Guide · Seasonal
When to open and close a fountain in Ontario.
Open once the risk of frost has passed. Close before freezing nights set in. Here’s how to time both, and what each job involves.
When should a fountain be opened and closed?
Open a fountain once the risk of overnight frost has passed, which in southern Ontario usually means mid to late May. Close it before freezing nights become regular, typically in October across the GTA. Cottage country often runs later in spring and earlier in fall. Book both dates ahead, because these are the busiest weeks of the season.
Weather matters more than the calendar. A warm week in April is not a signal to fill, and a mild November is not a reason to wait.
Why timing matters in Ontario.
Freeze-thaw is the main enemy of a fountain. Water left in pipes, pumps, nozzles or light housings expands as it freezes and cracks whatever holds it.
Opening too early risks a hard frost on a full system. Closing too late risks the same thing in reverse, with a cold snap arriving before the water is out.
Ontario also has a long fall leaf season. Leaves clog strainers and nozzles, so a few extra visits before closing keep the system clean until it is drained.
What a spring start-up includes.
A proper opening takes more than turning the pumps back on.
01
Assess and de-water
We inspect the fountain after winter and pump out rain and snowmelt that pooled in low areas.
02
Remove organics and power wash
Concrete settles over winter and algae builds up in spring. We clear organics, then power wash with the right machine and nozzle to protect the waterproofing.
03
Test before filling
Pumps, lights and controls get an electrical safety test before any water goes in.
04
Fill and start up
Stored equipment is reinstalled, the basin is filled and the system comes online.
05
Balance the flow
We adjust nozzles and valves so the display is even, then do a full walk-through.
What can go wrong with a poor closing?
The damage from a bad closing often stays hidden until spring. On one condominium restoration, we found pipes that the original installers had broken and filled with concrete.
Those pipes could not drain, so water sat in them every winter. Each freeze cycle cracked them further, and the fountain needed major work to fix it.
A proper closing drains every line and removes the equipment. It costs far less than opening up concrete to replace piping.
What a fall closing includes.
01
Shut down and drain
We shut the fountain down and drain the basin, pipes and equipment so no water is trapped.
02
Remove and store equipment
Pumps, lights and controls come out and go to our moisture-controlled facility for the winter.
03
Pull floating fountains
Floating fountains are removed from ponds and serviced before next season.
04
Record what needs work
Anything worn or damaged goes on the visit report, so repairs can happen over winter instead of delaying the spring start.
Before you book, check these.
- Overnight lows are staying above freezing
- Snow and ice are gone from the basin
- Spring landscape clean-up is done nearby
- Any opening event or inspection date is known
- Forecasts show nights near or below freezing
- Most leaves are down from nearby trees
- Site irrigation is being winterized
- Floating fountains have a dry place to go
The first four apply to spring, the last four to fall. If you manage several sites, book them together so each one is handled in the right order.
What about ponds in winter?
Some ponds need open water in winter, around docks, boathouses or outflows. Ice that forms against a structure can lift and damage it as it expands and shifts.
Kasco de-icers and circulators keep an area of water moving so ice does not form against the structure. They usually go in around the time floating fountains come out. See winter de-icing for how we size and install them.
Floating fountains themselves come out each fall. We service the motors over winter, and our sister company Fountain Depot’s Kasco repair centre handles motor work in the same Markham shop.
Make it part of a year-round plan.
The cleanest approach is one contractor for the whole year. The crew that closes the fountain knows what was found in fall and is ready for it in spring.
Our spring start-up and fall closing service can stand alone or sit inside a maintenance program with weekly or bi-weekly visits. For ponds, we handle floating fountain removal, service and reinstallation too.
Our sister company
Parts, pumps and fountains ship from Fountain Depot.
Doing your own pond or small feature? Fountain Depot, our sister company, carries fall care products, de-icers and fountain treatments.
Opening and closing questions.
Can water stay in the fountain over winter?
Not in the pipes, pumps, nozzles or lights. Trapped water expands as it freezes and cracks them, so the system needs to be drained and the equipment removed.
Where do you store our pumps and lights?
In our moisture-controlled facility in Markham. Equipment stays dry over winter and goes back in at the spring start-up.
Do floating fountains need to come out?
Yes, in most Ontario ponds. Ice can damage a unit left in place, so we remove it in fall and service it before it goes back in.
When should we book?
Book well before the season starts. Call 1-877-752-1222 or send a quote request, and we will confirm the timing for your site.