Even the highest quality pond liner can get a hole due to unfortunate circumstances. In our article you can read how you can repair the different types of pond liner, what you need for this and where repairing is problematic.
When the pond plants have retreated, it's a good time for repairs
Types of pond liners
The most commonly used pond liner, which is also used by professional GaLa farmers, is PVC liner. It has some disadvantages that you should definitely consider before using it.
Other foils are also used:
- EPDM foil
- PE film (slightly better environmental properties than PVC film
- special geotextiles, the best alternative in terms of properties
Depending on the type of film, different repair methods are used. Repairing older PVC foils (after a few years) becomes problematic.
Gluing is problematic in this case because the film changes chemically after a few years and glue no longer holds well. If damage or a hole occurs here, you have to reckon with the fact that the foil may no longer be completely sealed. This is also a point that actually speaks against the use of PVC films.
Search for the damage site
In most cases, a leak in the liner or a hole can be recognized by the loss of water in the pond.
Check alternative causes
First of all, especially when it comes to a relatively new pond, a design flaw must be ruled out as the cause of the water loss. This can be the case, for example, when the edge of the pond liner ends below the surface of the earth.
The filter system may also be leaking. Check all hose connections here.
Heavily planted border areas can be the cause of high evaporation in summer, especially when there are large numbers of marsh plants (sedges, reeds, cattails).
If all this is ruled out, you can start looking for the damaged spot.
Find the elevation of the damaged area
Fill the garden pond completely and mark the height of the water level daily. The water level will drop very quickly up to the level of the damaged area, and then much more slowly.
Once you have found the right altitude, carefully feel the surrounding areas. Most of the time you can feel the cause.
repair damage
In any case, leaks must always be masked over a very large area, expect overlaps of at least 10 - 15 cm. You may also need to pad the damaged area first (especially if there was a foreign object underneath that caused the hole). It is best to use pond fleece for lining.
Repair of PVC film
It is best to stick a sufficiently large patch to the damaged area. For this you need a PVC glue. The area must be very clean and dried well before you can glue. Note that the glue will probably not stick as well on older slides.
Repair of EPDM foils
EPDM foil can be repaired in two ways: on the one hand with special glue and special adhesive tape, on the other hand with liquid pond foil. Both methods are very easy to use and usually work without any problems. The film is simply applied to the damaged area in several layers, with each individual layer having to dry.
Repair of PE foils
There are also special repair adhesives for PE foils. You cannot use liquid pond liner here.
tips
Make sure that you always press on the patches as firmly as possible when gluing, preferably with a wallpaper roller. After repairing the liner, the pond should not be filled for at least 1 - 2 days.