Maintenance Tips for Your Patio Water Features

Maintaining your water features is one of the most important things that you can do to keep your water features running good. While most of us do the winterization routine every year, there is a lot more that you can do to keep your fountains and waterfalls running great for many years to come. There are a lot of things that you can and need to do throughout the year to keep your fountains clean and clear. Whether your problem is algae and cloudy water or calcium build up, there are some steps that you can take to clear it up and prevent it from recurring. You will want to check your fountain's manufacturer warnings and specifications prior to applying any of these methods. There are some fountains that cannot handle certain chemicals and additives. You can also find the correct oil specifications for your fountain's motor.

Chlorine -

One of the easiest things that you can do is add a small amount of chlorine to your feature's water. You do not want to overdo this since the smell can be overpowering. You do not normally need a lot of chlorine in the water to begin with. A basic pool pH tester can help you determine the proper balance. Pool water is nearly perfect for many of these fountains and features. You can usually break a chlorine tablet into four to six pieces and use one piece at a time. Liquid chlorine may be an easier solution for a fountain. A small amount is all that is needed.

Bleach -

Bleach is a little more corrosive than chlorine, but in small amounts can be just as effective and less odorous. A small cap-full or two is all that it will take to keep your water algae free. You will need to be careful with this though. Bleach can have an adverse effect when mixed with some other chemicals. You want to make sure that only water is in your feature when you add this. When used with the wrong chemicals, chlorine can produce mustard gas and harm everyone that comes near your fountain. If your water has started to get cloudy or green in color, or if there is beginning to be a green buildup on your fountain, you will want to treat the water with bleach and let it run through for a couple hours. After this you can either continue to use bleach water or switch to chlorine.

Vinegar or Mouthwash -

One of the softer cleaners that can battle algae and other water problems is vinegar. You will need to use a larger amount of this than bleach or chlorine, but it can be used in more sensitive pumps where corrosive cleaners cannot. Apple cider vinegar may be a little more pleasing to the nose if you are offended by the smell of straight vinegar. Another way around the smell is to use a potent mouthwash. Listerine is one of the best for this and with a mint flavor; it can add a nice smell to the surrounding area. Just like the vinegar, you will need to use copious amounts of this cleaner to really be effective. If you have a cloudy water problem, mouthwash may be the best solution for you since this is usually due to bacteria in the water and not algae.

CLR -

If your problem is more with calcium deposits and buildup, you can use a cleanser like CLR to get rid of the offending particles. If you use this, you will want to run it through a couple times and then completely drain the fountain. You will want to run fresh water and then drain that several times to ensure that all of the cleaner is out of the feature. If you do not want to use a chemical cleaner, there are a couple green alternatives on the market. You can also use a steel bristle brush to break up the bits that you can see, but if you can see buildup, there is usually more internally. To ensure that you get all of the buildup, you will want to run a liquid cleaner through the machine. You can mix vinegar and lime juice to make your own cleaner, but it will not be as effective as some that are on the market.

Pump Oil -

The water is not the only part of your feature. The pump is the most important part since nothing would work without it. Keeping your pump oiled and well maintained is one of the biggest things that you can do. At least once a month, you will want to add some gear oil (check manufacturer specs for exact weight to use) to your pump. If there are any exposed plastic gears, you can also use petroleum jelly to lightly coat these gears and keep them lubricated. If you cannot find the right oil specifications to use, petroleum jelly will likely be your best bet.

There are several things that you need to do to keep your water features running in top shape. Winter maintenance is just the beginning. There are certain things that you can do all year round to keep your fountains and falls working like new for years to come. Make sure to check the manufacturer warnings and instructions on any additional precautions or steps that you need to take. These will also tell you the correct cleaners and oils to use. By following the manufacturer specs, your features can look and work like new for a very long time.