Winter can be a tough time for your outdoor fountain, especially if it’s not winterized properly. With temperatures dropping and snow and ice creating extra wear and tear, it’s important to make sure your fountain is prepared for winter weather.
But don’t worry; winterizing your outdoor fountain doesn’t have to be a chore. We’ve put together a list of 8 do’s and don’ts for winterizing the outdoor fountain that you can use to ensure your fountain stays in top shape year-round!
Do’s
Drain the Fountain
One of the most important steps when winterizing your outdoor fountain is to drain all of the water out of it.
This helps prevent damage due to freezing temperatures, as well as reducing the risk of cracking or other structural damage due to ice expansion. Make sure to remove any pump or filter components before draining the fountain.
Clean and Repair Your Fountain
Before you store it away for winter, make sure to clean and repair any cracks or chips in the fountain.
This will help reduce the chances of further damage when temperatures drop. If possible, seal any cracks with a waterproof sealant, which will help protect against ice expansion and snow buildup.
Store Fountain Components Separately
To prevent damage during storage, make sure to store all of your fountain components separately from each other.
This will help prevent them from freezing together during cold weather and make it easier to set up again come springtime.
Cover Your Fountain
To further protect against damaging weather conditions, invest in a good quality cover for your outdoor fountain. Choose a cover that fits snugly around your fountain without trapping moisture underneath, which could cause problems like mildew and mold growth over time.
Also, make sure the cover is waterproof so that rain and snow won’t seep through and cause damage.
Protect Electrical Components
If your outdoor fountain has electrical components such as lights or pumps, make sure they are properly protected from moisture and cold weather during storage.
You can do this by wrapping them in insulation or storing them in airtight containers with desiccants such as silica gel packets to absorb any moisture that may build up over time.
Insulate Any Water Lines
To help prevent frozen pipes during cold weather, make sure to insulate any water lines connected to your outdoor fountain before you store them away for winter.
Insulating foam tubing is an easy way to do this; just wrap it around each pipe securely before storing it away for the winter months.
Clear Debris around Fountain
Before you store away your outdoor fountain for the season, take some time to clear any debris, such as leaves or sticks, which may have built up around the area surrounding it during the fall months.
This will help keep the area clean while preventing issues like blockages in water lines due to debris buildup over time.
Set Up a Fountain Heater
If you live in an area with particularly cold winters, you may want to invest in a heater specifically designed for use with fountains during colder months. This will help maintain consistent temperatures inside the basin of the fountain so that water doesn’t freeze inside of it, causing damage over time.
Now that we’ve covered all that you should do come wintertime, you’re ready to start browsing the broad range of mesmerizing fountains! If you’re in the market for something specific, like outdoor fountains, then you can shop outdoor fountains here!
Don’ts
Don’t Leave Water Inside Fountain
As previously mentioned, leaving water inside an outdoor fountain during cold weather can cause severe damage due to freezing temperatures; therefore, it is important not to leave any water inside when storing it away for winter months.
Make sure all components, such as pumps and filters, are removed before draining the basin completely.
Don’t Skip Cleaning
Skipping out on cleaning and repairing your outdoor fountain before storing it away could lead to more serious issues down the road.
Even small cracks or chips can cause larger problems if not addressed right away, so take some time before storing away to clean off dirt and grime and fix any damages on the surface of the fountain.
Don’t Overlook Electrical Components
While taking care of electrical components may seem like an afterthought, neglecting these could cause bigger problems down the road.
Make sure all wires are wrapped securely in insulation material and stored in airtight containers with desiccants such as silica gel packets whenever possible.
Don’t Forget To Insulate Water Lines
To avoid frozen pipes during colder months, make sure not to forget about insulating water lines connected to your outdoor fountain.
Insulating foam tubing is a great option for this – just wrap it around each pipe securely before storing it away for the winter months.
Don’t Put Away Without Covering
Leaving your outdoor fountain uncovered can lead to serious damage from rain, snow, ice, wind, and other harsh weather conditions.
Investing in a good quality cover will provide an extra layer of protection against these elements – just make sure that it fits snugly without trapping moisture underneath, which could cause problems like mildew growth over time.
Don’t Wait Until Last Minute
When it comes down to winterizing an outdoor fountain, don’t wait until the last minute! Start preparing early by cleaning off dirt, and grime, fixing any damage on the surface of the fountains (like cracks or chips); draining all water out; insulating water lines; covering with good quality covers; protecting electrical components, etc. – this way you will have plenty of time before temperatures drop too much!
Don’t Neglect Heating Options
If you live in an area where temperatures drop below freezing frequently during winter months, investing in a heater specifically designed for use with fountains might be worth considering.
This can help maintain consistent temperatures inside the basins so that water doesn’t freeze, causing further damage over time.
Don’t Forget the Basics
Finally, don’t forget about some of the basics when preparing an outdoor fountain for winter months.
Clearing debris around the area surrounding fountains (like leaves or sticks) is important as this will help keep the area clean while preventing blockages caused by debris build-up over time; also, making sure all pump & filter components are removed prior to draining the basin completely – these are just a few steps you should take!
Conclusion
Winterizing an outdoor fountain doesn’t have to be difficult! With these’s and don’ts for winterizing your outdoor fountain we hope you feel more confident about getting ready for the cold weather season.
Make sure you drain all water out; clean & repair any damages; store components separately; cover with good quality cover; protect electrical components; insulate water lines; clear debris around area surrounding fountains; consider heating options if necessary – following these simple steps will help ensure that your outdoor fountains stay safe throughout winter months!
