I needed to clean the pond filter and thought this “how to” would be worth sharing with the next owners of Stonegate’s End. Thanks to Kelly for some nice framing and panning!

Update 4/26/14: I experienced the same fail with pump #4 within 30 days, but this time I stumbled onto a workaround. Let the pump “suck air” for about 10 seconds after cleaning, and it will resume full flow. I’ve done this 3 times now, and it works every time. I wonder if this would have worked with #1, #2, and #3. It is counter intuitive that when the flow goes to half or less because the filters need cleaning, that cleaning the filters would result in near zero flow, but that is what happens. I assumed it was just “broken” in the past. When trying to figure out why with #4, I pulled the pump out with the motor “trying” and the impeller started to spin at full speed when air hit it. Returning it to the water, it continued to pump fine 24 x 7. I think the flaw here is that the impeller ends up seating wrong after being under the strain of the dirty filters and lower flow. I have often tried flushing the impeller chamber out with the hose, to no avail. But letting it “suck air” after cleaning seems to let the impeller reseat properly. I’ve sent this post to Beckett engineering.]

Summary:

• Pump #1 purchased 7/4/2013 from Home Depot. Fails in 30 days.
• Pump #2 exchanged at Home Depot 8/3/2013. Fails in 90 days.
• Pump #3 exchanged at Home Depot outside the original 90 day exchange policy 11/25/2013. Fails in two weeks.
• Beckett ships 2 replacement pumps 3/5/2014
• Pump #4 in service 3/8/2014.
• Failed pump #3 sent back to Beckett for inspection.
• Pump #5 (extra) in storage

Detail:

Pump #4 in action 3/9/2014

I’ve had a small garden pond for 14 years running a Beckett pump 24 x 7 except when the pond freezes, when I shut it off. The first pump came with the property. I don’t know how old it was, but it was clogged and barely running, so I cleaned it up, and it ran for five more years. I’m guessing 10 years.

I replaced it with the same model, and that one ran about eight years until it quit in June of 2013. I’m amazed any kind of electrical motor can run 24 x 7 under water for so long. Beckett should make washing machines.

I went for a replacement 7/4/2013. The same model (which I did not write down) was not available at Home Depot. I got one that seemed to be the closest fit, a Beckett Pond Pump model 7201310 that pumps 400 gallons per hour.

When I got it home, the motor housing appeared to be a bit smaller. I set it up, and it was running fine. That was 7/4/2013. A month later it suddenly went to just a trickle. There was nothing clogged. I inspected the impeller, but could find no obstruction. It would turn, just with very little force. I exchanged it on 8/3/2013.

The second one lasted until November when I had a repeat of the trickle problem. After another inspection, I again exchanged it. Home Depot pushed back because it was outside the original 90 day warranty. They said they would not be able to exchange it again. I think the 90 day exchange period should reset, given I was sold something obviously not in good order, and I have the trouble of having to do an exchange. But it doesn’t work that way. That was 11/25/2013.

I posted a critical comment on Home Depot’s website and got a  response about two weeks later, when the third pump had already quit! The Home Depot service person put me in touch with Beckett. The head of sales quickly offered to ship me 2 replacement fountains.

The Beckett sales manager’s email went into my spam folder for some reason, and I did not discover it for about a month and a half. Atlanta was busy having frozen ponds and ice storms, so the broken pond pump was not top of mind.

I replied and received the two replacements pumps 3/5/2014. Pump #4 (in photo above) is up and running. Pump #5 (the extra pictured below) is in storage.

The pump has a 2 year warranty, but my expectation is it last 5 years. We’ll see.

Meanwhile, Beckett wanted to examine failed pump #3, so I am returning it with a pre-paid shipping label. I still think Home Depot’s exchange dates should reset. Having to come in and replace tools repeatedly is not good customer service. Providing tools that last is good customer service.

Pump #5 on left. Pump #3 (returning to Beckett) is on right. The first 3 pumps came in different form-fitting packaging. Pumps 4 and 5 came in a more boxy tub.

Receipts.

Over the years, several holes started forming in the back woods. The shape and depth suggested they all came from rotting stumps. They got deep enough that you could step all the way up to your knee. A little kid might go all the way to his waist!

Over a series of a few weekends, I’ve filled them all up. Took 27 40lb bags of top soil at $1.27 each. I bought 9 bags at a time, which filled up my trunk.

The hole that I thought was smallest (#3) ended up being the largest. As I used my tamper to pack in the first couple of bags of dirt the “floor” fell through to reveal a much larger hole. Clyde could have easily climbed in and and hidden in it. That one hole took 9 bags all by itself.

Last weekend, kid 3 was helping me rake leaves and haul a tarp full to the back woods when she fell into hole #4 (the newest hole to form.) “What the heck!” she exclaimed, her leg disappearing into the stump hole. That was not what Alice said when she fell down the rabbit hole.