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Water Feature Maintenance Water feature maintenance, i don't need it! yes you do, but first I should explain why. If you have a feature that is covered with gravel or similar decoration then as time goes by very small particles of gravel will accumulate in the sump along with general dirt this will then turn into "sludge" if left. This can also get sucked into your water feature's pump prematurely wearing it out. It is inevitable that small pieces of dirt will get into your sump no matter what you do. (Unless you fit a very fine mesh, but that can be impractical.) The flexible liner Basically all you need to do really is to drain it, then disassemble your water feature and give it a good clean. since water features do not usually have fish it is ok to use tap water. You will also need to check for any holes in the liner. The best way to do this is to "hang it up" pointing towards the sun and look for any light coming through, if there is then you need to repair this. (Depending on what type of liner you have depends on how it is done, but usually you can buy a self adhesive strip that you cut to size, clean the liner and just stick it on, but do follow the manufactures instructions) The preformed liner or concrete As both of these are rigid and hard if not near impossible to move then first drain it, then if you can borrow a pressure washer these will make life much easier to clean all the algae and other debris from your feature, it is advisable to have a sump pump running since most of these can handle small solids, do not use your features pump to empty the waste water as it will contain particles that can damage the pump, that is why I suggest a sump pump as these are built to handle solids. The Pump First the pump should be disconnected from the electricity supply. That is DISCONNECTED not just turned off. Depending on which make of pump you have depends on how you disassemble it (Refer to manufacturers instructions.) but you need to check its impeller, bearings and any seals for signs of wear and tear if it is badly worn that would imply that too much grit is getting in, check that your decorative material is free from grit before replacing it. Also you should check the cable for any signs of damage, if there are then I am sorry to say but it is time for a new pump. You can not repair or replace a pump cable safely, since a life is Priceless and a pump isn't change the pump. Decorative material Often forgotten but your choice of decorative material should be washed to remove any small fragments and any dirt or other foreign objects that will have accumulated in it. This will in due course prevent your pump from being worn out prematurely. Useful tip The easiest way to drain your water feature is to attach a hose to its water outlet and run the hose to the drain, but do watch while doing this as you do not want your pump to run completely dry and burn out. And finally............ Having done all the above you can now put your water feature back together, fill with water reconnect the pump and switch on. It is recommended that you do this at least once a year. go on, send me a picture 1233@10 /05 |