In order to keep your outdoor water fountain in the best shape for many years, there are a few steps you should take to winterize it. The most important time to take these steps is before the first freeze. Completely disassembling your outdoor water fountain is the best way to protect it. After it is disassembled, clean out the pump and all the parts of the fountain. Then you will be able to store it away in your garage or shed. However, if this is impractical because of size or weight, the following steps need to be taken in order to prevent cracking and other damages:
1. Drain all of the water out of your outdoor water fountain before the first freeze approaches.
2. Remove the pump from the fountain. Clean it of all debris and store indoors in a plastic container of water or a bucket. This will help to keep the gaskets from drying out.
3. Fill the basin of the fountain with an absorbent material such as towels, blankets or burlap. These items will absorb condensation and prevent the fountain from cracking due to contraction of water or expansion.
4. A good idea, also, is to cover the fountain with a fountain cover as an extra protection against cracking caused by moisture.
Many cast stone and concrete fountains will develop tiny hairline cracks over time after exposure to the outdoor elements. These cracks are a natural occurrence and will not affect the functionality of the fountain. You will be glad you made the effort to insure that water does not freeze in your fountain. Freezing water inside a water fountain can cause damage to your pump and cracks in the fountain itself. Taking these few, preventive measures will give you many years of pleasure with your outdoor water fountain.In order to keep your outdoor fountain in the best shape for many years, there are a few steps you should take to winterize it. The most important time to take these steps is before the first freeze.
Completely disassembling your outdoor water fountain is the best way to protect it. After it is disassembled, clean out the pump and all the parts of the fountain. Then you will be able to store it away in your garage or shed. However, if this is impractical because of size or weight, the following steps need to be taken in order to prevent cracking and other damages:
1. Drain all of the water out of your water fountain before the first freeze approaches.
2. Remove the pump from the water fountain. Clean it of all debris and store indoors in a plastic container of water or a bucket. This will help to keep the gaskets from drying out.
3. Fill the basin of the fountain with an absorbent material such as towels, blankets or burlap. These items will absorb condensation and prevent the fountain from cracking due to contraction of water or expansion.
4. A good idea, also, is to cover the outdoor water fountain with a fountain cover as an extra protection against cracking caused by moisture.
Many cast stone and concrete fountains will develop tiny hairline cracks over time after exposure to the outdoor elements. These cracks are a natural occurrence and will not affect the functionality of the fountain. You will be glad you made the effort to insure that water does not freeze in your fountain. Freezing water inside a water fountain can cause damage to your pump and cracks in the fountain itself. Taking these few, preventive measures will give you many years of pleasure with your outdoor water fountain.
