond? Screws and gromets are the hardware pieces that hold the face plate of the skimmer box to the actual skimmer box, securing the liner between the two. If you don't know what a skimmer box is or need a refresher, click here to read our blog on skimmer boxes!
Brass screws and gromets are typically sold with and used during the original installation of a pond's skimmer box and tend to rust/disintegrate within the first 10 years after installation. Because you never have to use, look at, clean or even pay attention to screws and gromets, it's easy to forget that they exist as a part of your backyard pond altogether.
Brass screws and gromets are typically sold with and used during the original installation of a pond's skimmer box and tend to rust/disintegrate within the first 10 years after installation. Because you never have to use, look at, clean or even pay attention to screws and gromets, it's easy to forget that they exist as a part of your backyard pond altogether.
Pond Leaks Because of Screws and Gromets
Before you start removing and repairing the screws and gromets on your skimmer box's face plate, it's always a good idea to make sure that the screws and gromets are indeed the problem causing the leak. We trial and error this by turning the pump off, filling up the pond to it's normal level and letting the pond sit over night. The pond will continue to lose water and drop until it find's the whole causing the leak. If the screws and gromets are the problem, the water level will drop until it reaches the lowest screw that's rusted/disintegrated. With the water removed, it should be visibly obvious if a screws are rusted/disintegrated.
Another way to check is by digging along the front-side of the skimmer box until you can wiggle your hand behind the liner by the face-plate. If there is water or even moisture back behind that liner, that's a great indication that water is being lost through the deterioration of the screws.
Another way to check is by digging along the front-side of the skimmer box until you can wiggle your hand behind the liner by the face-plate. If there is water or even moisture back behind that liner, that's a great indication that water is being lost through the deterioration of the screws.
Solution
To solve a leak of this nature, first you're in need of removing the screws and gromets from the face-plate. Keep in mind that it is important to replace ALL the screws and gromets, whether or not they're all compromised. Removing the screws often requires drilling the old screws out.
To replace with new screws and gromets requires very special precision, as you need to line up the new screws where the old screws have made holes in the liner. Similarly, if any screw is every a little crooked, you can expect to continue losing water. Thus it is important to take your time doing this type of repair.
Stainless Steel Screws and Gromets are the best replacements for the original brass screws and gromets that we've found. You can purchase these pieces at any Fastenal store. Tip: don't forget to use the silicone when replacing the screws and gromets!!
To replace with new screws and gromets requires very special precision, as you need to line up the new screws where the old screws have made holes in the liner. Similarly, if any screw is every a little crooked, you can expect to continue losing water. Thus it is important to take your time doing this type of repair.
Stainless Steel Screws and Gromets are the best replacements for the original brass screws and gromets that we've found. You can purchase these pieces at any Fastenal store. Tip: don't forget to use the silicone when replacing the screws and gromets!!
So Now What???
Dreamscapes also carries a full line of pond supplies from water treatments and fish medications to pond pumps, heaters, fountains, plants and fish! Tadpoles and snails are also available at our Aquatic Retail Center in Lebanon, Pennsylvania seasonally while supplies last from May-August. If you think you need it, we have it!
Retail Hours: April 5th-October 27th 2018:
Monday-Wednesday: By Appt
Thursday-Friday: 10am-5pm
Saturday: 9am-12pm
October 28th-April 2019: HOURS BY APPT
Contact Us
2155 State Route 343, Lebanon Pa | 717-272-6555 | info@dreamscapeswatergardens.com
Dreamscapes Watergardens services the city of Lebanon, Lancaster, Harrisburg, Mechanicsburg, Camp Hill, Cleona, Cornwall, Fredericksburg, Indiantown Gap, Jonestown, Kleinfeltersville, Mount Gretna, Myerstown, Newmanstown Palmyra, Quentin, Reistville, Richland, Schaefferstown of Pennsylvania, PA
Retail Hours: April 5th-October 27th 2018:
Monday-Wednesday: By Appt
Thursday-Friday: 10am-5pm
Saturday: 9am-12pm
October 28th-April 2019: HOURS BY APPT
Contact Us
2155 State Route 343, Lebanon Pa | 717-272-6555 | info@dreamscapeswatergardens.com
Dreamscapes Watergardens services the city of Lebanon, Lancaster, Harrisburg, Mechanicsburg, Camp Hill, Cleona, Cornwall, Fredericksburg, Indiantown Gap, Jonestown, Kleinfeltersville, Mount Gretna, Myerstown, Newmanstown Palmyra, Quentin, Reistville, Richland, Schaefferstown of Pennsylvania, PA
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