The ravages of time also gnaw at pond liners. PVC films often have to be replaced after just a few years because they age relatively quickly. You can find out how to proceed step by step in our article in our article.

First, the water must be drained and fish and plants removed from the pond

When to renew?

Individual damage to the pond liner can usually be easily repaired by gluing, but damage to older liners is relatively common. This is different for different types of pond liner:

  • PVC film
  • PE film
  • EPDM foil

PVC films in particular become porous after just a few years because the plasticizers they contain evaporate over time. This can lead to the entire film, or at least large areas, leaking slightly. In this case it is worth replacing. Otherwise, you should definitely replace PVC and PE films if they are more than 15 years old.

EPDM foils, on the other hand, have a very long service life - up to 50 years - and often also come with a 20-year guarantee from the manufacturer. Replacing these foils is usually only necessary after a very long time. You can also repair larger leaks with liquid foil.

Procedure for renewal

First you have to empty the pond completely before removing the old liner. It is also advisable to remove the pond sludge, as this is the easiest way to remove the liner.

It is best to dispose of the old liner together with the fleece and lay out a new layer of sand and a new pond fleece on top of that before installing the new pond liner.

Step-by-step instructions for replacing the pond liner

  • New pond liner
  • spade
  • wheelbarrow
  • dirty water pump
  • sharp knife or cutter
  • Possibly landing net
  • ev. Replacement basin for creatures from the pond

1. Clean out the pond

First you have to remove the creatures from the garden pond and bring them to safety. It is best to catch fish with a landing net and keep them in a spare tank until the end of the exchange.

2. Drain the pond

First, suck the water out of the pond. The best way to do this is to use a dirty water pump. If you use other pumps, make sure that the pump has a strainer, otherwise it could clog.

Then cut the old film open several times with a knife (if possible at the lowest point) to allow the remaining water to seep away.

3. Dispose of pond sludge and liner

It is advisable to dispose of the pond sludge because it is usually much easier to remove the liner afterwards. You can simply put the pond sludge on the compost, it is purely organic waste.

The easiest way to remove the foil is to chop it into pieces first (use the spade for this).

4. Insert new foil

First create a new bed of sand - it should be around 5 cm thick. You then place a new fleece on top and you can then lay the new foil on the fleece.

tips

You can find information on what you need to consider when disposing of the film in this article.

Category:

Garden design