skimmers use for winter

[DebraLynn]

I would like to discuss the uses of a savio underground skimmer it is on the outside of the pond but connected to the pond on one side. I am no expert but logically it seems to me that since the skimmer is buried except for its intake . The water is the skimmer is not frozen. Will the methane gas escape into the skimmer. I have thought about putting a light in the top of the skimmer above the water. Will that not work? It seems this would be a lot easier than building something to fit above the water of the pond. My pond is now frozen over. I had a air pump but it froze last night from the condensation in hose.
I also have a few 2 litter bottles floating on the top with a little water in them. I lift the soda bottles up and they easily pop out of the ice because of their shape. " Instant hole'.
I am just not prepared for winter with everything going on in my life. It has been so cold that not only is the pond frozen over but so has my water in my home for 2 days now. I sure hope my pipes do not bust.

 

[DrCase]

I hope your pipes dont pop too .. If you do have a crawl space can you get some heat under there ..Make sure all the vents are closed to keep any more cold air from getting under the house and turn up the heat..the longer they stay frozen the more likely something not so good is going to happen

Back to the fish ...i would think the gasses would stay at the top and not want to get sucked down with the heavy water
if your pond was clean and you haven't been feeding you will be OK until you have more time to deal with it or the weather brakes

 

[CometKeith]

Hi DebraLynn, You are a true pond aficionado. You care more about your pond than your frozen water pipes! I know a lot more about frozen pipes than skimmers so here is my two cents. Most likely your pipe is very close to an outside wall that is poorly insulated. You can have someone make a hole in the wall and insert a vent so the warm air inside your house mixes with the cold air inside the wall. If you can open it wide enough you can also put some rigid insulation between the pipe and outside wall. If the pipe is exposed you can wrap the special heating tape around it the hardware stores sell (don't use a flame!!). Also in the future you can let your faucet drip when it gets really cold out and this will help because flowing water is less likely to freeze. Re ponds, mine is almost frozen over too. I only have about a 6" diameter hole right now. I may have to look for my deicer if this weather keeps up!

 

[DebraLynn]

OK guys I got my house water taken care of. Thanks to all those willing to help with my froozen water to the house.
I really do want to know if the skimmer idea is off the mark for adding either light there or my air pump running inside the skimmer with the air stone hanging into the pond.

DebraLynn

 

[DrCase]

Good to hear you have running water again once you get use to it you gotta have it :regular_waving_emot
Do you have a pic of your skimmer ?

 

[hewhoisatpeace]

A 100W light bulb in a crawl space usually helps add just enough heat in a cold snap to keep you from freezing pipes. As far as the skimmer goes, as long as there is just a bit of ventilation to the air in the skimmer box it ought to work, but a pic of your skimmer sure would help us to better understand what you mean.

 

[DrDave]

Will
Nice to see you back. Great idea on the light bulb. Safe and easy.

I have a heater strip that I bought years ago for heating plexiglass so it can be formed. Something like that could be wrapped around a copper pipe to keep it from freezing. The problem with this is regulation, I don't think it would be safe to leave on 24/7.

 

[DebraLynn]

skimmer project

My skimmer project
I covered the under side of my skimmer lid with Styrofoam insulation.. I also mounted a electric light under there as well. I did not have any incandescent lights. So I had to use a florescent light . It does not put out enough heat but it definitely works I will buy a incandescent light this week.. The water is frozen about 3 inches in the skimmer and it is definitely melting under the light. The pond is frozen over for at least 5 inches. I am enclosing some photos.