A water pump or an air compressor are equally appropriate. The idea is to keep the water moving; and circulating with the deeper/'warmer' water. The trick is to do it while spending the least amount of money.
I prefer to use a linear compressor; low cost to run, low pressure/high volume. The only brand to purchase is Hi-Blow.
I run mine on a thermostat .... on at 34 and off at 40 (+/-). I turn the system on in early December and off in late March.
The lines do sometimes fill with water when the compressor is not running. But it has never been a problem. Because the lines tend to float when filled with air, I keep the lines weighted down with rocks & bricks.
Once a summer, I make a feeble attempt to wipe the accumulated 'growth' off the lines.
I've doing this for 21 years. I think I've rebuilt the compressor 3 times; Hi-Blow sells a rebuild kit.
|