Windmill
Aeration & Windmill Pumps
Using the power of the wind for
aerating a pond or pumping water.
For
more detailed information regarding windmill products recommendations and pricing,
email The Pond Report
Contact us with your questions
about the best windmill system for your pond. If you
are considering a windmill aeration system, American Eagle, Outdoor Water Solutions,
Koenders, or BeckerMills, let our experts help choose the best system. Windmill
aerators are not all equal and your pond size, depth and topography can make a
difference. We've helped hundreds of pond owners choose the best aeration system
and windmills often cause the most questions. Contact us to ensure you choose
the best windmill aerator. Email us at info@thepondreport.com |
|
Windmills
for pond aeration Email
us with your pond size to have the best windmill recommendation
Whenever
I go to visit a pond in need of help I am always asked of the effectiveness of
windmill aeration systems to supply the circulation and oxygenation needed to
restore a pond that is full of stinky muck and sludge or feeling the common problems
of thick algae growth on the surface. Of course an electric aeration system might
be more efficient in the end there is still the idea that a windmill could assist
in beneficial ways and as such would require no costs beyond the initial installation
and proper anchoring of the windmill. The idea is sound and understandable with
the cost of operating an aerator but sometimes a windmill is not all it is cracked
up to be despite the best marketing points of dealers and the manufacturers of
these devices.
First, before I get to The Pond Report windmill
ratings of the different options available on the market, let me
try and describe the operation of the typical windmill system and how the homemade
aeration aficionado may have a lot to realize before embarking on a new project
such as trying to build a do-it-yourself windmill aeration system.
The windmill tower Most windmills built and sold
in North America are constructed in a similar fashion and before I give my ratings
for the different approaches for anchoring and construction I will start with
the basic step by step approach. The tower of the windmill must be strong enough
to withstand severe winds and pond owners often underestimate the ability of their
clay or soil to properly anchor the steel anchoring pins included with most kits.
For the last
20 odd years the principle style of windmill tower has been a three-legged twenty
foot structure made of galvanized metal. The average footprint of a 20 foot windmill
is between 84 and 100 inches depending on the precise model being purchased. There
are similarities between the models so ensure than the retailer offers the precise
distance for the anchoring pins especially if you want to anchor them into cement
footing prior to erecting the windmill tower. I have seen some poor souls anchor
their pins in 12 inch diameter sonotubes only to discover that their footings
were off center by 2 inches and the results were not pretty! The three-legged
windmill tower has been popularized by the Koenders and Superior brand of windmills.
There are also four legged windmills such as the Beckermills Windmills or
the American Eagle Windmills which requires a square based footprint of various
sizes depending on which height is chosen. . I find that it is best to but the
tallest windmill that will fit your budget and your landscape; the higher tower
allows the windmill head, fan blades, to capture as much wind as possible. While
manufacturers claim that their mills will operate in as little as 5 mph I tend
to err on the side of caution and suggest that it is best to buy the tallest windmill
that will fit and expect that the wind required is as much as double to what is
reported! A
new arrival on the scene is the uni-pole or single pole mount windmill. Until
now I've seen many people mount the head of a windmill on a number of structures
from old radio towers to telephone poles with limiting degrees of success. The
single pole can be aesthetically more appealing to many pond owners who find that
next to their pond the three or four legged structure appears either too old-fashioned
or too much like a power company or cellphone broadcast tower! The new 25 foot
tall single uni-pole windmill has the advantage of being able to enter into zones
of higher wind speeds which is critical especially when dual-diaphragm compressors
are used to aerate larger ponds with a windmill. One nice thing about a unipole
windmill is that the footprint of the structure is much smaller than a three or
four legged windmill although it does require a solid slab of approximately 10
