Water Fountain Care and Maintenance

Once you have found the perfect water fountain, you want to make sure that it will last for years and years, so proper care and maintenance are a must. The good news is that water fountains are easy to maintain and require little care. Still, by paying attention to a few details, you can help ensure the lasting beauty and allure of your water fountain.

Water Usage Guidelines and Recommendations

Water is water, right? Well, not exactly. Trace elements and impurities, such as calcium, iron and other minerals, can make a difference in the function and lifetime of your water fountain. These same impurities that leave the annoying and unsightly bathtub ring can dull the surfaces of your water fountain. A bigger concern, though, is their destructive effects on the pump. To eliminate this potential problem, use distilled water. For larger fountains, this may not be an option, so consider a water filter. It’s also a good idea to add an algae inhibitor to water in outdoor fountains.

Protecting and Cleaning Your Fountain's Finish

Most fountain finishes require little to no care and maintenance to keep them looking brand new. Here are some common fountain finishes and how to care for them. Generally, regardless of the type of finish, you want to avoid allowing any cleaners to get into the water since this can damage the pump. Do not use bleach because of this danger.

• Steel requires only a quick wipe with a sponge or damp cloth.
• Copper will naturally oxidize to form a green patina. If this is the effect you desire, just clean your fountain with a damp sponge, and allow enough time for the oxidation to occur.  However, you may, on the other hand, want to use a furniture polish to clean any surface grime, which will slow the oxidation process.  Do NOT use copper cleaner on a copper finish.  You may think this would be a natural decision; however, copper cleaner is to be used only on untreated copper surfaces and most if not all copper fountain finishes have been treated with a clear finish.  Copper cleaner will destroy your fountain's finish.
• Slate, pebbles, or marble may require a little elbow grease with a soft-bristled brush to remove any lime or calcium build-up. If elbow grease alone doesn’t do the job, you may want to use a popular household lime removal cleaner.

How to Maintain the Pump

Clean water is the key to maintaining the fountain pump. After all, the pump is submergible, meaning it was designed specifically to work continuously under water. It will not work properly, or at all, if only partially submerged. In fact, do not run the pump without water. Another way to extend the life of the pump is to avoid turning it on and off since this can result in air getting inside the pump, which will eventually stop it from functioning properly. Remember, the pump was designed to run continuously.

What to Do if Your Fountain Pump Stops Running

First, make sure the pump is completely under water. If so, then try taking it out of the water, then putting it back in to jump start it. You may need to tap the side of the pump to jar loose its impeller. If this doesn’t work, you may try soaking it in warm water and vinegar to get rid of any build-up. If all else fails, you will need to look inside the pump for debris that may have accumulated during normal use. Make sure you follow the manufacturer’s instructions for disassembly.

Standard Lighting Maintenance

Most fountains will use commonly found light bulbs, so replacing them is not a problem. Occasionally, however, you may find that the bulbs for your fountain seem not to last that long. The problem could be that water is splashing on the bulbs causing their shortened life. This issue is easy enough to fix by either adjusting the water flow or by checking the cover over the light to ensure it is correctly positioned to adequately protect the bulb from water spray.

Underwater Lighting Maintenance

When working with underwater lighting it is especially important to remember that water and electricity do not mix. Be careful and follow the manufacturer’s instructions. Make sure that your fountain is unplugged before changing underwater lighting, and since most, if not all of these light bulbs are halogens, you will need to wear gloves when changing them to prevent damage to the bulb.

Routine Maintenance – A Summary

Good water is the secret to maintaining your fountain, so periodically--the frequency depends upon how often and long your use your water fountain--you will want to completely replace the water so that it remains fresh and uncontaminated. This is also a good time for other routine maintenance: Give the entire fountain a thorough cleaning, and check the pump for build-up of debris to ensure that your pump will continue to work properly. With a little care, your fountain will offer years of enjoyment, so that all you will have to do is sit back, relax and listen to the waterfall.