Top 17 Best Pond De Icer In 2024
Brandon Forder May 3, 2024 10:04 PM
When a pond freezes over, the water below is sealed off from the atmosphere above. This prevents oxygen from being absorbed by the water.
No hazardous gases produced by rotting vegetation or fish respiration can be released, either. An effective de-icer is therefore essential.
I'll explain what to look for in a good pond de-icer and then compare and contrast five of the most popular models to recommend my top pick.
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Types
Floating electric De-icers
As far as pond heating options go, the floating de-icer is by far the most common. It floats on the surface of the water, keeping the ice melted below and near by. However, they are not meant to increase the pond's temperature as a whole, but rather to prevent the pond's oxygenation from stopping altogether.
Immersed Electric Pond Heater
Basically, they're just a beefed-up version of the aquarium heaters that people have in their homes already. Strategically placed, they can keep water from freezing on the surface above and create warm pockets where fish can hibernate over the winter. However, they do not and cannot warm the entire pond.
In-Line Electric Pond Heater
The external pond pump can have an in-line heater attached to it to warm the water as it circulates through the pump by a few degrees. It has the ability to heat the entire pond, eliminating the risk of freezing, and maintaining a comfortable environment for your fish.
Safe for Plastic Liners
It is possible for plastic pond liners to melt if exposed to certain pond de-icers.
It is also conceivable for the de-icer to melt a hole completely through the pond liner if the outer edge of the device becomes hot enough and touches the liner.
If you don't want to destroy your lined pond, make sure the unit you pick is suitable for them.
Wattage and Pond Size
The wattage of the de-icer relative to the size of the pond is the most important consideration.
A smaller pond may use a lower wattage de-icer, but anything larger than that requires professional equipment. Bigger ponds have more cold water to melt, so a stronger de-icer is required.
Temperature Control
The temperature on pond de-icers is not normally programmable. All the same, they must be equipped with accurate thermostats. A good de-icer for a pond can detect when the water's about to freeze and either turn on or off automatically.
Watts
Getting the correct amount of power for your pond is something we've covered before, but it bears repeating. It's going to take a de-icer with more wattage to tackle a larger pond in freezing weather.
A weak or insufficiently sized one will freeze into the pond along with the water.
Durability
What you should also watch out for is the longevity of the pond de-icer in question. We prefer the models made entirely of stainless steel.
They can withstand a lot of abuse, are weatherproof, and keep your fish safe from any internal parts coming into contact with the water.
Cost Efficiency
While an in-line de-ability icer's to keep your pond fully ice-free is enticing, it also comes at a hefty price tag. In contrast, floating and immersion are very cheap.
What Does A Pond De-Icer Do?
In other words, the purpose of a pond deicer is to melt the ice that has accumulated on the surface of a pond. The ice won't be melted or kept away entirely, but the unit's effect will be felt in a circular area around it. The deicing area is largely determined by the deicer's output. To prevent complete ice-over of your pond, several measures should be taken.
There are many gases that can build up under an iced-over pond's surface and injure or kill the fish and vegetation there. In order to allow the gases to escape, pond deicers and heaters create a vent in the ice. The deicer hole also allows oxygen to enter the water, which is essential for the survival of your fish.
Can I heat my pond with a de-icer?
Keeping the pond water warm is not what a pond de-icer is for. De-icers work by generating a narrow band of warmth directly around the heater.
The plan is to leave a crack in the ice of the pond large enough for gas exchange to occur, allowing fresh air to reach the water and potentially dangerous gases to escape.
How large of a hole in the ice do I need?
From what I've seen, only a tiny section of a backyard pond should be accessible to wildlife. The standard diameter for a de-icing hole is 10 inches. It all depends on the weather.
A pond heater can melt ice and open up a huge body of water during mild winters with unpredictable thaws. If the temperature drops low enough, a de-icer may only be able to protect a fraction of the pond from freezing over.
Do Pond De-Icers Use A Lot Of Electricity?
In most cases, pond de-icers do not consume excessive amounts of power. However, their energy efficiency isn't quite as high. For one, you'll need to consider the dimensions of your pond as well as the wattage of the pond heater you're considering. A de-icer with a 1,500-watt motor will consume far more power than one with a 100-watt motor. Mathematically, that makes perfect sense.
However, wind speed also plays a role, since the de-icer has to work harder when exposed to high gusts of wind. There's also the matter of how chilly it is outside. The de-icer will have to work more to keep the hole in the ice open if the temperature drops. Most current pond de-icers, however, are made with low power consumption in mind.
The bottom line is that if you reside in an area where the temperature often drops below freezing, you will need to invest in a high-quality pond de-icer.
There's no way around it if you want your fish to survive in a pond. Thanks for taking the time to go through our reviews of pond heater de-icers; we hope they've been helpful in narrowing down your options.
