Keeping Your Garden Fountain Clean
Keeping Your Garden Fountain Clean Water fountains will keep working a very long time with regular cleaning and maintenance. Leaves, twigs, and insects often find their way into fountains, so it is important to keep yours free from such debris.
On top of that, algae can be a concern, because sunshine hitting the water enables it to form easily. To prevent this, take vinegar, hydrogen peroxide, or sea salt and add straight into the water. Another option is to blend bleach into the water, but this action can sicken wild animals and so should really be avoided. Experts recommend that the typical garden fountain undergoes a thorough cleaning every three-four months. Prior to cleaning, all the water must be taken out. Once it is empty, wash inside the reservoir with a gentle cleanser. A helpful tip is to use a toothbrush if there are little hard-to-reach spots. Make sure all the soap is totally rinsed off.
Various organisms and calcium deposits may get inside the pump, so it is best to take it apart and clean it completely. Soaking it in vinegar for a time will make it easier to scrub. Mineral or rain water, versus tap water, is ideal in order to prevent any build-up of chemicals inside the pump.
Lastly, make sure your fountain is always full by checking it every day - this will keep it in tip-top shape. Allowing the water level to get too low can cause damage to the pump - and you certainly do not want that!
A Short History of the Early Water Features
A Short History of the Early Water Features Water fountains were at first practical in function, used to bring water from rivers or creeks to towns and villages, supplying the inhabitants with fresh water to drink, wash, and prepare food with. To generate water flow through a fountain until the later part of the 1800’s, and produce a jet of water, required the force of gravity and a water source such as a creek or lake, situated higher than the fountain. The beauty and wonder of fountains make them perfect for historic monuments. Rough in style, the first water fountains did not look much like present fountains. Simple stone basins crafted from local rock were the original fountains, used for religious functions and drinking water. Rock basins are thought to have been first made use of around 2,000 BC. Early fountains used in ancient civilizations relied on gravity to manipulate the movement of water through the fountain. These ancient water fountains were designed to be functional, usually situated along aqueducts, streams and rivers to provide drinking water. Fountains with decorative Gods, mythological monsters, and animals began to appear in Rome in about 6 B.C., made from rock and bronze. A well-designed collection of reservoirs and aqueducts kept Rome's public fountains supplied with fresh water.