Freeze Resistant Auto-Fill

[StilwellSteve]

Wondering if anyone has installed an auto-fill that can be used year round during freezing temperatures? A customer leaves a large pound and falls in operation year round and wants to leave an auto fill on. The pond has enough aeration that the water surface does not freeze except very little around a few edges.
We can easily install a dedicated water line below our frost line at 36" deep, but the tricky part is the actual auto-fill components. The water supply can be protected by a reduced pressure backflow preventer inside the basement of the house.

 

[Mmathis]

Hello and welcome!

Where does your customer live -- what part of the country? With a basement and a 36” frost line, it’s obvious they are not in my neck of the woods (Louisiana). We have members here who have auto-fill set ups, so maybe someone can help you.

 

[StilwellSteve]

Thanks for the welcome! This was my first time post. I am a plumbing contractor. Besides my own personal pond, we don't do conventional garden ponds, only the pumps and piping for large commercial water features. I have never seen a year round auto fill.
Customer is here in the St. Louis, MO area. Lawn irrigation and ponds are starting to be winterized right now. We can get winter temperatures in single digits and even a few 0 degree days.

 

[poconojoe]

Can you use heat trace cable? Is there an electrical outlet nearby?
You can buy heat trace cable pre-made at various lengths. Get one with a built in thermostat.
Run the heat trace cable along the length of the exposed plumbing. Don't wrap it around the pipes, run it along (parallel) to the pipes. Run it along the bottom of horizontal pipes (heat rises).The proper way to attach it to the pipes is glass tape. Then you cover the whole thing with pipe insulation to keep the heat in.

 

[Lisak1]

@poconojoe - I think @StilwellSteve is concerned about the actual autofill unit that would be exposed. Are you saying heating the whole line would keep the outlet from freezing up? The actual water line can be buried deep enough that he's not concerned about that. At least that's how I read it!

I'm not all that familiar with autofill components - could that part actual be installed inside the pond to keep it below the ice line?

Welcome @StilwellSteve to the GPF - lots of smart folks here! Someone will know the answer!

 

[j.w]

@StilwellSteve
Glad to hear you are doing well out there in no man's land!
I sure don't know what to tell ya tho about that kind of auto-fill setup, sorry

 

[GBBUDD]

Wondering if anyone has installed an auto-fill that can be used year round during freezing temperatures? A customer leaves a large pound and falls in operation year round and wants to leave an auto fill on. The pond has enough aeration that the water surface does not freeze except very little around a few edges.
We can easily install a dedicated water line below our frost line at 36" deep, but the tricky part is the actual auto-fill components. The water supply can be protected by a reduced pressure backflow preventer inside the basement of the house.

yeah place it in a container with your pond heater to keep the air breather