If you own a water fountain, whether it’s indoors or outdoors, you understand the beauty and soothing quality that it can add to your home or garden.
Not only are water fountains aesthetically pleasing, but they can also be used to improve air quality and humidity levels in your environment. In order to ensure that your water fountain remains beautiful and efficient, regular maintenance is essential.
That’s why we’ve created this ultimate guide to help you care for your fountain. Keep reading to learn more!
Maintenance Supplies
The most important part of caring for your water fountain is stocking up on the necessary supplies. You will need items such as a scrub brush, a hose or bucket for refilling, a fountain pump, an extension cord (if needed), protective gloves, and a cleaning solution.
You may also want to purchase a mesh strainer to prevent debris from entering the pump. Make sure you store these items in an accessible place, so they are easy to find when you need them.
Preparing Your Fountain
Before you begin any maintenance work on your fountain, make sure you turn off the power and disconnect the power cord from the outlet. If there is any standing water in the basin, make sure you empty it using a bucket or hose before you begin cleaning.
This will prevent any accidents while working around electricity. Once the power is disconnected, and all of the standing water has been removed, you can begin the cleaning process.
Cleaning the Basin
Using a scrub brush and cleaning solution, scrub all surfaces of the basin thoroughly until all dirt and debris have been removed.
Make sure that every corner is clean and free of grime. Rinse off any remaining soap with clean water from a hose or bucket and dry with a cloth or towel. Be careful not to scratch any surfaces when wiping them down!
Cleaning the Pump
If there are any small objects blocking or damaging the pump mechanism, use the mesh strainer to prevent them from entering it again. Then take out the pump from its housing inside the fountain basin by unscrewing it carefully.
Clean all parts of the pump separately using warm soapy water and a soft-bristled brush. Rinse with clean water and let air dry before putting it back into its housing in the basin.
Cleaning Water Nozzles
Use a soft-bristled brush to clean all water nozzles in order to remove the buildup that has accumulated over time.
Do not use any abrasive cleaners on these delicate parts, as they can easily be damaged! Rinse off with clean water and wipe with a cloth or towel after cleaning each one separately.
Refilling the Fountain
Once all parts of your fountain have been cleaned and dried thoroughly, refill it with fresh water from a hose or bucket until it reaches approximately 3/4 full capacity.
Be sure not to fill it too full so that there isn’t an overflow when operating at maximum capacity! You may need an extension cord for longer distances between your hose/bucket and the fountain outlet if necessary.
Testing the Pump & Nozzles
Now it’s time to test out your newly cleaned fountain! Reattach the power cord back into its outlet carefully and turn on the power switch once again (make sure all safety protocols are being followed).
Watch as water circulates through each nozzle, ensuring that all parts are functioning properly before turning off again after testing is complete.
Adding Decorations & Enhancing Aesthetics
Depending on what type of atmosphere you would like your fountain to emit, you may want to add decorations such as colored lights or plants around its perimeter for added ambiance.
Consider other ideas, such as adding stones or sculptures for further enhancement of aesthetics in order for it to blend seamlessly into its surroundings! Regardless of what you are looking for, here is an amazing site that can cater to all fountain enthusiasts! https://www.outdoorfountainpros.com/
Common Mistakes
Mistake 1: Not Cleaning Regularly
One of the most common mistakes is not cleaning the water fountain regularly. It’s important to clean the outside of the fountain regularly to get rid of dirt, grime, and bacteria that can build up over time.
In addition, the water inside the fountain should be changed and cleaned every month or so to ensure that it’s free from contaminants. If you don’t clean your water fountain regularly, you may find yourself with a broken or malfunctioning fountain in no time.
Mistake 2: Overlooking Minor Repairs
Another mistake that business owners often make is overlooking minor repairs. Small issues like clogged filters or loose fittings can become major problems if they aren’t addressed right away.
Be sure to check your water fountain on a regular basis for any signs of wear and tear and address them as soon as possible to prevent further damage.
Mistake 3: Not Checking For Leaks
It’s also important to check for leaks on a regular basis. Water leaks can cause serious damage if they aren’t fixed quickly, so be sure to inspect your water fountain on a monthly basis for any signs of leaking or condensation. If you notice any leaks, contact a professional plumber right away for repairs.
Mistake 4: Ignoring Water Quality
Another mistake that people often make is ignoring the quality of the water in their water fountains.
Poor quality water can lead to bacterial growth and bad-tasting drinking water, so be sure to test the quality of your water at least once a year and address any issues immediately.
Mistake 5: Failing To Winterize the Fountain
Finally, many people fail to winterize their water fountains during colder months, which can lead to frozen pipes and expensive repairs down the line.
Make sure you drain all of the excess water from your water fountain before cold weather hits, and store all removable parts in a safe place until temperatures rise again.
Conclusion
Maintaining your water fountain should be done regularly in order for it to ensure optimum performance over time while avoiding common mistakes such as clogged pumps due to lack of upkeep or foreign objects entering into delicate mechanisms within its system components!
Regular maintenance including preparing your fountain before beginning work (disconnecting power/emptying basin), cleaning basin surfaces/pump/nozzles individually with warm soapy water followed by rinsing off excess soap with clean water.
Refilling with fresh water until 3/4 full capacity followed by testing each component after reattaching power cord into an outlet before turning on the power switch; one can easily take care of their fountain successfully while adding decorative accents such as colored lights or plants around the perimeter for added ambiance!
