Maintaining Your Water Fountain

Indoor fountains are growing in popularity as they make appearances in more and more homes and businesses. Still, most owners have no idea how to properly maintain their indoor floor fountain. The pump is the most important part of the fountain and has the most exposure to wear and tear. There are a few simple guidelines for keeping your indoor fountain in peak performance and working for years to come.

Watch out for warning signs that the indoor wall water fountain isn’t working properly. If the fountain is making a clanking sound, or other unusual noises, it’s probably not functioning as it should. In most cases, the pump is simply out of place and is banging against another part of the fountain, causing the noise. If not, a new pump may have to be purchased. Pumps are relatively inexpensive, but by performing simple routine maintenance, you can extend the life of your indoor floor fountain by years. Always leave the pump running. It may seem like turning the pump off and on will save electricity or extend the pumps life, but that’s not true. It takes more electricity to power the pump on and off than to keep it running at a steady pace. Turning the pump off will result in stagnant water, which is detrimental to the pump. The only exception to this is when leaving for an extended period of time. All water should be drained from the fountain and it should remain off until it returns to regular usage. Also, ensure that the pump is always fully submerged in water. This keeps the temperature down and prevents the pump from burning out.

Keeping the pump clear of debris and clogs is very important. At least once a week you should get to the pump and make sure everything is unclogged, clean, and running smoothly. Build up of dirt and grime can result in a burnt out pump. When you fill your pump with water, make sure to use distilled water. Tap water contains minerals and other particles that can clog pipes and valves. The cleaning process is fairly simple, but if you have doubts about how to go about it, you can refer to your manual or talk to a professional seller.

Check the water levels regularly. More than 90% of indoor floor fountain issues come from too little water. If the indoor floor fountain has too little water, the pump has to work harder to keep it moving and this can lead to a burn out. If the water level is too high, when the fountain is turned off, and the water is ejected from inside the pump, the fountain will overflow. To prevent this, the pump needs to be submerged and the water level should be about an inch from the top rim when turned off.

Indoor floor fountains can grow algae, which is usually unattractive and can lead to pump malfunctions. Algae can be cleared out by simply running some chemical fountain cleaner through the fountain.  Many times, algae can build up unseen in the inner workings of the fountain. Using a chemical cleaner once a month will keep algae levels down and ensure the indoor floor fountain is working properly.