Winterizing Your Fountain

Winter time requires special care for your cast stone wall and garden fountains as well as your fiberglass fountains. This is especially important if you live in areas where freezing weather is a possibility. Here are a few tips to help you protect your fountains.

The Freeze and Thaw Cycle: All forms of concrete, including cast stone concrete, will be slightly porous. This allows small amounts of water and moisture to actually seep into and absorb into the fountain. In many cases, when this moisture freezes, it can cause small cracks and even chips. This is the major issue that homeowners need to address when it comes to protecting their outdoor fountains during winter.

What To Do: In most cases, the fountain can be left outdoors, even in freezing weather, so long as it is dry. If the fountain is or has been wet recently, it should be brought indoors if freezing weather is approaching.

It is recommended that the pump be brought indoors during periods of freezing weather. Even small amounts of residual water inside the pump can damage it should the water freeze.

Fiberglass Fountains: Winter care information for wall fountains and fiberglass fountains is a bit different than for cast stone fountains. Fiberglass itself is not harmed by freezing weather, but you must take certain actions.

Before the freezing weather hits, you must make sure that the fountain is completely dry. Any water that is remaining in the plumbing system, the exposed basin, and the pump can expand when it freezes. This can result in damage to the fountain. As with cast stone fountains it is advisable that you bring the pump indoors. Another good idea is to cover the fountain with a non-porous material such as plastic. Fiberglass wall-mounted fountains are light enough that they can easily be moved indoors for the winter.

Quality fountains, both stone cast and fiberglass will come with complete instructions on how to protect your investment during the winter months. It is important that you follow these instructions carefully. Many of the problems that homeowners encounter with their fountains are entirely preventable. This is especially true with pump problems. Pumps require little maintenance, but the maintenance that they do require is important.

If you follow the manufacturer's advice on winterizing your fountains, you will extend the life of your fountain and be able to enjoy it for years to come.