subject: How to Properly Care for Water Features [print this page] How to Properly Care for Water Features How to Properly Care for Water Features
A small water feature can be a tremendous benefit within any home or office environment. One of the benefits of small fountains is that they do not take up a lot of space. Also, they do not require much maintenance, especially when compared to large fountains. Even so, that does not mean that your small fountain does not require any maintenance at all. Making sure that your fountain is maintained on a regular basis will ensure the water remains clear and your fountain continues to function well for a long time to come.
The first step in maintaining your fountain is to remove any debris or floating leaves. You can use a net for scooping debris from your fountain. It is important to remove any decay from your fountain as soon as you see it. If it is left in the fountain to decay it can quickly and easily destroy the ecological balance of your fountain and create a foul smell. In addition, decaying leaves and debris can also cause your pump to become clogged.
It is also important to make a point to check the water level of your fountain on a weekly basis. Evaporation can cause the minerals and the salts in the water in your fountain to be concentrated. As a result, you may need to add water on a regular basis to ensure that your fountain does not become dried out. It is a good idea to use distilled water rather than tap water in the operation of your water feature. The reason for this is that there are often minerals present in tap water that can cause stains to appear in your fountain and also make evaporation occur more rapidly.
Every few weeks it is a good idea to drain around 20% of the water in your fountain and replace it with fresh water. If you choose to add more than 20% water at once, be sure to use a product that will remove any chlorine from the water. This is important if you use tap water rather than distilled water. There are specialty products on the market that can be used for removing chlorine and minerals from tap water. If you have a larger fountain that requires the use of a lot of water you can also fill several containers with water and allow them to sit for at least 48 hours. This will allow the chlorine to evaporate before you use it in your water feature.
