Doesn't a small quantity of oil (sunflower? rapeseed?) stop freezing, or am I misremembering... Just thought it might be less harmful to the pump, though I've no idea whether salt water would harm it anyway.

Thanks Bamboo. I'll look into that idea!

A 10% solution drops the freezing point to -5deg c, 20% about minus fifteen.
Whether it would damage the pump would depend upon the quality of the pumps internals. Do the instructions have any suggestions?

Thanks for that Meanie, nope no advice in instructions, other than to take it indoors for total protection.

If we get the sort of weather we had last winter I think you will have a challenge keeping it outside without the whole thing freezing up. Particularly as the advice is to take indoors.

salt in the amount your talking about wont change substantioly the freezing temp much but it mite make parts in the pump carode excuse my spelling . id either leave it running or empty it and cover it for the winter to stop rubbish falling in it karen x .

If you can drain the feature, then I think that this would be your best option. Then cover it as Np suggests to stop rain filling it up again. In fact, looking at the picture, can you just turn the whole feature upside down and leave it against the house wall?

By the way Karen the plants in pots will probably need protecting too. A traditional Winter Garden was created in a huge glassed in area.

Mr and Mrs MG/BA Thanks very much ......not what I wanted to hear....but thanks anyway! :)) I found a water feature and bird table antifreeze for sale at Dobbies, so I may give that a go first. It was a bit frozen again this morning :(( Thanks Noseypotter, Its been left running all the time, but it's still freezing...not totally...yet, but if it gets any colder it will.

i would empty it as it probably will freeze .

I would defo not put salt in. The pump may well end up having a hissy fit and keel over...it would have to freeze pretty hard to damage the pump however...me thinks...

Thanks everyone. Water feature is now snug and dry in the garage...I've been defeated by the winter!! :((

I think you've been very wise KarenS

Yes, thanks MG. It would have been tragic to have lost it, as we only bought it at the start of Nov. in the local GC sale.

you did the rite thing definatly karen x .

Yes, did I not? Wow, just in time!! :))

lol x

I asked this question on Yahoo Anwers when I got my four-bowl fountain (I hadn't discovered GoY then). They said don't use anti-freeze because it'll poison birds or small animals that might drink, and salt would not do the motor - or pump, or some part of it - much good.

My fountain instuctions said it "frost-proof, but protect it from frosts". I queried this: the fountain inself was frost-proof, but water freezing in the pump or pipes wouln't do them any good.

grrr! how does one delete comments that are accidentally put in twice??

I asked this question on Yahoo Anwers when I got my four-bowl fountain (I hadn't discovered GoY then). They said don't use anti-freeze because it'll poison birds or small animals that might drink, and salt would not do the motor - or pump, or some part of it - much good.

My fountain instuctions said it "frost-proof, but protect it from frosts". I queried this: the fountain inself was frost-proof, but water freezing in the pump or pipes wouln't do them any good.

The sudden snow earlier this year caught me on the hop: the whole thing was frozen and inch-deep in snow. i managed to chip out the ice, but I've not tried it to see if the works were affected.

Gosh Fran....get it on, see if it still works! I'm in suspense now! Mine is fine, but goodness, the plants in this photo....the standard Laurel is just about beginning to recover a tiny bit, having been pruned back to about six inch stems....unbelievable when you see how it looked in this pic. The twisted Bay and the Camellia next to it, didn't make it...both gone to the compostainer in the sky. A large standard holly...dead...two small hollies...dead. I would go on but it's too upsetting....what a waste. I do hope we don't get another winter like that!

I'll try to remember to set it up tomorrow, then it's just a case of waiting for some sun! hmm, wonder if "daylight" torches would work? could keep one trained on the solar panel