by 10 feet to be secure. The aluminum reinforced pole is similar to a lighting
mast and usually comes with a hinged base or pivot points like the multi-legged
models to make erection and servicing off the windmill easier. The taller structure
definitely puts the fan blades up where the swifter winds blow; I've seen a unit
mounted on a 40 foot tower and that sucker really never stopped spinning there
was so much constant wind. Of course mounting the compressor on build your own
windmill type towers makes servicing or changing parts difficult so may be only
an option for farmers or owners of machinery or tractors or cranes to to help
with the installation. The windmill air compressor system
Most windmills
sold in North America, besides the ones that generate electricity, are diaphragm
pumps. Anyone familiar with the simplicity of an old-fashioned pump understands
that this is likely the main reason for the absolute success in efficiency of
a windmill aeration system. These compressors can deliver anywhere from 6 to 30
psi depending on the make and model chosen which make them serious competition
to such renewable energy opponents as the solar power systems which typically
generate less than 5 psi for a similarly priced system. An expensive windmill
will still be much cheaper than an inexpensive solar system so I often recommend
to my clients to consider wind power over solar power. There are a few configurations
available on the market today and anyone visiting a pond supply store should understand
the needs of their pond versus the realistic performance parameters of the windmill;
be sure the company you buy from offers the expertise and preferably the local
windmill installation service as the building of a windmill plus the installation
of airstones can consume several days for a novice and due to the complexity of
the systems, despite the detailed instructions that typically come with the product,
the final cost in time alone can make it a better deal to hire the experts to
build and install the system. When my team does a complete building a windmill
and installing a windmill package we usually charge $1500 so even though you are
buying a windmill on Ebay you must realize that there will be additional costs!
Let me get back
to the diaphragm: typically a sheer rubber circular piece of heavy duty flexible
composite material creates a seal on the pump head and as the blades or fans of
the windmill turn it pulls and pushes the diaphragm and the sealed chamber builds
up pressure and pumps it down an airline towards the diffuser, airstone or diffuser
tubing in the pond. Because the high pressure capacity of the windmill you can
run a tubing length of up to several hundred feet and your diffuser can be placed
in a depth of over 20 feet. The windmill diaphragm is the one thing we
see wear out after a few years of service but there are windmill repair kits available
for all models sold and the replacement of these parts is as easy as opening the
hatch in the windmill head and removing the worn parts and replacing them with
the crisp black diaphragms. To perform this windmill maintenance it requires the
tower is lowered to be able to open and adjust the windmill head and this is another
reason why hinged anchor braces or pivot pairs should be used.
Aeration
Windmill Reviews All
reviews are based on our knowledge and should be considered as opinions and not
scientific or necessarilly valid in some cases due to changes in manufacturing
quality. May the buyer beware in all cases and ask questions before you buy! Windmill
manufacturers are welcome to submit their product information or windmill plans
to us. In my years in helping solve pond issues I have seen my share
of windmill projects. We now sell some quality windmills through our new retail
arm of The Pond Report; previousely our policy had been to leave the shopping
to those with the hard earned money, but our clients requested that we sell the
products that we believed in so we have now begun offering our readers the ability
to buy through us and to recieve excellant price points as we deal directly with
some manufacturers. This is our way of monetizing The Pond Report instead
of just providing free links and reviews of products, while that may help manufacturers,
it does little to send our kids through college. There are so many options
when it comes to windmill airiation that it is crucial to use due diligence and
to look for the best deal. But beware, the best deal isn't always the cheapest.
I have seen some people save a few hundred dollars by buying a windmill on eBay
but then they got no service or tech support when things go wrong. My advice has
always been: deal with a company that does more than sell pond supplies; make
