Everything You Need to Know to Get the Most Out of Your Water Fountain

Serenity Health by GL StoresWater Fountain & Relaxation Products

The Definitive GuideTo Fountain Care & Maintenance:

Decorative Fountain Care and MaintenanceAdding a decorative water fountain can give any home, yard, or garden a touch of style. To make the most of your investment, your fountain will need regular maintenance. The following tips and tricks will help you keep your water fountain clean and operating at its peak.

Table of Contents

A Clean Pump Makes for A Happy Fountain 3

Keep Your Fountain Pump Completely Submersed in Water 3

Clean Your Water Fountain Regularly 4

Comparison of Fountain Care Products 5

Use Distilled Water If Possible 6

Keep Your Water Fountain Running Constantly 6

Learn the Right Way to Deal with Leaks 7

Winterize Your Outdoor Fountain 7

Summary 8

About Serenity Health 8

Serenity Health 888-881-4668 www.serenityhealth.com 3

A Clean Pump Makes for A Happy FountainThe pump is the heart and soul of any water fountain, indoor or outdoor. No matter how big your fountain is, what it’s constructed of, or where it is, without a well-maintained and properly functioning pump, your fountain will be nothing but an interestingly-shaped piece of statuary.

Outdoor fountain pumps naturally have different maintenance needs than indoor pumps. Outdoor pumps are subject to the effects of Mother Nature—dirt, leaves, grass, wildlife, weather, and myriad other factors can take their toll. Keep an eye on your outdoor fountain’s performance and be sure to remove and clean the pump often.

Indoor fountain pumps face their own perils. While they aren’t exposed to harsh weather conditions, kids, pets, and more can adversely affect your indoor water pump’s performance. These pumps are generally easier to clean, but may actually require more attention than outdoor pumps. Additionally, indoor fountain pumps may require more calibration for proper performance, both to achieve the ideal, harmonious water sound that many people wish to achieve and to prevent water splashing out of the fountain basin.

Keep Your Fountain Pump Completely Submersed in WaterAfter your water fountain has been running for a few days, you should get an idea of how often you’ll need to add water. Many factors can affect this, including weather, humidity, and other conditions inside or outside your home. Monitor the water level in your fountain closely, as this is important to the proper performance of your fountain. Be sure the pump is under at least 2” of water—this will not only help your water fountain operate at peak efficiency, but also reduce unwanted noise and spraying/splashing.

Serenity Health 888-881-4668 www.serenityhealth.com 4

Clean Your Water Fountain RegularlyIn addition to cleaning your water fountain’s pump, it is important to keep the fountain itself clean, as well. Whether indoors or out, your fountain is bound to collect dirt, debris, and other contaminants that will make it look less than its best.

For most fountains, cleaning is a fairy simple task. A thorough once over with a cloth or non-abrasive sponge and some mild soap should remove most dirt, etc. For tougher or harder-to-reach dirt, an old toothbrush can be used to scrub it away. There are a number of commercial products available to help remove built up mineral deposits, such as calcium (also called white scale). A mixture of vinegar and water will also work for this purpose. No matter what cleaning solution you use, always test it in an inconspicuous spot on your fountain’s surface first, to ensure that it won’t adversely affect its finish.

If decorative stones are a part of your fountain, take them out and give them a good cleaning as well. For wall fountains, be sure to clean the distribution unit at the top where water flows out, as well as the tubing that carries water from the basin to the distribution unit. Both of these components can become partially or completely blocked with mineral or algae buildup, adversely affecting performance.

It may be necessary to empty the water from your fountain before cleaning it. For smaller fountains, this should not present a problem. For larger fountains that require significant amounts of water, it can be impractical to empty them on a regular basis. In this case, lighter “maintenance” cleaning is recommended regularly, with draining and more thorough cleaning every few months.

Special attention is needed when cleaning fountains made of specialty materials such as copper or stainless steel. Specialized cleaning agents are available to help keep these materials clean and free of mineral buildup. Copper fountains should be given a light coating of wax (automotive wax works well) approximately every two months to maintain their bright finish.

Serenity Health 888-881-4668 www.serenityhealth.com 5

Comparison of Fountain Care Products:

Fountain Block

Large Fountain Cleanser

Small Fountain Cleanser

Fountain Fresh

White Scale Control Algae Control Foam Nix

Safe for Pets, Birds, Fish & Wildlife X X X

Safe for Pond Fish X X X

Safe for Ornamental Plants X X X

Treats Sludge/Algae X X X X

Fights Calcium Deposits/Hard Water Stains Eliminates Foam

X X X X

Environmentally Friendly X X

Treats Cloudy Water X X X X

Good for Fountains Over 30 Gallons X X X X X X

Good for Fountains Under 30 Gallons X X X X X

Serenity Health 888-881-4668 www.serenityhealth.com 6

Use Distilled Water If PossibleThough it is not necessary, using distilled water in your fountain is preferred. Distilled water has fewer impurities in it than tap water does. With fewer, and often no, minerals and contaminants in the water, it is harder for algae to grow and far less likely that mineral deposits will build up. Both algae and mineral deposits can force your water fountain’s pump to work harder than usual, leading to poor performance and, potentially, the need for premature replacement. Both can make the water and the fountain itself look dirty. Algae can also create an unpleasant odor.

