Frequently Asked Questions
Where are Breezy Mills windmills made?
Breezy Mills windmills are made in America and built in Iowa. Our roots go back to the mid-1970s, and while our products and manufacturing methods have continued to improve over the years, the focus has remained the same: build a quality product and pay attention to the details.
Are Breezy Mills windmills decorative or functional?
Both. Breezy Mills windmills provide the classic look of a traditional American farm windmill while also being fully functional.
They make a great addition to farms, acreages, businesses, entrances, and landscaping. For customers who want to put their windmill to work, our windmills can also be equipped with a Breezy Mills Pond Fresh aeration system.
The wind turns the fan, which mechanically operates the aeration pump and supplies air to the pond without requiring electricity at the windmill.
What sizes of windmills are available?
Breezy Mills offers complete windmills ranging from 8 feet to 40 feet tall, with different fan sizes and tower configurations available depending on the model.
We also offer the Econo Pole, replacement head kits, pond aeration equipment, tower components, and individual replacement parts.
What are Breezy Mills windmills made from?
Our complete windmills use aluminum towers and aluminum fan assemblies. Aluminum provides the traditional appearance of a farm windmill while offering excellent corrosion resistance and low maintenance.
Choosing a Windmill
What size windmill should I buy?
That depends on where the windmill will be installed and what you want to use it for.
Smaller windmills work well around homes, gardens, landscaping, and smaller properties. Taller towers provide the traditional farm-windmill appearance while also getting the fan higher into the air where it may have better exposure to the wind.
If the windmill will be used for pond aeration, good wind exposure is important. Trees, buildings, hills, and other obstructions can reduce the amount of wind reaching the fan.
If you're unsure which size is right for your property, contact us and we'll help you choose.
Can I buy a windmill just for decoration?
Absolutely. You don't have to use the windmill for pond aeration.
Many customers simply want the traditional appearance and movement of a farm windmill on their property.
Can I customize my windmill?
Yes. Custom options are available on eligible windmills, including custom tail designs and powder coating.
If you have something specific in mind, contact us and we'll go over the available options.
Pond Aeration
How does wind-powered pond aeration work?
The wind turns the windmill fan, which mechanically operates a bellows-style air pump.
The pump pushes air through an airline to a diffuser located in the pond. The diffuser releases the air into the water.
The entire system is powered by the wind, so there's no need to run electricity out to the windmill.
How large of a pond can a Breezy Mills windmill aerate?
A Breezy Mills aeration windmill can provide aeration for a pond up to approximately 1.5 acres with a standard setup.
With a splitter kit, the system can be configured with additional aeration coverage for ponds up to approximately 3 acres.
Actual performance can vary based on pond depth and shape, diffuser placement, wind exposure, and site conditions.
Does the aeration system need electricity?
No. Breezy Mills wind-powered pond aeration is mechanically powered by the windmill.
Because the system relies on wind, the amount of air produced will naturally vary with wind conditions.
What's the difference between standard air hose and sinking air hose?
The standard vinyl air hose does not sink on its own.
Breezy Mills offers 1/2" sinking air hose for underwater portions of an installation where you want the airline to remain submerged.
Sinking air hose is sold by the foot, allowing you to order the length you need for your pond.
Where should I install an aeration windmill?
Choose an open area with good exposure to the prevailing wind.
Buildings, trees, hills, and other obstructions can reduce the amount of wind reaching the fan and therefore reduce the amount of air the system can produce.
Econo Pole
What is the Econo Pole?
The Breezy Mills Econo Pole is designed as a cost-effective way to add wind-powered aeration to a pond.
Instead of using a traditional four-leg windmill tower, the Econo Pole uses a 10-foot steel pole with a tilting design and portable steel base. It is available with either a 5-foot or 6-foot fan.
It's a good option for customers who are primarily interested in the pond aeration benefits of a windmill without the cost of a full traditional tower.
Does the Econo Pole provide the same type of pond aeration as the tower windmills?
Yes. The Econo Pole uses the same basic wind-powered aeration principle. Wind turns the fan, which operates the air pump and supplies air to the diffuser in the pond.
Like our other aeration windmills, an Econo Pole system can provide aeration for ponds up to approximately 1.5 acres, or up to approximately 3 acres when properly configured with a splitter kit.
Installation
Do I need a concrete foundation?
Not necessarily.
Depending on the windmill, you may have the option of using a Breezy Mills steel base, a poured concrete pad, or individual concrete pillars.
If you're unsure which installation method is appropriate for your windmill, contact us before installation.
Can I install the windmill myself?
Yes. Breezy Mills windmills are designed with installation in mind, and many customers install their windmills themselves.
Our 15- to 40-foot towers feature hinged feet that help make raising the tower easier. The tower is assembled in a horizontal position and then “walked up” into the vertical position using the hinged feet.
Having a few extra sets of hands is recommended, especially with the taller towers. Equipment can be used to assist with raising the tower, but it is not required for installation.
Before raising the tower, make sure the base or foundation is properly prepared and level. The tower must be level for the windmill to operate properly.
Existing Windmills & Replacement Parts
I have an old windmill tower without a fan or tail. Can I restore it?
Possibly. That's one of the reasons Breezy Mills developed its replacement head kits.
There are many old galvanized windmill towers still standing throughout the countryside that are missing their original fan and tail. Our replacement head kits provide a way to bring compatible towers back to life.
If you're unsure what you have, send us pictures and measurements of your existing tower and we'll help determine what you need.
Do you sell replacement head kits?
Yes. Breezy Mills offers replacement head kits in several sizes for compatible existing towers.
Because older towers can vary considerably, we recommend verifying the tower and mounting dimensions before ordering.
Do you sell individual replacement parts?
Yes. We carry a variety of windmill and aeration components, including fans, tail fins and straps, bearings, hubs, top blocks, tower sections, tower legs and bracing, footpads, bellows pumps, air hose, diffusers, fittings, and other replacement components.
If you don't see the part you need online, contact us.
Can Breezy Mills parts be used on another brand of windmill?
Some components may work with existing or older windmills, but compatibility shouldn't be assumed.
Send us pictures, measurements, and any information you have about the existing windmill and we'll help determine whether one of our products may work.
Warranty
Check out our Warranty Page for more information.
Ordering & Shipping
How are Breezy Mills windmills shipped?
Because complete windmills, towers, and bases are large products, many orders are shipped using LTL freight rather than a standard parcel carrier.
Smaller replacement parts and accessories may be shipped using conventional parcel services.
Why isn't shipping a simple flat rate?
Windmills vary considerably in size, and freight rates depend on both the product and delivery location.
Shipping an 8-foot windmill is very different from shipping a 40-foot tower, and both are very different from shipping a small replacement part.
For larger products, freight is calculated based on the actual order and destination.
Do you ship outside Iowa?
Yes. Breezy Mills products can be shipped throughout the United States.
Larger windmills, towers, and bases will generally require freight delivery.
What happens after I place an order?
We'll review your order to make sure the windmill, options, and accessories you've selected make sense together.
For larger products, we'll also coordinate the freight and delivery requirements. If something doesn't look right, we'll contact you before the order moves forward.
What if I'm not sure what I need?
Contact us. We're happy to help.
Windmills aren't something most people buy every day. Whether you're looking for a decorative windmill, trying to aerate a pond, restoring an old tower, or looking for a replacement part, send us some information about what you're working with.
Pictures and a few measurements can go a long way.