Water Fountain Care and Maintenance Tips

Water Fountains are low maintenance if properly cared for.  Following a few simple fountain tips will prolong the life of your water fountain and fountain pump. 

• First things first, your pump should always be submersed in water.  The amount of water and how often you add water to your fountain depends on your climate, humidity and the atmosphere in your home.  The size of your fountain will also be a factor as larger fountains such as a large wall fountain will typically hold more water, thus no need to fill as often. 
   
• Clean your fountain pump.  This is also very important, as the pump is the heart of your water fountain!  Always be sure your fountain pump is clean of debris and buildup.  Your fountain pump will be the first thing to see build up as this is what the water is constantly flowing through and filtering the water.  To clean your fountain pump, simply take it out of your fountain and wipe it clean with a sponge of cloth.  Remove the cover of the pump and clean out the inside as well.  If you have small areas try using a toothbrush to scrub these hard to reach areas. Replace it back in your water fountain with fresh water.  Doing this once a month or so will really prolong the life of your pump as well as provide optimal performance for your fountain.
   
• For optimal performance, the pump can run all the time, 24 x 7.  Fountain pumps are aquarium grade pumps that are meant to run.  So, keeping it running is a great tip for a couple reasons.  First of all, if you keep your fountains on all the time it 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, if not 3 to 5 years. Keeping it running as much as possible will extend the life of your pump.  Secondly, your water will stay cleaner.  Still, stagnant water that is not moving will develop debris and buildup much faster.  
   
• Distilled water is the best way to prevent algae build up in indoor water fountains. It is however, not required. If you don’t have access to distilled water or have a large fountain and using distilled water is not really feasible, you can also try a fountain care product such as No more algae or Fountain Fresh.  There are also some 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 fountain care products work great for outdoor fountains too because they are safe for wildlife and distilled water is not always possible 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.
   
• Clean your water fountains' regularly.  There really is not rule of thumb as for how often your fountain needs to be cleaned as it depends on several things.  The type of water you are using, debris and dust in your home, is it outdoors or in, etc.  An outdoor fountain should be cleaned weekly as there is a lot of dirt and debris getting into your fountain.  A large indoor wall fountain or floor standing fountain, a good starting point is every 1-3 months.  I always recommend every few weeks for a smaller tabletop fountain as they are easier to clean and there is just not as much water.  Cleaning your fountian will keep it beautiful on the outside, like a piece of art!  Most fountains can simply be emptied and wiped clean on the inside and out with a cloth or sponge.  If you have stainless steel or copper on your waterfall see the care instructions provided below.  Read our step by step fountain cleaning guide or our blog has a great section on fountain care and maintenance.
   
  Special Care for Copper and Stainless Steel Fountains
  
• Copper: You will find that water fountains made of copper will either be a natural copper 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 protects the copper from getting that greenish (patina) tint. It also protects the beautiful (hand-applied) patina, and allows the copper to maintain its "New" and lustrous look over the years. NEVER USE COPPER CLEANER on copper with a powder coat finish. It will remove the finish and cause your fountain to show aging (patina) faster. You can simply clean the copper with Pledge or furniture cleaner and a soft sponge or cloth.  You may also want to apply a turtle wax or 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.
   
• Fountain Care for Natural Copper Fountains:
  Simply use a furniture polish such as Pledge to keep your fountain clean and beautiful. You will want to 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 these copper fountains. Copper will oxidize and change color over time. You will see the copper on your fountain go through various stages of “weathering” typically starting with turning a darker color. The time it takes for this process to start is dependant on your climate.
   
• Fountain Care for Stainless Steel:
  Stainless Steel if very simple to care for and virtually maintenance free. Stainless Steel will not age like copper and has an excellent resistance to corrosion.  Because stainless steel is a smooth surface it is more difficult for bacteria to settle. 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 on your stainless steel because it could eat away at the material. You can use a product such as No more White Scale if you start to notice white build up on your fountain.