sure they have an actual store, with employees and a track record of knowing what
they are doing. There is more to doing the right thing than saving a few dollars;
getting good advice and information is worth much more in the long run.
Outdoor
Water Solutions Made in USA Pond
Report Product Quality Rating : 9/10 For
more detailed information regarding the OWS windmill products and pricing, email
The Pond Report
Contact us with your questions
about the best windmill system for your pond. If you
are considering a windmill aeration system, American Eagle, Outdoor Water Solutions,
Koenders, or BeckerMills, let our experts help choose the best system. They are
not all equal and your pond size, depth and topography can make a difference.
We've helped hundreds of pond owners choose the best aeration system and windmills
often cause the most questions. Email us at info@thepondreport.com |
|
What we liked about the OWS Windmill systems:
High Air Output! - 3.0 - 4.5 CFM rating depending on wind speed. Compressor
rated at 30 psi meaning you can aerate a pond up to 50 feet deep! If you have
one that deep let me know because you must use a submarine to see the bottom!
Outdoor Water Solutions is also the only company to offer a full 5 year warranty
on their compressors bearing's and cam's! Easy Assembly - Windmill designed
for easy assembly with offset holes for quick alignment and rounded corners for
improved safety when working with steel. Angle Cut Fan Blades - Engineered
to capture and operate even with a limited amount of wind speed. Longer than many
competitors on the market to catch more wind. Total head width is 73", which is
the largest head on the market. More surface area means more torque and this means
more air is pumped into your pond. One Piece Hub Assembly - Reduces the
amount of parts to improve assembly time and improve on long term maintenance
of the windmill. The one piece hub uses two locking collars and a through bolt
at the end of the compressor shaft. You can install the head on the shaft in 5
minutes and it will stay put. Other companies use squeeze clamps that
take over an hour to install and can loosen over time. Anyone who has assembled
a Koenders Windmill will know what a frustrating thing this is! The Outdoor Water
Solutions one piece hub assembly really takes the hassle out of the building!
For 2010, Outdoor Water Solutions has introduced what we feel are some really
exciting new products! They have the enhanced their pond care product offering
and now offer: · 24' Traditional Windmill Towers · 4 Legged Windmill Towers ·
25' Telescopic Windmill Towers · Wooden Windmills (both for aeration and ornamental)
· A full line of Powder Coated windmills with Customized Tailfins. They
also have a revolutionary new product called an "Aerator Control Box" that allows
you to connect a windmill to an Electric aerator and aerate 24 hours a day. When
the wind blows, your pond is aerated by the windmill. When the wind stops, it
turns on your electric aerator. Both run through the same set of airlines and
diffusers, saving you money on both electricity and in getting aeration to your
pond or lake.
OWS has developed their windmill aeration systems with 'Bal-Cam' technology, the
most advanced system available today. "BalCam" technology significantly
increases the amount of air produced with a single diaphragm compressor utilizing
a balanced camshaft system. Wind-driven aeration works with nature to improve
pond ecosystems, without the need for electricity or fuels. Wind power is good
for the environment, and also allows for installation of the system even where
electricity is not readily available. OWS systems are reliable, long lasting,
effective and attractive in suburban backyards, rural landscape settings, golf
courses and municipal ponds and lakes. These nostalgic windmills are
made in the United States of the highest quality materials and are virtually maintenance
free. "We are aggressive about combining Mother Nature's water and wind resources
with our state-of-the-art technology to arrive at solutions that help people,"
said John Redd, OWS president. "Our goal is to bring environmentally sound solutions
to outdoor water issues, while 'Working with Nature.' "Our focus is
to deliver products that help improve water, which benefits livestock, horses,
fish and the environment, and improves the recreational uses of pond and lake
water." Based in Springdale, Outdoor Water Solutions is a leading manufacturer
and distributor of high quality wind- and electric-driven aeration systems and
pond care products. For pricing specials and questions on OWS aeration
technologies email The Pond Report
Pond Report Product Quality Rating : 9/10
Contact us with your questions
