Keep Your Fountain Clean
Keep Your Fountain Clean Water fountains will last a very long time with regular cleaning and maintenance. Leaves, twigs, and bugs very often find their way into fountains, so it is essential to keep yours free from such things. Additionally, anywhere light from the sun comes in contact with still water, algae can form. To stay clear of this, take vinegar, hydrogen peroxide, or sea salt and add directly into the water. There are those who choose to use bleach, but that is harmful to any animals that might drink or bathe in the water - so should therefore be avoided. Experts advise that the typical garden fountain undergoes a thorough cleaning every three-four months. Prior to cleaning, all the water must be eliminated. When you have done this, scrub inside the water reservoir with a gentle detergent. If there are any little grooves, use a toothbrush to reach each and every spot. Any soap residue that remains on your fountain can harm it, so be sure it is all rinsed off.
Calcium and fresh water organisms could get inside the pump, so you should disassemble it to get it truly clean. Soaking it in vinegar for a bit will make it easier to scrub. Neither rain water nor mineral water contain substances that will accumulate inside the pump, so use either over tap water if possible.
One final recommendation for keeping your fountain in top working condition is to check the water level every day and make sure it is full. If the water level drops below the pump’s intake level, it can damage the pump and cause it to burn out - something you don't want to happen!
Where did Landscape Fountains Come From?
Where did Landscape Fountains Come From? The dramatic or decorative effect of a fountain is just one of the purposes it fulfills, in addition to delivering drinking water and adding a decorative touch to your property.
From the beginning, outdoor fountains were simply meant to serve as functional elements. People in cities, towns and villages received their drinking water, as well as water to bathe and wash, from aqueducts or springs nearby. Up until the 19th century, fountains had to be higher and closer to a water supply, such as aqueducts and reservoirs, in order to take advantage of gravity which fed the fountains. Serving as an element of decoration and celebration, fountains also generated clean, fresh drinking water. The main components used by the Romans to create their fountains were bronze or stone masks, mostly illustrating animals or heroes. Muslims and Moorish garden designers of the Middle Ages included fountains to re-create smaller versions of the gardens of paradise. Fountains enjoyed a significant role in the Gardens of Versailles, all part of French King Louis XIV’s desire to exercise his power over nature. The Romans of the 17th and 18th centuries created baroque decorative fountains to glorify the Popes who commissioned them as well as to mark the location where the restored Roman aqueducts entered the city.
The end of the 19th century saw the increase in usage of indoor plumbing to provide drinking water, so urban fountains were relegated to strictly decorative elements. The creation of special water effects and the recycling of water were 2 things made possible by swapping gravity with mechanical pumps.
Nowadays, fountains decorate public areas and are used to pay tribute to individuals or events and fill recreational and entertainment needs.