A: Ice skating, hockey, curling, broomball, ice fishing—part of the joy of having your own pond or lake is all the wintertime sports that can be played on the ice. These frosty, fun activities are the main reason why folks shut down their aerator for the winter, as keeping one running will create a hole in the ice and make the ice unstable.
If you plan to turn your lake into an ice rink this year, turn off, pull out and store your aerator before the ice begins to form. Why? Because if ice that forms on the water surface has been moving for even a short time, it can be porous and not suitable for skating. Even movement on one end of the lake and not the other can make the ice at the edges unsafe.
Here's the shutdown process we recommend:
- Unplug and shut your aeration system down completely. It's critical to do this before the ice starts to build on your pond's or lake's surface for the safety of those who will skate on the pond.
- Stow the cabinet and compressor away. Your airline and plate may stay in the pond, but the system's cabinet and compressor should be stored indoors to keep dry and prevent condensation and rusting.
- Cover flex tube and airlines ends. Doing so will prevent debris from entering and plugging up the airlines.
- Have an emergency plan, just in case. While you're prepping your lake for ice skating fun, now's a good time to make sure you have water safety items available, too, like a Life Ring. If the ice breaks, a safety preserver like this can save someone's life.
If you're not using your pond for winter activities, keep your Airmax Aeration System operating all season long so your fish will survive a winter fish kill caused by lack of oxygen. Don't forget to move your diffuser plates out of the deepest water. This will give your finned friends a safe zone and prevent the super-cooling effect that happens in the chilled winter water.