When choosing an automatic pond or pool water leveler, you should first realize that there are over 130 water leveling devices on the market today to pick from. There are 5 very important features to look for.
1. Most of the mechanical water levelers will eventually stick or jam in the open position, allowing for a continuous flow of water resulting in an overflow. Consequently, it is best to choose a non-mechanical float that is not prone to warp, stick, jam, rust or corrode. The least likely autofills are the electronic type such as the levelor, Pentair, Savio, Jandy or AquaFill.
2. Pick one that best suits your specific application, such as pool, pond, small or large fountain, hot tub, spa, fountain pot, container garden or fiberglass patio waterfall. Prices range from to as much as 0, so there is no reason to spend several hundred dollars to keep a fountain pot or bowl full of water.
3. Make sure if it is an electronic type automatic water leveler, that it carries a good warranty to cover the cost of your investment. Some electronic water leveling devices can be affected by extreme changes in temperature resulting in condensation in the circuit boards, especially if the installation is near the ocean, since the salt air can corrode electronic components. In these cases you should purchase a water leveler in which the switching parts are hermetically sealed to keep out the elements.
4. Avoid automatic water level controllers that utilize sensing probes suspended in the water to detect the level since slightly acidic or alkaline water can cause the electrodes to corrode, thus reducing the ability to detect the small flow of current flow required to detect conductivity by the electronic circuit board.
5. Choose a water leveler that can easily be hidden by installing it outside of the water feature, in a skimmer, or hidden easily by rocks along the edge of a pond etc.
Just remember that length of the warranty or the presence of a money-back guarantee can be a very good indicator or of the quality, durability, longevity and performance of the device in question.
In conclusion, it is best to avoid the majority of the toilet tank-type water level valves since they have such a propensity to corrode, rust, jam, stick or malfunction, resulting in a flood. You are familiar with the toilet continuously running... well imagine if the toilet tank didn't have an overflow pipe taking the continuous flow of water to a drain. So you can expect the same results from a mechanical water level float installed in your pond, swimming pool, spa, fountain, hot tub or pondless waterfall: an insurance claim. Do your homework and stay dry.
