Preventing Mineral Buildup In Water Fountains

White scale and hard water mineral deposits are two of the most common concerns among fountain owners. The water feature's white scale and mineral deposits can be difficult to remove and can cause long-term harm to your fountain. Preventing such buildups is undoubtedly the best solution, and understanding how to do it correctly will significantly increase the life of your fountain.

What Should You Do?

Clean the Water Pump

The consequences of mineral buildup in your fountain will be felt by your pump long before you detect them. Make it a habit to clean your pump on a regular basis, since here is where most of the buildup will occur. 

You should remove the back of the pump and carefully clean it. Cleaning the holes within the pump with small water pressure and a little scrub brush may be quite useful. You should also clean the tubing that links the pump to the fountain since here is where most of the accumulation will occur.

Regular Cleaning 

While cleaning the pump is important for preventing undesired accumulation in your fountain, it is not the only type of maintenance you need to be mindful of. To keep your fountain in peak shape, a regular thorough cleaning plan is essential. 

Monthly cleaning is perhaps the best option. To begin, you should turn off your fountain and drain all of its water. There are several fountain chemicals available for this operation, and you should apply them to every aspect of your fountain, even the little, independent ornamental elements.

Use Appropriate Chemicals

Choosing the proper chemicals for your fountain will assist guarantee that you are doing all possible to eliminate present accumulation and avoid future buildup. Regardless of the chemicals you use, your fountain must be cleaned once a month, or at the very least every two months. The size of your fountain and the pace at which accumulation forms should determine how frequently you clean it.

Alternatives You Can Use to Remove Calcium Deposits

Lemon/Lime Juice

Lemon/lime juice should be easily accessible at your local store. If it isn't, simply acquire some freshly squeezed lemon juice. Citric acid in lemon juice is excellent for cleaning metal equipment.

White Vinegar

White vinegar is great for getting rid of persistent water stains. This component is almost certainly already in your kitchen cabinet. Soak a towel in vinegar and place it over the calcium deposits on the fittings to dissolve them.

Removing Mineral Buildup From Your Fountain

Removing mineral buildups from your fountain is a simple yet time-consuming task. As a result, to guarantee that the cleaning goes well, gather the essential supplies.

You need:

• Vinegar
• Water
• Sponge
• Soft-bristle brush

Steps: 

1. Unplug the water fountain's water pump to drain the water. To empty the fountain, turn it upside down. If the water feature is excessively large, remove the water using the drain plug or the fountain pump.
2. Warm up equal amounts white vinegar and water on the stove.
3. After immersing the cleaning towel in vinegar, place it on the dirty area.
4. Allow the vinegar to perform its wonders on the affected spots for 5-10 minutes.
5. To remove stains, use a soft-bristled brush to gently clean the affected area. A stiff nylon-bristle brush may be used to clean resilient fountain materials like as marble and cast stone that can tolerate harsh cleaning.
6. Clean the water fountain thoroughly.
7. Use distilled water or water that has been disinfected using a fountain anti-scale treatment to replace the water in your fountain. This will assist prevent the formation of new mineral stains on your fountain.

Can You Use Water Treatments On Water Fountains?

If you have a fountain or a garden waterfall, you will need to apply fountain water treatment on a regular basis. These treatments are often recommended to property owners as a temporary cure to algae and scale growth. It is not advised as a permanent solution; you still must clean the fountain and refresh the water as directed.

Fountain chemicals are ideal for untimely maintenance since they assist to maintain the water clean. Ideally, this solution allows you to avoid cleaning the fountain for extended periods of time. In certain regions, tap water contains high quantities of calcium, lime, and other naturally occurring minerals, which can produce buildup in your fountain basin. 

If you see a white powder or a pinkish slimy material on the basin's rims, this might be due to calcium, lime, or hard or soft water. These kinds of problems may be avoided by using items with “no more white scale” tagged on its labels. These items perform best when utilized right away as you add water to your new fountain. 

The most effective solution to alleviate many water issues in your fountain is to use distilled water, which is devoid of these minerals. Follow the manufacturer's recommended dose for any fountain water treatments you use in any fountain.