AntoineAsphalt.caWinterizing a Water Feature in Ontario
Quick answer
Fish ponds keep running: stop feeding once the water is below 10 °C (50 °F) and keep a hole in the ice with a floating de-icer or an aerator on a shallow shelf (Aquascape). Pondless waterfalls and fountains are drained and the pump stored over winter (Perfect Yard Landscape).
Fish ponds
Fish overwinter in a pond at least 2 ft deep (Aquascape).
- Stop feeding once the water drops below 10 °C (50 °F) (Aquascape).
- Keep a hole in the ice with a floating de-icer, or an aerator or small pump on a shallow shelf, so gases escape (Aquascape).
- Keep some circulation (Aquascape).
- General practice: clear fallen leaves before freeze-up.
Pondless waterfalls
Pondless features are drained and the pump is stored over winter (Perfect Yard Landscape).
- Turn off the power at the GFCI-protected outlet.
- General practice: lift the pump from the vault, clean it and store it somewhere it won't freeze.
- Restart in spring once the risk of hard frost has passed (general practice).
Fountains
Fountains are drained and the pump stored over winter (Perfect Yard Landscape).
- Turn off the power.
- General practice: drain the basin and the feature so water can't freeze inside it.
- General practice: store the pump indoors.
What does it cost to have it done?
Seasonal start-up and winterizing runs $100–$300 a year (Angi, May 2026; US data, USD — Ontario quotes vary).
Frequently asked questions
When should I stop feeding pond fish?
Once the water drops below 10 °C (50 °F) (Aquascape). Fish metabolism slows in cold water.
Do I need a pond heater?
A floating de-icer keeps a hole in the ice; an aerator or small pump on a shallow shelf does the same job. The point is to let gases escape, not to heat the pond (Aquascape).
How deep does a pond need to be for fish to survive winter?
At least 2 ft (Aquascape). That's about 0.6 m, the depth where Hamilton and Oakville treat a landscape pond as a pool, so plan for a grate or enclosure, or winter the fish indoors.
Can I leave a pondless waterfall running in winter?
The practice we follow is to drain it and store the pump over winter (Perfect Yard Landscape).
Should I leave my fountain out in winter?
Drain it and store the pump (Perfect Yard Landscape). General practice is to drain the feature itself too so water can't freeze inside it.
What does professional winterizing cost?
Seasonal start-up and winterizing runs $100–$300 a year in US data (Angi, May 2026, USD). Ontario quotes vary.
Related guides & services
Planning a water feature in Hamilton, Burlington or Oakville? See water features or ask for an on-site quote below.
General guidance. Follow your pump and de-icer manufacturer's instructions.
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