Pond Pump Stopped Working? What to Do in the First 30 Minutes (Utah)
When a pond pump stops, the pond doesn’t just get “a little less pretty.” Flow drops, filtration stalls, oxygen can dip, and things can slide fast — especially in summer. Here’s what I recommend doing in the first 30 minutes so you protect fish and avoid a bigger mess.
Minute 0–5: don’t panic — protect oxygen
- If fish are gasping: add aeration immediately (air pump/stone) or use a temporary surface agitator.
- Stop feeding: extra waste makes water quality worse while flow is down.
- Shade helps: reduce heat stress if it’s a hot day.
Minute 5–15: check the fastest “easy fixes”
- Power/GFCI: reset the outlet/breaker (safely).
- Skimmer basket: packed baskets can starve the pump.
- Intake blockage: leaves, string algae, rocks… it happens.
- Air leak: if it lost prime, check water level and fittings.
Minute 15–30: check the impeller + system bottlenecks
Impellers love string algae and grit. If you can safely open the pump, check the impeller area. Also check if filtration is choking flow — clogged pads can mimic pump failure. (See pond filtration.)
When to call a pro (this is the conversion part, but it’s also true)
- The pump trips the breaker repeatedly
- It overheats or smells burnt
- You cleaned everything and still have no flow
- You have koi/fish and it’s hot outside
Conclusion
If you want us to diagnose it quickly, go straight to schedule service. If you’re not sure what you need, start at pond pumps or request an estimate.