There are several types of filtering water fountains available for pets. The charcoal filter removes impurities from the water and provides your pet with fresh, clean water. Maintaining the fountain is as simple as keeping the reservoir filled and rinsing the unit periodically.
What some pet owners may not realize is that the internal pump needs to be cleaned out regularly to keep the motor running smoothly. If the pump is operating but is making noise, it’s likely that it needs to be cleaned. If you have hard water, it may even be necessary to soak the pump in a calcium remover like Lime Away or CLR. This helps to remove calcium deposits from the moving parts in the pump. By regularly cleaning the pump, you can avoid having to replace it. Never allow the unit to run dry as this could cause permanent damage to the pump.
To properly clean the pump, follow these easy steps.
- Unplug the fountain and pour all the water out.
- Remove the top of the fountain to access the black pump.
- Remove the pump from the fountain.
- Pry off the top portion of the pump. You may need something to wedge in the crack the first time you do this.
- Using needle-nose pliers or a tweezers, pull off the lid covering the impeller well.
- Again, using the pliers or tweezers, lift the impeller out of the well (it’s held in by magnetic force).
- Wipe all the surfaces with a cotton swab and rinse thoroughly.
- Make sure the outer surface of the impeller is smooth with no calcium build-up.
- Replace all parts and return the pump to the fountain.
10. Fill with water and plug in the unit.
If you take the time to clean the pump regularly, your pet’s water fountain should last for many years and continue to provide fresh, clean, healthy water.
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Lots of people talk to animals…. Not very many listen, though…. That’s the problem. ~Benjamin Hoff, The Tao of Pooh
Thanks for contributing so much with this wonderful content.
This is good, helps me a lot, thanks.
I enjoy your website – super job!
Thanks for the help, Ithink I ran our pump dry becase it makes a humming noise now.
When the motor is making a humming noise is this an electrical danger?
Thanks for all your help..and I appreciate all the tips.
Thanks
Tillman
Hi Tillman, I’m not sure if you pump is an electrical danger if it’s making noise, but if you’ve taken it apart and cleaned it including removing any calcium build-up and it’s still making noise, you may need to replace the pump. In my experience, if you’ve run the pump dry to the point where it is damaged, it simply stops working. Depending on the brand of your fountain, you may be able to contact the manufacturer to buy a replacement pump. I know that PetMate offers them on their site.
Thanks again for reading our blog.
Thanks for your rely, see it is our out side Water fountine, and our Cat drinks out of it , but when it’s hot out the heat evaporates the water in like 2 hours past the pump water level, so sometime we don’t notice it run dry, but after reading your blog I cleaned it out and now the humming is gone and it works fine with twice the water pressure.
So thank you very much for the blog you have savedus buying a new pump…
Thanks again
Tillman
Tillman, I am so happy to hear that my article saved your pump! Thanks for sharing and now you know what to do going forward!
Valerie