Sometimes, distilled water is unavailable or impractical for the volume needed, particularly for larger fountains. In these instances, it is best to use water treatment products and/or filters to keep the water in your fountain clean. Most commercial water treatment products are harmless to pets, children, and wildlife when used properly.

Keep Your Water Fountain Running ConstantlyThis is important for two reasons. First, keeping your fountain running will reduce the wear and tear on your pump caused by starting and stopping. Most water fountain pumps are built to run continuously for at least a full year, but turning it off and on puts more strain on the pump, as it has to fight inertia to start the water moving again—it’s far easier to keep flowing water flowing than it is to start it flowing in the first place. This effort may seem minor, but add up the number of stops and starts that occur over just a month of shutting your fountain off at night or when leaving for work, and it’s easy to see how quickly this extra strain can start to affect your fountain’s pump.

Second, flowing water is cleaner water. Still, stagnant water will develop buildup and accumulate debris much faster. Keeping the water in constant motion will slow or prevent unpleasant, unwanted bacterial and algae growth. By extension, clean water keeps fountain filters fresh longer (if your fountain has one), and is easier for your fountain pump to pump, as any non-water matter can slow or clog pump mechanisms and impede performance.

Serenity Health 888-881-4668 www.serenityhealth.com 7

Learn the Right Way to Deal with LeaksNot all “leaky” decorative water fountains are actually leaking. In many instances, what appears to be a leak is actually excess water flowing or splashing over the sides of the basin, then running downward to a lower point where it drips off. To check if this is in fact the cause, remove some of the water from your fountain’s basin and dry off any wet areas of its exterior.

If the leak persists, and there are no visible cracks, you can test for cracks by shutting the pump off and letting the fountain sit for approximately one week. After this time, any cracks or pinhole leaks should become visible. For fiberglass or stone fountains, these cracks or holes can usually be sealed with a silicone compound. If possible, remove the basin from the body of the fountain and apply the silicone to the underside of the basin (the side the water doesn’t touch). If the basin can’t be readily removed, use clear silicone to seal the crack or hole, applying a light, smooth coat.

Winterize Your Outdoor FountainThe first, and most important, step to take in winterizing your outdoor fountain is to completely drain the water from it. Any water left in the fountain will freeze in cold winter temperatures; because water expands as it freezes, it can cause significant damage to the fountain basin, pump, and even the exterior. Be sure to do this before the temperature drops below freezing.

The best way to keep your fountain safe and in pristine condition over the winter is to disassemble it and store it somewhere where it will be protected from the elements, such as your garage or basement. However, this is not always practical, and while it is the best option, it is not, strictly speaking, necessary. Most fountains are made of materials that can easily withstand several months of snow and cold temperatures.

Second to indoor storage, the best way to protect your fountain for the winter is with a fountain cover. There are many specially-made, waterproof fountain covers available on the market, though any waterproof tarp or covering will work. Make sure that your fountain cover completely covers the fountain basin, at the very least, if not the entire fountain structure. Secure it by whatever means necessary, to keep it from blowing off and to prevent snow and other moisture from getting under it and into the fountain.

In addition to a fountain cover, another step you’ll want to consider when winterizing your decorative outdoor fountain is adding some absorbent material(s) to the fountain basin. These materials will absorb any additional moisture that may get under your fountain cover.

Serenity Health 888-881-4668 www.serenityhealth.com 8

SummaryFountains can add charm and style to both indoor and outdoor spaces, but proper cleaning and maintenance are necessary to ensure a long life for your fountain. It is important to clean your fountain regularly to avoid discoloration and maintenance issues. Fountain specific and environmentally safe cleaning products are available and highly recommended. Additionally, you want to keep your fountain pump clean, completely submersed in water, and regularly use your fountain. Finally, proper winterization, especially of outdoor fountains, will all help to ensure you can enjoy your fountain for many years to come.

About Serenity HealthSerenity Health by GL Stores is an online supplier of relaxation products. Offerings include water fountains, solar pump adapter kits, water fountain accessories, fire pits, hammocks, aromatherapy products, natural alarm clocks, and even bean bag chairs. The company offers in-stock products as well as custom fountain orders. Serenity Health is based out of Eau Claire, WI. More information about Serenity Health is available online at www.serenityhealth.com.