We recommend that you use distilled water to fill your water fountain reservoir. Regular drinking water from your faucet contains dissolved minerals. As the water slowly evaporates, these minerals have a tendency to create a crust on the surfaces of your fountain. This crust likes to form along areas right next to where the water flows, and especially around the surface of the water in the reservoir kind of like a bathtub ring. Even bottled drinking water from your local store contains minerals. Only distilled water is free of dissolved minerals and will prevent these deposits from occurring.

This may seem a bit basic, but keeping the water fountain full is important. The water in your fountain will evaporate over time. How fast this happens will depend on the surrounding environment. In arid areas, and in air conditioned spaces the evaporation rate can be quite high. Nothing will ruin your fountain pump faster than letting it run dry. Check the water level every couple of days until you get a feel for how often you should top off the water.

Although there are chemical preparations commercially available, a little bleach goes a long way to prevent unwanted things from growing in the water. What kinds of unwanted things? How about mold, mildew, and algae? Unfortunately, all of these things love the warm moist atmosphere of the water reservoir in your fountain. But do not be alarmed, just one teaspoon of chlorine bleach per quart of water will prevent these unwanted guests from moving in and keep your water fountain clean and fresh.

We suggest that you change the water in your indoor fountain on a regular basis. Why should it be necessary to change the water in your fountain? After all, by using distilled water to prevent deposits and a little bleach to prevent mold and mildew, the water should be OK right? Well, I hate to say it but no matter how clean your house or office may be, there is still a small amount of dust and dirt in the air. Your water fountain will essentially act like a small air purifier and will trap these particles and deposit them in the bottom of the water reservoir. This is one of the many real benefits of having a water fountain in your living area, cleaner air to breathe. But after some period of time you will notice a layer of mud forming in the bottom of the water reservoir. While this layer is essentially hidden from view in most of our indoor water fountains, this dirt is abrasive and will ever so slowly wear away the moving parts of the recirculation pump. While you will have to determine what schedule works for you, a general rule is that you should inspect your water fountain once a month.

If you have followed the instructions so far, cleaning your stone indoor water fountain will be a snap. Be sure to always turn off the pump and unplug your fountain. Next, remove the water from the reservoir. If you have one of the small tabletop fountains, simply pour it out over the sink. Some of our large floor fountains are simply too heavy to allow this. What works well is a small wet or dry vacuum. Another approach is to dip out all the water you can with a small container, then sopping up the remainder with a sponge. Wipe everything down with a damp rag or sponge, refill the reservoir with fresh distilled water and add a little bleach and you are finished.

If you do have hard water deposits, cleaning your fountain is a little more involved. Depending on what your local water supply contains, you may need to use a mild acid (like vinegar) to dissolve the crusty deposits. Use an old toothbrush to scrub the stains loose and rinse thoroughly.

Just a little routine maintenance will ensure years of pleasure from your indoor water fountain. Use distilled water, a little bleach and enjoy the beauty and benefits of owning an indoor water fountain.