Yes, you can avoid draining & cleaning your Phoenix pond! There are some simple maintenance techniques that will keep your pond in tip-top shape all year long, for many years. In fact, we have clients who have NEVER drained and cleaned their pond in 20 years.

​Watch this short video to learn the secret to never having to drain & clean your pond:

​What would it look like if people treated restaurants like they do most contractors? This blog is meant to be tongue-in-cheek funny, and there’s some serious truth to it, as well.

​As a contractor, we are doing our level best to help raise the respect paid to contractors and tradesmen, in general. Yes, there are some shady characters out there (unlicensed, slick-talking used-car salesman types, etc.). But most of us are following the law, trying to make a living and provide for our families, and aspire to someday retire to more than just a Social Security pittance. Some of us are even trying to build a legacy company that will live on after we’re gone to continue to provide quality products and services to our clients. You can help with this by doing your due diligence when getting ready to hire a contractor: check their license, check their reviews, ask for references, see some of their work in person, etc.
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​Here are some common things people say to their contractor, and how this would translate to the restaurant business.
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​Can you sharpen your pencil a bit and come back with a better price? $15.95 just seems like a lot of money to pay for this meal. I think maybe you're trying to buy a new car with my meal.
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​How much do you pay for the actual ingredients, how much does the cook make, and how long does he take to actually prepare my meal? I think there might be some wiggle room in this price.
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I brought this steak along with me. It might not be what you provide here, but I think it's good enough. Could you just take this and cook it up, and then take the price of the meat out of the meal? I'm sure you can make it taste as good as the ones you have here.
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​My father was in the restaurant business 20 years ago before he retired, and he thinks you’re overcharging me for this salad.
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​If we leave the restaurant overhead and government out of this transaction, how much would you, Miss Waitress, charge me to cook this meal yourself?
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​Here’s a super short funny video on point:

​10. Because there’s a little “Huck Finn” in all of us. You NEED some place where you can take your shoes off and enjoy the experience of dangling your toes in the water while watching colorful fish frolic around you and lush aquatic plants flourish even in the hottest of weather.

​9. Because you DESERVE to come home at the end of every busy work day and relax both your mind and body by stepping outside, popping a top, and kicking your feet up. Ahhhh….., you can say as you admire the aquatic plants, feed your pet Koi, or just watch the water flow.

​8. Because you need some low-tech relief in your high-tech life. TV stimulates your mind continuously, and you NEED to give your brain some free-play time. Watching a pond or stream allows your mind to wander, meditate, and/or truly escape for awhile.

​7. Because you would just LOVE to be able to look out your window and see beautiful birds and interesting critters, your spirits buoyed by the fact that you’ve chosen a truly GREEN landscape choice that draws nature to YOU. You will enjoy seeing native and migratory birds, as well as quail families, etc,. enjoying the healthy, organic water that you have provided.

​6. Because water speaks to all of us. Human beings are made up of mostly water, which is why we subconsciously recognize the language of water. Now you NEED to just listen as the water trickles over rocks and chatters along the stream.

​5. Because you DESERVE to look forward to coming home every day after work, and enjoying being home on your days off. Imagine the anticipation of walking through the door, getting comfortable, popping a top or pouring an ice tea, and plopping down in your favorite chair next to a water feature that looks like nature graced the property before you built your home there.

​4. Because your home NEEDS to be your sanctuary, your haven, your respite from all the things that are constantly vying for your attention. A waterfall, pond or stream begs to provide you with that atmosphere.

​3. Because a good night’s sleep is enhanced by the natural sound of water, and you NEED a good night’s sleep.  Imagine moseying off to bed after even just a few minutes of quiet contemplation time next to your pond or stream., or having the window open and sleeping to the sound of a babbling brook.

​2. Because you NEED something in your life that gives more than it takes, and a properly built water feature takes so little upkeep, but provides infinite hours of enjoyment with lush plants, playful Koi, and just the sound and look of flowing water.  

​1. Because it FEEDS the SOUL. You need to take time to be a human-being instead of a human-doing! A pond or stream implores you to lose yourself for even just a little while and replenish your spirit.

​When you buy a Ford, or a Chevy, or a Lexus, does the dealership tell you that they don’t provide service for it? No! And they're pretty darn big companies! Then why on earth would you accept that excuse from a pond builder?
It’s unfortunate that we get calls all the time from people who hired a contractor or landscaper to build them a pond, but then when they needed help with it, were told that they don’t provide service. Really?!?! 

​So, why do you suppose that someone would not service what they design & build? They’re “too big to do service work” is a cop-out! Is that what you can expect when you have a warranty claim, too – to be told that they don’t do service? So, why?
One possible answer is that they can’t. They may not have systems in place, or trained personnel, or they’ve built something that is not really serviceable. Your guess is as good as ours! And since there are literally HUNDREDS of ways to build a “pond,” you better be sure that you know that what you’re getting can be cared for down the road – it’s a big investment.

​It’s exciting, this thought of getting the pond you’ve always dreamed of having in your back yard! You’re excited, your spouse is excited, your kids are over the moon! It’s easy to get all caught up in that excitement and forget about the dirty details.
As you go on your shopping journey for a pond or water feature, shop smart! Ask questions. Think about what can go wrong, and who would be responsible for taking care of that. We’ve put together 10 Questions to Ask A Contractor before you hire them. Hope it helps!
Also, check out the contractor’s website, social media, and YouTube channel. Do they provide information? How are their reviews (Facebook and Google)? Do they leave people hanging? Are they there when folks need them? Everyone gets a bad review now and then, because you can’t make 100% of the people happy 100% of the time, but check the overall vibe of what people are saying.
And by all means, visit their work in person! Photos can be deceiving. Photos can be copied or stolen. Hate to think this way, but it happens. Go see what they do, preferably something that’s at least a year old so you get a feel for how their work stands the test of time.
Check their licensing! Hiring an unlicensed contractor is the fastest way to lose money. It’s actually illegal for anyone doing a project over $1,000 in Arizona to not have a contractor license and appropriate insurance. But it happens all the time. Yep, they can be cheaper than the above-board guy because their overhead is a lot lower. But you’re really taking your chances that nothing will go wrong. Of course, maybe you enjoy gambling with thousands of dollars.

​If you’ve already found yourself in a situation where you have a pond or water feature that needs help or service, please contact us. If we’re not the right fit for some reason, we’ll be honest with you, and we can most certainly point you in the right direction for appropriate help.
The Pond Gnome does not service ALL types of ponds and water features. Because our service techs are trained in biology, our specialization is living ecosystem ponds and water features. That’s what we build, and thus what we service most often.
We have lots of information in our blog and on our website for service, cleaning, aquatic plants, water treatment, troubleshooting, etc.

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