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Showing posts from April, 2020

Got Algae?

The most common problem with both residential and commercial ponds is algae growth or the accumulation of muck.  Your water being cloudy or dirty-looking can be a result of many different factors but, for a majority of pond owners, it is simply a breakdown of sludge that releases nutrients which tip the scales to create murkiness or algae blooms.  This is why regular maintenance, especially a proper Spring start up, are so crucial to the ecosystem of your water feature. A Spring clean out is like a fresh start for your pond and allows for clearer water and better health for fish or aquatic plants.  Your pond should be drained and power washed annually to remove harmful buildup.  This is also the perfect time to check on aquatic plants and see what needs to be divided and re-potted, to check the soil and liner, fill gaps, adjust landscape, remove all debris and check all filter and plumbing systems.  All filter systems need to be thoroughly inspected, repa...

A Covid-19 Update...

With the Covid-19 pandemic and subsequent quarantine to prevent the virus spreading, there is a lot of misinformation, confusion and fear swirling around.  Namely, many folks are left wondering how this Coronavirus affects ponds, streams and our own drinking water. According to the CDC, there is no scientific evidence to support that a person can catch Covid-19 from water - such as ponds, swimming pools or hot tubs  They caution that even though the chances are almost non-existent, taking precautions to properly clean or manage your water features and pools is ideal.  Using the right chemicals and keeping these features well-maintained should be more than sufficient during this time to inactivate or remove the virus that causes it. There has also been no Covid-19 detected in drinking water supplies and current disinfection methods are more than able to properly remove or inactivate the virus as well. At Laughing Waters Pond Maintenance, we put the health and saf...

Chicago Pond Service Tip 2

One Of The Best Things You Can Do For Your Pond Is Keep Mowed Grass, Fallen Leaves And Tree Branches OUT Of It! Water features and ponds look stunning in backyard settings but not many people realize the maintenance that goes into them to keep them running in peak shape.  For many homeowners, they simply don't have the time, equipment or know-how to repair equipment, properly balance pH or keep fish and plants thriving. DIY can be overwhelming but the absolute greatest thing you can contribute to your pond is the simple act of keeping foreign objects out.  When the season changes or a big storm has passed through, scope out your pond and the surrounding area for branches, twigs and leaves.  These things can decay in your pond and completely throw off the pH, disrupting the delicate balance of your tiny ecosystem.  It's important to keep any trees or shrubs nearby well-trimmed. Another major disruption to your pond's chemical balance is grass...

How To Choose A Pond Maintenance Company

When it comes to your pond and water features, you want to enjoy them for years to come and depend on great service to maintain them.  Keeping them in top shape takes skill that only an experienced professional can supply but how do you choose a pond maintenance company? Experience - You can find pond maintenance companies just about anywhere - Google, Craigslist, your community papers - but that doesn't mean they are a good company.  First of all, you want to check out what experience they have.  Some companies only deal in certain aspects of water features, such as design or building, but fail to have a service team for routine checkups and repairs.  Call the company directly and ask them what areas they specialize in and how long they've been doing this.  Never make any commitments until you finish your research and gauge how they respond.  Hesitation, avoidance of topics or vague conversation are indicators that they may not be the greatest choice...