I am considering installing a water feature (fountain) in my garden. My
concern is how to stop it freezing up in winter. Will the movement of the
water be sufficient or is it necessary to add some non-toxic additive?

I would be interested to know how other posters overcome this problem. I am
told that vodka acts as a non-toxic anti-freeze. If so, what would be an
appropriate mix of vodka/water for temperatures down to say -5C? I would
hate to have drunken birds flying around the garden!

Any advice would be appreciated.

Les

les wrote:
> I am considering installing a water feature (fountain) in my garden.
> My concern is how to stop it freezing up in winter. Will the movement
> of the water be sufficient or is it necessary to add some non-toxic
> additive?
> I would be interested to know how other posters overcome this
> problem. I am told that vodka acts as a non-toxic anti-freeze. If so,
> what would be an appropriate mix of vodka/water for temperatures down
> to say -5C? I would hate to have drunken birds flying around the
> garden!
> Any advice would be appreciated.
>
> Les

Hi Les. It depends where you live, and your normal winter temps. I'm on the
outskits of London, and my garden is surrounded by a 6ft wall, so is well
protected. My water feature runs all year without freezing. (
http://www.boypete.dsl.pipex.com/otters/otters.htm )
I imagine you'd need a good dollop of vodka to lower the freezing point, and
it isn't just birds you need to consider. Numerous nocturnal animals will
call round for a wee dram! :)
--
ßôyþëtë

"BoyPete" <petcrow [at] lineone.net> wrote in message
news:4gapmhF1mhe27U1 [at] individual.net...
> les wrote:
> > I am considering installing a water feature (fountain) in my
garden.
> > My concern is how to stop it freezing up in winter. Will the
movement
> > of the water be sufficient or is it necessary to add some
non-toxic
> > additive?
> > I would be interested to know how other posters overcome this
> > problem. I am told that vodka acts as a non-toxic anti-freeze. If
so,
> > what would be an appropriate mix of vodka/water for temperatures
down
> > to say -5C? I would hate to have drunken birds flying around the
> > garden!
> > Any advice would be appreciated.
> >
> > Les
>
> Hi Les. It depends where you live, and your normal winter temps. I'm
on the
> outskits of London, and my garden is surrounded by a 6ft wall, so is
well
> protected. My water feature runs all year without freezing. (
> http://www.boypete.dsl.pipex.com/otters/otters.htm )
> I imagine you'd need a good dollop of vodka to lower the freezing
point, and
> it isn't just birds you need to consider. Numerous nocturnal animals
will
> call round for a wee dram! :)

I'll second that. My pond waterfall runs all year, too.
The recirculating pump uses energy to push the water round and that
creates heat (not much) in the submerged pump. That raises the
recirculating water temperature a smidgen.
If really concerned, why not just switch the pump off in cold weather?
I had a fountain but I don't use it because wind blew the spray out of
the pond and I had to keep topping the pond up. Yes, I could have
reduced the fountain height but that reduces the 'feature' value
(well in my case it did).
Unless it is a stand-alone fountain, 'any' sort of 'antifreeze' will
affect plant and wildlife. 'Just aint natural.

--
ned

http://www.bugsandweeds.co.uk