If you want to buy pumps for fountains, make sure you have done a thorough research and made a knowledgeable decision. This is because a pump is the one most important and decisive factor for how long your fountain will last. Irrespective of what your fountain is made of, it cannot be maintained in perfect working condition if it doesn’t have a good pump.
Maintaining your fountain in its best condition clearly means maintaining the pump in a great condition. If you want to buy pumps for fountains inside the house, the requirements might be a bit different than those installed outside. Given below are some useful tips for maintaining your fountains in good condition.
Keep the Pump Completely Submersed in Water
Make sure that the fountain pump is always completely underwater. In hotter and dryer climates you may need to refill your fountain more often to make sure that the desired water level is maintained. Similarly, outdoor fountains also need comparatively more often refilling. Besides, if a fountain is large e.g. a wall fountain, it may not need refilling often as it has a big capacity and can hold lots of water.
Periodically Clean the Pumps
The outdoor fountains are more likely to collect the debris quickly as compared to indoor fountains. Debris like sand, leaves, grass, dirt, etc. accumulating over time can easily lead to clogged pumps if not cleaned regularly. Since the pump is the main part through which water flows all the time, it is obviously the most vulnerable to get dirty quickly.
To clean the pump, just take it out and use a clean sponge or cloth to wipe it. Carefully open it and clean it from inside also. You can also use a toothbrush to clean the hard to reach, small parts of the pump.
Keep the Fountains Flowing
One of the reasons why the fountains should not be switched off and on too often is that it enhances the life of your fountain’s pump. Moreover, when a fountain is kept running all the time, it is less likely to develop algae, debris and unpleasant smell as compared to stagnant water. It is not a good idea to switch off the fountains at night on a daily basis or when you leave for work. The fact is that more time a fountain is kept flowing, the more its life will be.
Avoiding the Buildup of Algae and White Scale
Sooner or later, algae develop in most fountains. However, it can be avoided with proper care. One of the best ways to avoid the buildup of algae especially in indoor fountains is to fill them with distilled water. But if that seems difficult or costly, you can go for the products designed especially for fountain care, e.g. the agents that control algae, white scale, and foam.
They are easily available in the market and can help prolong your fountain’s life by keeping it devoid of unwanted matter. Moreover, the fountain care products like bird bath cleanser or fountain cleanser can be very helpful for keeping outdoor fountains in good condition. They are even wildlife-friendly and are safe for your pets as well.
Minerals and hard water can cause a white scale to appear in your fountain. These cleansing agents help you avoid it if regularly used.
Caring for Copper Fountains
Fountains made of copper are a bit tricky to take care of as they turn a bit greenish with time. However, fountains that have a powder coat are less likely to develop greenish tinge very quickly because they have a clear heat baked coat over the copper surfaces. It ensures that your copper fountain maintains its shine and luster over the years and always looks like a new one.
Always keep in mind that if your fountain has a powder coat finish over the copper, you should never use a copper cleaner to clean it. It will damage the coating and the copper will be exposed and will look older quickly. It is best to use a furniture cleaner on such surfaces with the help of a sponge.
Car wax can be applied to the copper after a couple of months to keep it in the best possible condition over the years. Moreover, white spots on copper go off easily when it is cleaned with calcium lime remover. For natural copper fountains using furniture, cleaning agents will suffice.
Caring for Stainless Steel Fountains
These are perhaps the easiest ones to take care of. Stainless steel doesn’t rust, neither does it change color over time as copper does. It is even much more resistant to bacterial attacks. Simply wiping it off with a cloth or sponge will keep it in perfect condition. However, you must not use a disinfectant on stainless steel fountains as it will eat the matter away.
