All About Aerators

Should aerators be put into hibernation over the cold months?

This is going to be one of the most popular questions your customers will be asking throughout the next couple of weeks and their worries are most likely going to be focused on how to actually remove their aerator, maintain and store it.

The answer is quite simple: if their aerator is an oil-cooled unit, subsurface unit or diffused air system, it can remain in the water during the cold seasons, but there are some precautions. On the other hand, aeration systems that run by a water-cooled motor must be removed from the water and stored in an area where the temperature will remain above freezing. Freezing temperatures will cause the water inside the motor to expand and crush vital components.

Some areas of the country experience cold and harsh winters, while other areas experience a more mild winter, but may still notice decreasing water temperatures. In both cases there will be some possible exceptions with removal and storage. The basic rule is if the water generally does not drop and remain below 30 degrees Fahrenheit, the unit can remain in the water. It is safe to advise those with oil-cooled motors that they can keep them in the water year round, however diffused air systems should only be kept in so long as there are no moving parts in the water.

For those who have oil-cooled units and wish to leave their aerator in the water during the colder months should keep the area free of ice and should run the unit 24 hours a day, to prevent ice accumulation and damage. If the power is shut down and the unit freezes in, you must not run it until the ice clears. Otherwise, severe motor damage may occur. If you do not plan to run the aerator continually, you may wish to remove it from the waterway.

Removal of a surface aeration system is fairly simple and based on whether the unit is anchored to the bottom or moored to the pond's shoreline. If it is anchored, disconnect the anchoring lines from the unit and flip it upside down. At this point, either hoist it into the boat or tow it to the shoreline. If the system is moored, remove the mooring line on one side of the pond then carefully tow the unit to shore. Anchoring the cable and mooring lines to a buoy is recommended for easy retrieval when it comes time to re-install.

In both cases, after you have the unit on shore, remove the power cable (if the power cable has a quick disconnect, remove it from the unit and place a protector cap on the end) and store it. For oil-cooled motors, simply store the unit indoors - temperature of the area does not need to be a concern, however you will want to protect the unit from potentially harmful environments.

Glance over the float and spin the propeller to make sure the bearings are free. To ensure that the unit is in prime condition when it's reinstalled and if the unit incorporates oil into its motor components, this is the ideal time for an oil change.

This article provided by Otterbine Barebo, Inc.