Prolong your Fountain life with proper fountain maintenance and upkeep. Use fountain additives to maintain a clean fountain and use extra care for high end models. Fountain pumps are the heart and soul of any indoor or outdoor water fountain.
The most important element to keeping your indoor or outdoor water fountain in perfect working condition is in the maintenance of fountain pumps.
Indoor fountain pumps have slightly different maintenance needs than outdoor fountain pumps. Outdoor fountain pumps are more prone to becoming clogged with debris blown into the fountain by the outside environment and weather. Periodically, the outdoor pumps need to be taken right out of the fountain and cleaned. The proper method is to remove all debris (dirt, sand, leaves, grass, etc) from the fountain regularly. Indoor fountain pumps don't operate in harsh weather conditions, but may need to be calibrated slightly (depending on the style of fountain) to adjust the noise level and make the most of the harmonious water sounds coming from the fountain.
It should be noted that indoor and outdoor fountain bodies basins and other parts are virtually maintenance free. However, the small amount of work required on the pump should be done to keep the fountain pumps working effectively.
Tips and maintenance suggestions:
Make sure your fountain pump is completely submersed. When first setting up your fountain, run it for a few days and monitor the water level. You will see how often you will need to be adding water. This depends on your local climate, atmosphere in your home etc. The size of your fountain will also be a factor as larger fountains such as a wall fountain will typically hold more water, thus no need to fill as often.
Keep the fountain pump free from debris and buildup. When build up occurs you will see it on your pump first. You can simply remove the pump from the fountain and wipe it clean with a sponge of cloth. Remove the cover of the pump and clean out the inside as well. Difficult to reach areas in the pump can be accessed using a toothbrus. Read more information in our Water Fountain Cleaning Guide and on preventing bacteria in fountains.
Run your water fountain continuously. This is impotant for a couple reasons. Keeping your fountain running all the time prolongs the life of the pump because it is not being turned on and off. If cared for properly, your pump should last at least a year, and as long as 3 to 5 years.Also, your water will stay cleaner. Still water will develop debris and buildup much faster.
Use Distilled Water. Distilled water is the best way to prevent algae build up in indoor water fountains.It is recommended but not required. If you don’t have access to distilled water you can also try a fountain care product such as No More Algae, No More White Scale, or No More Foam. There are also great, all natural, fountain care products that are completely safe for pets and wildlife. Try a fountain protector such as Care Free Enzymes Fountain Protector or Care Free Enzymes Bird Bath Protector.These work well for outdoor fountains because they are safe for wildlife. Distilled water is not always practical for larger outdoor fountains.Regular use of a fountain care product will help prevent algae and white scale build up that happen from minerals and hard water.
Change the water in your fountain regularly. This will maintain your water fountain's beauty. Many fountains can simply be emptied and wiped clean on the inside and out with a cloth or sponge. Metallic finishes like stainless steel or copper require special care. See below.
Fountain Cleaning for fountains with a Copper finish or look:Water fountains made of copper will have a natural copper finish or have a powder coat finish over the copper.Copper with a powder coat, or clear coat finish has a clear heat-baked finish applied to all surfaces of the copper. This prevents the copper from developing a greenish (verdigris) tint. The clear coat also protects the beautiful (hand-applied) patina or verdegris, and allows the copper to maintain its "New" and lustrous look for years.NEVER USE COPPER CLEANER on copper with a powder coat finish.It will remove the finish and cause your fountain to show aging faster.The best way is to clean the copper with Pledge or furniture cleaner and a soft sponge or cloth. You may also want to apply car wax to the copper every couple months to protect the copper and keep it shining.If you experience white spots (white scale) on your copper they can be cleaned off with CLR (Calcium Lime Remover).Note: Powder coating does not completely stop the aging process of copper, over time, the copper will age and the powder coating will come off allowing your copper to oxidize as this is a natural material and a normal process.
Care for Natural Copper Fountains: The preferred method is to use a furniture polish such as Pledge to keep your fountain clean and beautiful. Be careful not to let water sit on the copper (all fountains have splash guard to minimize this) for a long period of time.NEVER USE Copper Cleaner or CLR as this will remove the patina finish that is hand applied to copper fountains.Copper will naturally oxidize and change color over time. You will appreciate how the copper on your fountain goes through various stages of “weathering”. typically starting with turning a darker color.The time it takes for this natural weathering depends on your climate.
Fountain Care for Stainless Steel: Stainless Steel is easy to care for and virtually maintenance free.Stainless Steel will not weather like copper and is resistance to corrosion. Because of the hard smooth surface, stainless steel is more difficult for bacteria to develop. To clean your stainless steel fountain simply wipe it clean with a dry or wet cloth. Do not use a harsh abrasive cleaner or any abrasive sponges or other abrasive cleaning products.Never use a disinfectant such as bleach or anything containing bleach onyour stainless steel.You can use a product such as No More White Scale if you start to notice white build up on your fountain.
We want to prolong the life of your fountain by answering any questions you may have.If you don’t find an answer to your question here, please call one of our fountain experts at 1-866-717-3379. Here are some other helpful pages:
