For pond owners that live in regions where winter months are cold, snowy and icy, winterization is a process you conduct on many systems in and around your home. Essentially, winterizing anything simply keeps it from incurring damage that can cost quite a bit in repairs or possibly a complete replacement. When it comes to ponds, some owners shut it down and some continue to run it with added maintenance. As winter sets in, what should you do? Honestly, this is entirely up to your comfort level and how much maintenance you are willing to do to run the pond in freezing temps. Some pond owners choose a complete shut-down in winter so they don't have to worry about ice dams or the cost they will take on to run a larger pump. All leaves and debris are removed, plants trimmed and prepped and each piece of equipment, maintained, cleaned and/or stored for the coming season. Jets, bubblers, etc. need to be checked, disconnected and excess water drained ...