No matter if you have indoor or outdoor fountains cleaning is necessary to avoid a bad odor, slimy water or lime build up. Cleaning your fountains doesn’t have to be a lot of work and it always seems the more often it is done, the easier the job. With smaller fountains try cleaning them every couple weeks, very large fountains can go months. The larger the fountain the more time consuming but if you are good about cleaning it you will truly minimize the time it takes. Here are some 1, 2, 3….steps to cleaning outdoor fountains:

1. Drain the water. How to do this depends on your fountain, large, heavy fountains may have a drain where others may simply need to be taken apart or the water scooped out.

2. Remove the fountain pump and clean it separately in the sink. A toothbrush or some type of smaller utensil may be needed to get in small spots.

3. Take a soft abrasive pad such as a scotch brite pad and wipe out the inside of your fountain, rinse with fresh water.

4. If you have any build up it may take a bit of elbow grease and some harder scrubbing to get rid of it. Also, if you have lime buildup (white scale) you may need to use a cleaner such as CLR (calcium lime remover) or a vinegar/water solution to combat this build up.

5. Reassemble your pump and your fountain and add fresh water.

Some fountain care products that may be helpful in keeping your water fresh and your fountain clean can be purchased at WaterFountainPlace.com. You will find products to combat algae in fountains, prevent white scale as well as several water clarifiers that will keep your water fresh and are safe for animals and birds. Outdoor fountains are a joy to be around and look wonderful in your yard and gardens so take good care of them so you can be sure they last!

You must check your fountains frequently and keep them free from debris. If there are any trees above the fountains, then the small leaves and twigs must be removed regularly. The fountain pump is the most important part of the fountain. This water pump must be cleaned on regular basis. These fountains can withstand any temperature. But the fountain should be kept dry during freezes. The water in the pump or basin can expand while it’s frozen. This can damage the fountain. It’s better to cover your fountain with the help of a non-porous material during winter periods. Most of the garden wall fountains are lightweight as they are made out of fiberglass.

The pump should be separated from the fountain and should be placed inside during winter/freezing months, so that it doesn’t damage. Most of these garden wall fountains are designed to be mounted on the wall. These fountains are very easy to assemble and maintain. The only thing is to fill the reservoir with some water. Small wall fountains can be cleaned by, draining the water in the reservoir. Then wipe out the dirt or dust with the help of a wiping cloth. Some of these fountains can be operated by solar energy also.

When you fill your water fountain, whether it be indoors or outdoors, make sure you use only distilled water. This is a great way to prevent minerals from building up on the surface, and in the mechanisms of the pump. If regular tap water has already been used, then try adding a mineral remover to your water and use a decalcifying cleaner to remove the buildup that has already collected.

Algae is also a common enemy of water fountains, and while fountain care chemicals do exist to help with their removal, adding a small amount of bleach, vinegar or the juice of one lemon to your water will help it stay crystal clear. The lemon will also give off a nice refreshing smell that will fill your garden.

While cleaning methods are similar for both indoor and outdoor fountains, the duration between cleanings differs greatly. Large indoor water fountains should be cleaned approximately every 3-4 months, preferably during the warmer months, while small tabletop styles should be cleaned at least once a month. Outdoor fountains require cleaning at least once every month, and complete water exchanges every 2 months.

While water fountains may seem high maintenance, following these tips and creating a water fountain maintenance schedule will keep them enjoyable for years to come!

If you are in a place where the water is hard, it’s most likely that you may need to clean the pump of the water fountain, twice in a month. That’s because calcium deposits tend to give that worn out look to your fountain. You could soak the pump in a mixture of vinegar and water to get rid of the calcium deposits. Algae can be killed by using bleach. But if you are a first time user, try the many fountain care products that are readily available in the market. But be careful, if you have pets at home that could be drinking from these fountains.

The best thing to do is use distilled water to ensure that the fountain is clear of mineral and algae deposits. Table top water fountains are easy to clean where larger wall mounted or floor standing fountains can take a bit more time. Whatever the type of fountain you use, make sure that the pump is clean and submerged in water. This ensures that water flow is constant, thus avoiding the odor and mineral deposits.
Find more detail on cleaning water fountains in our tips and advice center!

