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#1
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Garden Fountain
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 |
#2
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Garden Fountain
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 |
#3
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Garden Fountain
"BoyPete" wrote in message ... 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 |
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