Fountain Maintenance 101 From the Professionals

Do you remember when you were a child and you desperately wanted a rabbit? (Or a puppy, goose, donkey or five kittens?) However, as you’ve gotten older and wiser, you realise that these ‘must have’ additions to your home or your life come at a cost. 

What does that have to do with fountain maintenance?

Simply that any structure which contains, filters or distributes water will require additional attention: a swimming pool, a pond, an aquarium or a fountain.

Don’t get us wrong, we are fervent supporters of all things watery. But then, we are also professionals who know what to do when water turns cloudy, the fish die, or our fountains start to look and smell a little iffy.

So, we’d like to offer a few tips to make the maintenance of your fountain simple and easy.

Fountain Maintenance Basics

We appreciate that there are countless fountain designs, but we also know that each one has the same basic parts in place.

Cleaning the Bowl

Water composition, algae and general dirt and debris can stain your fountain bowl or leave it looking a little furry. Therefore, a regular wipe down of the bowl itself would be a good idea. 

You may need to drain the fountain entirely to really get in and give it a good clean, but this isn’t necessarily a bad thing. A light scrub with a non-abrasive brush and a little vinegar should do the trick.

If your fountain receives lots of sunlight, then you may find yourself in an ongoing battle with algae. In this case, a chat to the professionals will reveal which is the best algaecide for your needs, and how much would be required. 

Pump Care

Your pump is the heart of your fountain, and also needs some TLC. When you clean the bowl, why not take a few minutes to disconnect the pump and soak it in a solution of water and vinegar to get rid of dirt and grime? Be careful to follow the instructions from the manufacturers though!

Seasonal Care

Our climate often tends towards the extreme, with freezing winters in some parts and blistering hot summers. 

Summer may result in an empty fountain bowl as the water evaporates super fast. This, in turn, would be less than ideal for your pump, so you would need to keep a close eye on water levels. If there is a likelihood of your fountain water freezing during the winter months, then it would be wise to drain the water out over the coldest periods. This avoids freezing and consequent cracking of your structure. 

For more assistance on fountain maintenance and the required cleaning products, feel free to call the Pool Spa team.