How to Protect Your Fountain in Winter
Winter is a beautiful time of year. With all the hustle and bustle of the holiday season it can be easy to overlook winter preparation for your fountain. If you live in an area where you do not anticipate temperatures to drop to freezing, you can maintain your fountain as usual; however, if you live in an area that is anticipating freezing temperatures, you should winterize your fountain to protect the fountain, pumps, and its components. Luckily, winter fountain maintenance is simple and can be completed in a short period of time with these three simple steps.
Remove Water
The number one way to protect your fountain is to drain all water. Fountains are typically created with weather resistant materials, but they could become cracked or damaged as freezing water could expand and crack the structure of the fountain. The simplest way to remove water from your fountain is to take your fountain pump and attach tubing to the outlet. By placing the pump in the lowest basin and run the tubing to a flower bed or a bucket, you can quickly empty your fountain and control where the water is going. As a reminder, for this step, you will want to be present to insure the the pump does not run dry once the fountain has been emptied. If there is some water your pump is not able to reach utilize a towel or other absorbent material to remove all water from the fountain.
Maintenance
Once your fountain is emptied, you will want to complete this simple winter fountain maintenance routine. This is a great time to make sure your fountain and pump are clean from any limescale, build up, algae, or debris. Pick out any debris that has settled in the basin of the fountain. Utilize Fountain and Birdbath Cleaner with a scrub brush that has not be used with harsh cleaning products. It is best to have a cleaning tool specifically for your fountain to remove any build up on your fountain and pump. This process is safe for birds and wildlife when you reopen your fountain in spring. Follow this video guide to clean any build up on the impeller of your fountain pump.
Ongoing Winterization
To keep your fountain well maintained in winter, keep your pump stored in a bucket of fresh water indoors. Store this bucket in a place that will not freeze solid. The goal is to keep all seals and materials from cracking and breaking. In addition, it is important to keep your fountain free from water all winter long. You can utilize a fountain cover to stop snow from falling into the fountain where it can melt and refreeze. If you anticipate low levels of snow, you can place a towel in the basin of the fountain to collect any melted snow, and remove the towel before it is able to freeze. These small steps will insure the protection of your pump all winter long from cracks and breaks.
Seeing pictures of frozen icicles hanging from fountains can cause many people to believe that running your fountain through freezing temperature can leave beautiful results. Now you know the potential threats of harming both your fountain and fountain pump and can prepare for the season appropriately. These few steps will insure that you will be able to enjoy your fountain for many years to come.