1. Using water treatments is the number one most important thing you can do to preserve the life of your fountain. No More Algae for Fountains attacks and prevents the growth of algae in fountains in a safe, effective way. No More White Scale for Fountains removes existing mineral deposits and prevents the buildup of new white scale deposits. Mineral deposits are harmful to many fountain finishes and in some textured fountain finishes, can be extremely difficult to remove.
2. Maintain the proper water capacity in your fountain to prevent your pump from burning out. This is as simple as making sure there is always enough water to cover the pump. Don,t overfill your fountain, however, or you can risk damaging nearby surfaces. A good guideline to follow is to keep the water about an inch below the rim of the fountain basin.
3. Keep your pump clean and free of debris. Pet dander, dust and other pollutants in the air can accumulate in your pump and cause it to pump water at a lower rate or stop working altogether. Simply unplug the pump, pull it out of your fountain and look at the outside. Use an old toothbrush with soft bristles to gently clean off any algae or debris from the outside. Then, remove the cover and do the same with the interior.
4. Replace the water in your fountain with fresh water approximately once a month.
Even with the use of water treatments, if the same water is constantly running through a fountain, it can take on a bit of a sour smell over time.
5. Once every three months or so, clean your fountain thoroughly according to the manufacturer instructions. This typically does not involve much more than emptying the water and wiping out the inside, although some fountains may need to be scrubbed down a bit.
6. Read the instructions that come with your fountain for helpful maintenance hints. With the wide variety of fountains on the market, its difficult to write a comprehensive fountain care guide that works for all of them. The people who make the fountains know them best, and will often give you inside info that will keep your fountain looking and working great.
7. Different surface materials require different care. Make sure that you are using care techniques that are specific to your fountain. Again, your instruction manual is the best source for this info. Apalche Fountains.com also has some general care guides for copper, stainless steel and acrylic fountains in their Buyer Guide.
8. Never add foreign substances to your fountain water that could potentially harm the pump, finish or inner workings of your fountain. Anything that not specifically deemed suitable for use in a fountain is not recommended that includes glitter, bubbles, essential oil and of course, fish and other marine life. If you like to add a scent to your fountain, do it the safe way with Fountain accents available in a wide variety of pleasant scents, these water treatments also help protect your fountain from white scale and bacteria.
9. Before winter, empty water from outdoor fountains and keep them covered to prevent cracks. As water freezes, it expands and can cause cracks to form in many different types of materials. Even if you empty the water, you should also use a tarp or, preferably, a fountain cover to keep falling precipitation from causing damage.
10. Keep fallen leaves, branches, mulch and other debris from accumulating in outdoor fountains. As organic matter decomposes, it releases bacteria into the fountain water which can lead to some unsightly and unpleasant-smelling buildup. Make it a habit to remove this debris each time you perform other regular tasks in your yard.