We live in apartments and box-type houses in our urban localities and cannot really expect acres of front or backyard space to set up a garden fountain of sorts. Instead there are a number of options at your discretion where you can choose the smallest versions of water fountains that you could easily accommodate in your limited living space. Tabletop fountains are something that has been in vogue for some time now.

People have stressful lifestyles these days and their quick fix inexpensive daily therapeutic solution to this problem is having the pleasant flow of crystal clear water besides you to soothe your senses and lighten up your mood. It also efficiently drowns down the surrounding noise that usually characterizes a metropolitan surrounding and takes you into a calmer and a happier place where you are able to gain a good control of your minds and relax it at the same time. The best part about tabletop fountains is, you get all the goodness and benefits of water fountains in general, in one single box of miniature fountain. It not only purifies the air in the surrounding but also brings in a lot of positive energy into everything that is in its vicinity.

Algae does not have to ruin your water fountain experience. It can be controlled and with a little bit of work on your part, avoided altogether. Outdoor fountains will get debris such as leaves, grass, dirt etc in them so be sure to pick that out daily if you can so the pump does not get clogged. Aside from this, algae will be the most common problem with your water feature. There are a few products you can use to prolong the build up of algae.

If you are looking for something safe for birds, wildlife and pets, I would recommend the Fountain Fresh. This is a safe, non-toxic water clarifier that will prolong the build up of surface stains, algae and green water. By just adding a little to your fountain every 2 weeks you will see fresher, more clean water in your fountain. Another great all natural products is the Care Free Enzymes Fountain Protector. This is also a safe, non-toxic water clarifier that works great for fountains, indoors or out.

If wildlife and pets are not a concern and you have a larger outdoor fountain the Fountain Block is a great algae preventer as well. And, if you are like most people, you use hard water in your outdoor fountains. If this is the case, I recommend always using the No More White Scale as this will prevent hard water mineral deposits which are very hard to get rid of once you have them.

Aside from teh chemicals above you still MUST clean your fountains! This is the most important thing you can do to keep your outdoor fountains looking beautiful. Once a month or so (depending on size) simply empty your fountain out and wipe it clean, clean the pump and add fresh water. This is simple and well worth the effort.

Click here for more outdoor fountain care tips, hopefully this was helpful!

Water fountain pumps come in all sizes and there are a couple things to note to be sure you get the correct replacement pump. Though brand is not critical, more than likely you will be able to find a comparable pump in several different brands, size is key. Fountain pumps have a couple of critical measurements, the gallons per hour and the maximum head. The head is the max height the pump will push water. You will want to look for a max head larger than the height of the fountain. For example, if water needs to go 15″ from where the pump sits to the where it comes out, you will want a max head of at least 21″ or so. Most pumps are adjustable so you do have some leeway here. The gallons per hour is the flow at which water will flow out so if you have an existing pump look for numbers on that pump when trying to replace it.

Another critical part of the pump is the plug. If you have an outdoor fountain you will want to be sure you purchase a replacement fountain pump with a three prong cord so it is rated for outdoor use. If you pump is indoors any type of plug should be ok. Some fountain pumps are rated for indoor or outdoor use and others are just indoor use.

The size of the pump may matter as well. This typically is a factor is small indoor fountains such as small tabletop fountains where the space the pump sits may be limited. If this is the case, be sure to look at the physical dimensions of the pump to be sure it will fit.

Keeping your fountain pump clean is also very important, see our tips and advice center for how to keep your fountain pump clean. If you are in the market for a replacement fountain pump, SerenityHealth.com has a full selection of indoor and outdoor pumps, both large and small.

Every week people call with questions of heavy build up on their water fountain or a bad odor coming from their fountains and what should they do….The first question I like to ask is “When was the last time you cleaned your fountain?”  Often times, I get a blank answer or a never!  Well, now is the time to turn over a new leaf. Let’s get those fountains cleaned and keep them beautiful.  Below you will find a few simple steps and some great references on more information on water fountain care and maintenance as well as a full list of fountain care products that are perfect for indoor or outdoor fountains.

