It’s that time of year again! Temperatures are dropping and winter is near. If you live in a freezing climate, it is important to winterize outdoor water fountains to keep it in great condition. Follow these tips to protect your fountain for years.

Tiered Fountains

If you have a tiered fountain, it is crucial to drain the water from the fountain bowls. If you have a fountain from Carved Stone Creations, there is a rubber stopper in each bowl you can remove to drain the water easily. Granite fountains can withstand freezing temperatures without getting damaged, so you don’t have to move your fountain or cover it. It can stay right where it is all winter long! 

Next, you need to remove the pump. Place the pump in a bucket of water and store the bucket in a place where it won’t freeze. 

If you have a pond-less basin, you can leave the remaining water in the basin as the frozen water does not damage it. If you have an above-ground stone basin. Then make sure to drain the water out as you did with the fountain bowls. 

Boulder and Basalt Fountains

Boulder and basalt fountains are even easier to winterize. You can leave the boulder or basalt fountain in place on the basin all winter. All you have to do to winterize these fountain types is remove the pump and place it in a bucket of water. The bucket should be stored in a place where it wont freeze. You can also get knowledge about the right installation of Basalt Fountain.

Winterizing Supply Lines

Auto-fill devices for the pond should be shut off and winterized to stay protected. If your water supply line is tied into an underground irrigation system, this line should be blown out with the rest of your sprinkler system.  If your water supply line comes directly from the house, simply disconnect the line from its source and blow all the water out of the line with an air compressor.  This will help reduce the risk of damage to those lines. 

Debris

No matter what type of outdoor water fountains you have, its a good idea to clean up all debris in and around the fountain before the first snowfall. Removing branches, leaves and other debris that fell into the fountain in the fall will help prevent staining come spring. It also makes it easier to restart your fountain in the spring. 

Granite fountains are durable and generally low maintenance, but they still require some care to prepare for winter. Winterizing your fountain goes a long way to increase the enjoyment and function of the fountain year after year! 

If you have questions about winterizing your fountain, please call us at 1 (866) 759-1920.