How To Winterize Your Water Fountain

By Robert Robillard on Remodeling

Fall is upon us and it’s time to close the pools and winterize outdoor water features.

Most outdoor fountains are made to stand up to the elements, but precautions have to be taken to ensure that water does not freeze in your fountain and cause it to crack, or damage your pump during the cold winter months.

The best case scenario would be to drain and disassemble your fountain and place it in a shed or garage to completely protect it from damaging weather.

Below I am using a submersible pump to drain the fountain and underground basin of water.

It helps to have an access panel to the basin below. [panel on lower right of photo.]

Drain the basin, clean it and cover it.

I designed my fountain with a disconnect [copper fitting] so I could easily remove and store it. See link on how I made this connection at Build a disappearing water fountain

Prior to the first freeze of the season, YOU MUST drain your fountain of all water and preferably remove the pump and bring it indoors.

Fountain covers are an excellent way to protect your fountain from harsh conditions. They come in many sizes to fit most fountains, even very large ones. There are many retail covers available your fountain or you can with a tarp or plastic. This is important to keep moisture from accumulating and freezing in the basin.

I preferred not to remove my basin and to build my own cover for it. See below.


I selected 3/4″ pressure treated plywood from my scrap pile to make a cover. Although a square cover would suffice I had some spare time and made a round one on my band saw.


Cutting a circle on the band saw allows you to get a consistent circle.

 

I then find the center of my circle and measure that distance off the blade and place a pin [a nail] at that center point.

I wanted a 22″ circle so I placed the pin at 1/2 that distance which is 11″.

To accomplish this I used scrap material to make an table for my

band saw. This table extends past the band saws small metal table and will support the work piece I will be cutting.



Drilling a hole in the center of the work piece I then slip it over the nail pin and begin cutting.

The work piece spins on the nail pin and keeps the wood at a constant distance from the band saw blade.
Once the piece was cut I added strips to the bottom to span the rim of my fountain basin. I needed these strips because my fountain

pipe rises above the basins rim by 1″.


I used the bucket to keep track of

the stones I removed that were covering my access panel. Instead of dumping them out and repeating the process in the spring when I re-attach the pump, I opted to keep them in the bucket and use them to weight down my cover.


Finished. Not as pretty as a retail bought cover but bullet proof and free!

~ concord carpenter


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About the author

Robert Robillard

Carpenter / Remodeler / Editor

Rob Robillard is “The Concord Carpenter” Rob is a builder, general contractor, carpenter, woodworker, and editor of Concord Carpenter and ToolBoxBuzz As a General Contractor and carpenter, Rob owns and operates Concord Carpenter LLC. A full-service remodeling and construction company. Rob is a recognized leader in home building best practices and a source for how-to information for building professionals. On this website, Rob covers all aspects of home construction, building science, home improvement, woodworking, remodeling, and some of the best product and tool reviews. Rob is in charge of our Tool and Product Review series - Concord Carpenter Videos where we post all of our tool reviews and video tutorials. Rob approaches remodeling and building construction with a pragmatic and problem-solving approach. He enjoys using his knowledge and experience to help and educate building professionals as well as DIYers on best practices in the construction and remodeling industry. He's a strong advocate for "raising the bar" in the construction trades and promoting the trades to youth. #BeAMentor #Green2Great Craftsmanship, quality, and pride guide his journey on this channel The Concord Carpenter's motto: "Well done is better than well said!" : Read more about Rob

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