How to Maintain Your Outdoor Fountain

So you’ve invested in an outdoor fountain for your garden and it looks great. But how do you keep it looking at its best and stop the build up of scum and algae?

We’ve put together some simple tips to make sure the maintenance of your outdoor fountain is as easy as it can be. With just a few simple measures, you can make sure your fountain stays sparkling.

Clean your outdoor fountain regularly

This shouldn’t come as a surprise but your fountain will need regular cleaning. Keep a soft, non-abrasive cloth handy to wipe the inside of the bowl to keep it from attracting dirt and dust. Use a soft, moist cloth to run over any outside edges or anywhere that dirt might collect. There’s also special fountain cleaning fluids you can add.

Refill and clean your pump

Make sure your pump is regularly drained, cleaned and refilled. You can use a bottle brush or pipe cleaners to make sure there are no blockages or debris build up through the pipes. You might have a problem with your pipes if the water you pour in is clean but it is coming out looking discoloured.

If you don’t clean your pump regularly it may be trying to force water through blockages and it could lead to it breaking altogether.

Empty the bowl completely at least once every six months

Making sure the bowl is clean is one of the most important tasks. Empty the bowl every six months at least and scrub away any lime scale or algae build up with a toothbrush or hard bristled brush and some ordinary detergent – not bleach or other harsh chemicals.

Check the instructions for your specific fountain in case there are any particular cleaning instructions.

Keep your pump maintained

Keeping your pump maintained will make sure your outdoor fountain is working as it should and is still providing a beautiful display all the year round.

For some outdoor fountains, you may need to add filtered water if you live in an area with particularly hard water.

You should clean out your pump once a year at least and you can easily disinfect it by disassembling it and placing it in white vinegar and lemon juice.

Prevent algae

To stop unsightly algae building up, you can buy a specialist algae prevention solution and add it to the water. To stop the algae building up as quickly, move your fountain into the shade. Algae needs lots of sunlight to grow so by moving it into a darker area you can prevent the water from becoming clogged with the plant life.

Keep the water topped up

To stop your fountain drying out you should replace the water every month – adding in an algae repellent as you do. Drain and refill the fountain with fresh water and through the summer make sure your fountain has enough water as it will dry up quicker. Adding an auto refill system is highly recommended, especially for outdoor fountains with pools. 

This will prevent the water from stagnating and it should allow you to check over your fountain for any dirt or grime that might have built up at the same time.

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