Owning a fountain is a wonderful thing that comes with endless benefits. However, maintaining the beauty of your fountain requires taking good care of the pump. Any issues on the pump might compromise the efficiency of your water feature. This article highlights the common pump issues to look out for with handy maintenance tips for a healthy and beautiful fountain.
Common fountain pump problems
Humming or vibrating sound
This might result from not submerging the pump properly in the water. Alternatively, you have to ensure that the pump does not bump on the fountain container. Avoiding this requires placing a rubber piece or Scotch Brite pad between the pump and basin. This will ensure that no humming out as your fountain pump is working.
Overflowing water
Does your pump overflow when turned off? Perhaps there is too much water in the fountain. This water should always stay at a particular level to lessen the chances of problems like overflows. The rule of thumb is for the water level to be no less than ¾ inches from the basin top. When the fountain is off, the pump will empty into the basin without overflowing.
No water flow
This is the third most common fountain problem. Perhaps you first check the tubing. There might be a chance that the tubing is disconnected from the pump or is crimped or twisted. If everything is intact, gently tap the pump on a solid surface to check whether the impeller shifted and has to be moved back into the appropriate position. The best fountain pumps are less prone to problems and possible cause of no water flow is likely to be the impeller.
If tapping the pump does not give any positive results, disassembling it is the next step to examine the impeller. Debris might be preventing the impeller from working making it necessary to remove and clean the impeller. Additionally, the pump requires periodic cleaning to eliminate algae using a toothbrush. A pipe cleaner is applicable to remove clogs and debris from the tubing. Use a pantyhose section over the pump to filter the debris out of the pump.
Vapor locking
A vapor lock is when the fountain pump has air bubbles trapped in the volute. This is the main internal space of a fountain pump. During a vapor lock, the impeller spins but cannot move the water because of the air bubbles. Eliminating this problem requires tilting the pump underwater for an upward intake. This will give the air bubbles a chance to escape. This will allow the impeller to move the water in the pump more effectively.
How to maintain a fountain pump?
Eliminate debris
A pump requires periodic attention to keep it operating efficiently and safely for years to come. You do not always have to get soaked. Checking the pump is about once a month to ensure that debris or leaves are not blocking the inlets. Rapid cleaning and repositioning the pump to a debris-free area might be the solution.
Maintain optimal water level
Have you noticed the temperature in the fountain dropping? Check the water level at least once a week and fill it up when low. This eliminates pump burn out from sucking air because of insufficient water. Ensure that the water is not filled by sand whipped up by wind. Exposure to sand might make the impeller to break down over time leading to costly replacement.
Keep pump cable away from direct sunlight
It is very important to double check that pump cable to ensure it is not sitting in direct sunlight. Too much exposure to sunlight might cause considerable damage to the pump affecting how the fountain works. Additionally, avoid putting chlorine in the fountain water. Chlorine might breakdown plastic in the pump and cable. For water treatment, an algae controller is a better option compared to chlorine. Avoid turning the pump on and off regularly to save on the electricity bill.
Final thought
Understanding the potential risks and maintenance tips will extend the life of the fountain pump. The issues usually begin small and escalate with time to become major problems. Appropriate maintenance is very important for your fountain and the tips about will keep it working perfectly for a long time.
James Dean is a content handler and blogger who loves to write as freelancer for their readers and followers. Dean has a fantastic ability to make the most complex subject matter easy to understand.