about the best windmill system for your pond. If you
are considering a windmill aeration system, American Eagle, Outdoor Water Solutions,
Koenders, or BeckerMills, let our experts help choose the best system. They are
not all equal and your pond size, depth and topography can make a difference.
We've helped hundreds of pond owners choose the best aeration system and windmills
often cause the most questions. Email us at info@thepondreport.com |
| 12'
- 25' Windmills for pond aeration Windmill diffusers
or airstones Most windmill aeration pond systems come complete from the
pond store with everything needed to get setup and, within a few days, have your
pond being aerated but it is very important to understand what is needed as far
as tubing, air diffusers and clamps and connectors to be sure that when you leave
the pond supply store that you are not going to be in for a surprise!
The standard airstone diffuser offered with most windmill systems have been around
for decades and are simply a porous stone that allows compressed air to be forced
up through the material which diffuses the compressed air and releases thousands
of tiny air bubbles of very small diameter. Small bubbles are much better for
aeration and circulation as the rising mass of small bubbles creates a large concentrated
area of rising waters that pull a large number of gallons per minute of water
to the surface. The deeper you have your airstone the more movement can be created.
Diffuser aerstones have a footvalve on them which a acts as a check valve
so water does not get into the airline and restrict the air. Even though the compressor
develops up to 30 PSI the effectiveness can be greatly reduced if water is clogging
the lines. There are a number of membrane diffuser discs available, some
come standard or as an optional purchase. There are benefits to using membrane
diffuser discs but there is no rule of thumb that states they are preferable.
The determining factor when buying a windmill is not whether it has an airstone
or a disc but rather what is the cost of the whole package especially when there
are only a few windmill companies in Canada and the USA namely BeckerMills, Koenders
Windmills, Superior Windmills and the American Eagle Windmills. There
are also diffuser airlines available that can be used but I don't have enough
experience with bubble tubing type systems to know if they perform as well as
a diffuser or airstone. Because this sort of weighted bubble tubing requires fairly
constant depths and the windmill systems send pulses of air instead of continuous
flow I could see the potential for the bubble tubing only working to full potential
of shorter lengths were used like 25 to 50 feet. Windmill water pumps
can also be added to almost any free air windmill. They do have limits though
and typical have a maximum lift or head of only 40 feet and then will pump less
than 3 gallons per minute; but a water pump can be added if you need to.
Windmill compressors:
the heart of the system Without question the most important component
of any windmill system is the actual air compressor and the drive system that
is turned by the fan blades in the head. There are single diaphragm compressors
that create a blast of air on every full-turn of the fan and there are double
diaphragm compressors that send a stroke of air on every half turn. The double
diaphragm units can thus create double the CFM movement as a single. Typical specs
of any windmill provide an airflow range of between 1.5 CFM and 3.2 CFM. Calculating
the actual output of CFM is not easy with a windmill because the wind is constantly
changing slightly so it is rare than any mill will be providing a constant CFM
rate for longer than a few seconds before the rate changes to to minute fluctuations
in the wind speed and direction. The diaphragm itself is usually made
of a neoprene flexible composite which is attached to a precision machined diaphragm
push plate. This is the one replacement part that will need to be changed eventually.
The diaphragm replacement kits are fairly cheap and it would be a good idea to
keep one on hand just in case. The driving force of the system will be
the wind so the size of the fan blades will determining how much air can be pumped.
Naturally, the best place for your tower is where there will be constant or at
least generous wind. The full sized windmills have a fan diameter from 65 to 72
inches and some of the new backyard windmills have a 27 inch fan. Almost all windmills
have 12 fan blades. The largest blades are available on the Beckermills Windmills
and the American Eagle with a size of 6 feet. This extra few inches can make a
huge difference in torque and startup speed and the oversized diaphragm of the
