An outdoor fountain feature offers a fantastic focal point in your yard while offering a tranquil and soothing accompaniment to the sounds of nature. Though highly affordable to install based on size and design, maintaining your water feature is a crucial part of ensuring its longevity. Avoiding maintenance may result in expensive repairs and unnecessary time spent troubleshooting. Below, we will highlight 5 tips for ensuring the longevity of your Midwest Ponds water fountain!

1. Clean the water fountain at three month intervals.

There are many organic elements of nature that easily buildup in or around your fountain in the form of animal waste, algae, and mineral deposits. It’s best to actively clean and maintain your fountain every three months at regular intervals. Using a brush and mild non-abrasive detergent, work to clean away the dirt and debris gently. Bear in mind, depending on your fountain type, you may have to refer to the manufacturer’s instructions in order to effectively clean away organic matter.

2. Regularly check for wear and tear.

Due to the fact that your water feature is outdoors, it’s only natural for normal wear and tear to occur due to extreme weather and animal visitations. Make it a point to give your fountain a weekly look-over as doing so can help you spot potential chips, cracks or pump malfunctions that may require immediate attention. During this time, it’s crucial to act quickly at the first signs of a progressing problem as it can prove costly to repair at a later time, or in some instances, you may need to invest in a new fountain altogether.

3. Always check to ensure the water is flowing.

One of the most crucial aspects of ensuring the longevity of your outdoor water feature is to ensure that the water is properly flowing and circulating. If water evaporates or becomes stagnant, it can cause a malfunction or prevent your pump from working properly. The summer months are especially taxing for outdoor fountains as water tends to evaporate in the summer heat. Refill your fountain as needed and keep regularly checking to ensure there’s enough water to circulate throughout your fountain. Replacing the water once a month is the best way to prevent algae growth or to cause the progression of other potential problems.

4. Use an algae prevention product.

Algae is detrimental to the look, feel, and the function of an outdoor fountain. The humid and wet conditions are ideal for algae to grow and multiply with ease. Though regular cleanings can help protect against algae growth to some extent, you will need to employ the use of an algae prevention product or a specialty cleaning agent formulated for use in outdoor fountains.

5. Make sure that your fountain water pump is clean.

The water pump is truly the foundation of any working fountain, and without it, your fountain will cease to work. Aim to regularly focus on cleaning your water pump as debris and organic matter such as leaves and dirt can easily get trapped, causing a serious malfunction. As the fountain’s pump requires special attention, always take care to maintain it by reading the manufacturer’s instruction guide.

The right water fountain is a great way to enhance the tranquility and peace in any given outdoor space. From offering a romantic look and feel, water features enhance the curb appeal of any property. However, ensuring that your investment lasts a long time is entirely up to you! Use the above tips and guidelines for ensuring that your fountain remains functional for many more years to come and you won’t have to handle expensive repairs.