If you are using distilled water in your fountains you may not have the hard water build up or the white scale deposits but you will still have algae form over time.  Wherever there is water sitting there will be algae growth over time.  Algae is fairly easy to kill and very easy to clean away.  If you are starting fresh with your water fountain start using a product such as No More Algae right away to prolong the build up of this smelly slime. If you have a fountain that needs to be cleaned and has algae already you can still use the No More Algae but I recommend giving your fountain a good cleaning first.  Bleach will also kill algae but you need to be careful as too much can harm the materials of the fountain.  Read the Water Fountain Cleaning Guide for more information.

If you use hard water in  your indoor and outdoor fountains that is aok, just remember, that most tap water has minerals that can build up on your fountain.  These are hard water stains, otherwise called white scale or lime deposits.  White Scale can be hard to remove once it forms so try to prevent it from the get go.  No More White Scale has been a proven product to avoid these hard water stains and can also be used to get rid of lime on fountains.  There are some other tips to removing white scale in fountains if you wish to read more.

Cleaning  your water fountain can be different depending on what type of fountain you have.  Tabletop fountains are easier to clean and much faster thus allowing us to freshen them up more often (once a month is usually sufficient).  Wall fountains and larger floor standing water fountains can be more time consuming and may need an hour blocked off once every couple months to get a good thorough cleaning in. The time spent on cleaning your water fountains will be well worth it and you will find that it prolongs the beauty of your fountain and the life of the fountain’s pump.  You will find a full list of fountain care products at Serenityhealth.com along with all of the above referenced resources.

Depending on the size of your outdoor fountains you might prepare for winter a little differently.  If you have small fountains or smaller garden statues the best thing to do is just bring them indoors.  The main goal is to not have water get into your fountains and be allowed to freeze and melt, this can cause cracking during the expanding and contracting.  If size and weight permits, empty the fountain, remove the pump and bring them indoors.

 Large outdoor fountains or heavy cast stone or stone outdoor fountains obviously can’t be brought indoors quite as easily.  That is ok as there are plenty of things you can do to protect them.  Start by draining the water fountain.  I always recommend removing the pump as this is easy to take indoors to avoid cracking.  Once your large fountain is drained and dry simply cover it up with a fountain cover or an insulated tarp of some kind.  If you don’t want to purchase an outdoor fountain cover you can wrap your fountain with blankets and cover it with plastic or a tarp.  The outdoor fountain covers are nice as they are waterproofed and UV stabilized with a drawstring a the bottom.  Available in 4 sizes you are sure to find a fountain cover to fit your outdoor fountain perfectly.

One added step you can take to give you outdoor water fountains a little extra TLC is take this opportunity to clean your fountain thoroughly so in the spring you can uncover or get it out, add water and enjoy!

Because using distilled water in your water fountains is not always a viable option, especially in large fountains and outdoor fountains, there are ways to prevent white scale build up from forming on your water fountains.  The first thing I always recommend if you are going to be using tap/hard water in your fountains is to use the No More White Scale right off the bat.  This allows you to prevent white scale from the start.  By putting a capful in  your fountains each week you can prevent these hard water stains from forming.  No More White Scale is safe for fish and plants and is sold in 8 fl oz. bottles. 

If you already have a fountain with white scale build up  there are a couple tips you can try to remove it and prevent it from getting worse going forward.  Soaking some vinegar water around the white scale and using a mild abrassive scrub pad will start to break down the deposits and remove them.  You can also try CLR (calcium lime remover), commonly used to clean bathroom showers and such.  The No More White Scale is another option.  Being it will be completely safe for whatever the material of your fountain is, you can be sure this will not harm  your water fountain.  The No More White Scale will take time to get rid of these deposits but once you start  using it over time it will break down the build up and start to eliminate it.

With springtime coming, I highly recommend staring off the season right and use the No More White Scale in your garden fountains.  It is also the perfect time to start using it in you indoor fountains of any type.  Keep your water fountains beautiful with No More White Scale!