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Pondspectives with Mike
Monday, Jan. 18, 2010, 2:30 p.m., EST
Low- Versus High-maintenance Water Features
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By Mike Garcia
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| Do low-maintenance water features lead to more retrofit business for pond contractors? (Courtesy of Clay Jackson/BowTie Inc.) | The pond world seems to divide after completing the pond installation. Some pond contractors view the maintenance side of the newly completed pond as an additional income stream for years to come.
Those pond contractors offer maintenance service weekly, bi-weekly or monthly. Many pond contractors offer annual pond cleanouts in addition to weekly maintenance. Maintenance might include leaf removal, skimmer cleanout and the inclusion of pond bacteria.
A new idea promoted in pond manufacturer circles offers end consumers a very low-maintenance pond. These designs enable homeowners to clean the ponds themselves, which eliminates the need for a pond contractor’s maintenance services.
The low-maintenance pond traps leaves in an easy-to-clean filter basket. It features a backwash filter that removes dissolved organics, reducing algae populations.
Is it better for manufacturers to move toward leaving maintenance to the end user? Would this mean more business in the form of retrofits to existing ponds? Do you think more end users want the DIY approach to maintenance?
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Low- Versus High-maintenance Water Features
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