Beckermills system delivers up to 60% more air than a Koenders model, but again
that is difficult to measure but sure sounds good to me!
12'
- 25' Windmills for pond aeration Email
us with your pond size to have the best windmill recommendation & pricing
Highest
rated electric aerators | Disc
Diffusers and Airstones
Email us for windmill information or with
windmill questions. | See
our Library of Windmill Books
Beckermills
Windmills Pond
Report Product Quality Rating : 7/10 The
Beckermills system is a sturdy four legged tower and boasts the largest diaphragm
and large fan blades precision engineered to operate at lower wind speeds and
allowing the single unit to deliver over 3.2 CFM. The highest air output of any
single diaphragm model. Available in 12, 16 and 20 foot models and also an impressive
array of colors these mills have never ceased to impress the owners who buy them.
Very good quality windmill, made in the USA, with a three year warranty. Head
office in Wapakoneta, Ohio and no office found in Canada means most owners of
these mills are in the USA. Koenders
Windmills Made in Canada. Not recommended. The diaphragm
system of the Koenders compressors can deliver up to 30PSI which is great for
deep water performance and is many times higher than the American Eagle. CFM ranges
from 1.5 to 3CFM depending on if you have a single or dual diaphragm model.
Superior Windmills Not recommended.
Another three legged system available in 4 sizes, 12',16, 20 and 24'; with Jetstream
and Turbo Jetstream options. Superior windmills is based in Saskatchewan Canada.
Using
a windmill for aeration is often the only choice for isolated pond owners or farm
dugouts. Not to mention the fact that no wires or electricity payments are required
it makes it a good option worth investigating. Another reason many of
my clients have decided to use a windmill versus a solar system or the standard
electrical aerator is because it is simply more organic! That's right, think about
it...nature is full of ebbs and flows, nothing is constant! We have day and night,
warm days and cold days, windy days and calm days, rest and action. The windmill
fits perfectly into this naturalistic and holistic approach. There are days when
the pond is calm because there is no wind and no bubbles...and other days when
the winds create conditions for the windmill to turn and the pond is bubbling.
Doesn't this seem like it is how aeration should be? Instead of a constant bubbling
churning like a washing machine the pond can go through phases of calm and action.
To me using this philosophy makes the most sense and is why windmills are
one of my favorite ways of aerating without electricity.
Contact us with your questions
about the best windmill system for your pond. If you
are considering a windmill aeration system, American Eagle, Outdoor Water Solutions,
Koenders, or BeckerMills, let our experts help choose the best system. They are
not all equal and your pond size, depth and topography can make a difference.
We've helped hundreds of pond owners choose the best aeration system and windmills
often cause the most questions. Email us at info@thepondreport.com |
|
The pond report
also has information on: algaecides
and pond bacteria | pond pumps & fountains
| pond
aeration systems |
a pond and the seasons | pond
algae control | solar aeration systems
| battery operated solar air pumps
| windmill aeration systems |
deicers & bubblers | pond
pumps & waterfall pumps | pond
dyes and colorants | get
links to your website | pond
consultations |
pond
questions from our readers
| pond
tips and reader questions | pond
links & resources |
eurasian
milfoil
|
pond
dyes and colorants | mosquito
control with
microbe lift BMC
| pondkeeper pond
keeper liquid pond conditioner |
12'
- 25' Windmills for pond aeration Email
us with your pond size to have the best windmill recommendation
©
2007 - 2010 The Pond Report about
us | privacy policy
| contact us
| Field
Guide To American Windmills

 All
Windmill Books
Wind
Power Fundamentals, Technologies, Application, Economics

 All
Windmill Books
Historical
Guide to American Windmills

 All
Windmill Books
Wind
Energy Handbook

 All
Windmill Books
Wind
Power Generation Revised Edition

 All
Windmill Books
Power
From Wind Technology

 All
Windmill Books
Energy
Independence, Off-Grid and Sustainable Living
  All
Windmill Books
Toy
Windmills

 All
Windmill Toys
Field
Guide To American Windmills

 All
Windmill Books
Historical
Guide to American Windmills

 All
Windmill Books
Wind
Energy Handbook

 All
Windmill Books
Energy
Independence, Off-Grid and Sustainable Living
  All
Windmill Books
Wind Power Fundamentals, Technologies,
Application, Economics

 All
Windmill Books
The
Pond Report Windmill Books & Guides
|