Thanks! My water flow was very weak and now it is back to normal after cleaning the pump. I also was noticing the front reservoir level rising too high as you mention. A general cleaning would always solve the problem for a while but I never knew why it was actually happening. Nice to know it's that little pre-filter. Very helpful!
I picked up the one with the extra filters and cleaning kit. My cats were afraid of it at first but now they love it. Thanks for the cleaning demo, made things easier.
SIR, you are a SAINT...thank you so much for this video. After cleaning my cat's drinkwell fountain, it works as if it was the day i purchased it!! Thanks so much!!
Thank you so much for posting this! I had no idea the fountain came apart in so many places until I saw your video. I feel bad for only half-ass cleaning it so far. I bought your scrub brushes to help with cleaning. Thanks again!
I find that I have to take the resevoir and soak it with effervescent tablets to get all of the algae out of the corners that are at the bottom, and in the water all the time. I also use filtered water to fill the fountain with. It has kept my female cat from needing her anal glands expressed by the vet for over a year now due to more water intake! My male has less UTI issues now too due to more water intake. I also do a quick wipe of the bowl to get debris out, clean that little bit that catches hair going into the back chamber and then actually break it down and scrub it once every 3-4 weeks. This seems fine and no excess build up of grossness. You just have to remember to wipe around the bowl and clean that piece once a week, unless your animals routinely drop food in it, then I would do it once a week.
Just found your video. You didn't take the motor down as far as is possible. I've found that the little magnetic propeller gets a significant buildup of scum and algae down inside its housing. I take the little secondary cover off and the propeller out and use q-tips to clean the rest of the motor out. Then I set it up in the sink with a little vinegar water and fun the pump to thoroughly clean and sanitize all crevices without resorting to bleach or any other harsh chemical.
Hi Kim, "You go girl" as I was also going to reply on the situations that you mentioned as well, lol... Very important steps that should had been mentioned, ;)... But it seems, sometimes life happens, I guess... Vinegar is the best way to help keep all clean, as I know the animals don't need any left over soap scum that's left behind by the person cleaning this... Once a month I run it through my dish washer, (Not the pump though.) but sure takes allot of space, but is what it is, so I move on in the best fashions as well as anyone else, :)... I've had my Pet fountain for a year, but have water running over from the front bowl area & I cleaned the hair catcher, but STILL outstanding issues & with Christmas being around the corner, I can not afford to have to already buy a new one & not sure where my papers are, can't find them, as I believe the warranty was for 2 years... Anyone else have any issues & what did you do to make this stop running over please? Thank you
Exactly, here is a really good UA-cam video that PetSafe has on UA-cam showing how to clean their pumps. It shows each step in breaking the pump down to get all the way inside and clean the whole thing. I like your vinegar idea, I will have to try that in my older PetSafe fountain.
Yes, the filter needs to be replaced every 2-4 weeks. A cleaning should be done each week, so replace the filter every 1-4 cleanings depending on usage, water type, and debris you observe in the filter.
Yes, this can run without resetting, but someone may need to refill the reservoir. It's important to keep the fountain filled with water, as it will damage the pump if run dry.
You may be able to do this, however, it will require one of the larger models like the Platinum. In order to know for sure, you would need to measure their intake for the same period, and then compare that with the capacity. There is another brand, Ergo Systems, that has larger 2, 3, and 5 Gallon waterers as well. The water is not free-falling, but it does resolve any capacity issues.
Yes, I think it may work. The question is whether they could stand on the rim - I do not know whether parrots can grab stainless steel and balance on it, or if they would need something with more grip.
I've had my Pet fountain for a year, but have water running over from the front bowl area & I cleaned the hair catcher, but STILL outstanding issues & with Christmas being around the corner, I can not afford to have to already buy a new one & not sure where my papers are, can't find them, as I believe the warranty was for 2 years... Anyone else have any issues & what did you do to make this stop running over please? Thank you I do not use bleach as I've read that some people have/is, but found that vinegar & water & let it run through, then dump all after 2-6 hours of running through, then rinse well in hot water, & take the pump all apart & clean properly (As not mentioned here.) with Q Tip/pipe cleaners etc.! Then use the scrub brushes & clean all & 1 time a month, goes in the dish washer, but not the pump! It is also important to get cleaned properly, as I'm sure we all may know... Just want the animals safe is all with no bleach... Take care & cheers to good health for our fur babies & in hopes for some less Vet bills, enjoy...
My pump has stopped working on mine, is there some way to disassemble the pump further to clean it or should i just order a new pump? and where can i find the replacement part?
Catharine Devine nothing clear, and nothing black...the rest should be fine in the dishwasher. No pump, no filter pad, no reservoir. The lid for the reservoir could go in there though.
Hi Barry, I grow my hair to donate to make wigs for people that lose their hair to cancer treatment, severe burns, and other medical ailments. This year (2012) will be my 8th donation since growing my hair out in 1995. I donate to Pantene's Beautiful Lengths program. Google it - it's a great program. Perhaps you might want to make a donation, as it is a great cause that helps thousands of people - including kids. I'll address your customer service issue next Peace and Love, Andy
This thing is an algae magnet, and it's next to impossible to properly rinse the transparent plastic holder due to bad design, unless you straight up soak it in vinegar+water. I recommend getting a model easier to disassemble and/or stainless steel for ease of cleaning.
ttobyg - I have two cats so they go through the water pretty quickly so I can imagine that having one cat and the water sitting there too long might grow algae but for me I have found what works well is that every time I go to fill up the reservoir with filtered water from my fridge I first fill it 1/3 to 1/2 way with warm to hot tap water and put the cap back on, then I hold it so it stays closed and I shake it vigorously upside down and the rinse the water out. I repeat this a few times. If the reservoir starts to get a strong algae smell or if it gets any layer or green or white algae film then I will clean it well with dawn dish soap or vinegar and rinse it really well. I also make sure to take a q-tip to clear the gunk and hair from the filter screen so that it doesn’t get sucked into the filter. Then as needed I take everything apart and put everything except the clear water reservoir which you can soak in vinegar or dawn, put in a new filter and hand clean the pump and everything else can go into the dishwasher to be cleaned well. You can also rinse the charcoal filter in the sink every week to get longer life out of it but then it still needs to be replaced every few months.
In the meantime, I've taken the time to see whether or not you've purchased a fountain from our business under the name Barry Stevens. It doesn't look like it to me, but perhaps you are using an alias name here on UA-cam. It's noted that you opened this UA-cam account on 5/1. That said, if you've received a defective fountain from us, all you would need to do is notify our Customer Service (debnroo@gmail.com or 970-416-6300), and we will immediately send a replacement.
I've had my Pet fountain for a year, but have water running over from the front bowl area & I cleaned the hair catcher, but STILL outstanding issues & with Christmas being around the corner, I can not afford to have to already buy a new one & not sure where my papers are, can't find them, as I believe the warranty was for 2 years... Anyone else have any issues & what did you do to make this stop running over please? Thank you I do not use bleach as I've read that some people have/is, but found that vinegar & water & let it run through, then dump all after 2-6 hours of running through, then rinse well in hot water, & take the pump all apart & clean properly (As not mentioned here.) with Q Tip/pipe cleaners etc.! Then use the scrub brushes & clean all & 1 time a month, goes in the dish washer, but not the pump! It is also important to get cleaned properly, as I'm sure we all may know... Just want the animals safe is all with no bleach... Take care & cheers to good health for our fur babies & in hopes for some less Vet bills, enjoy...
Thank you for the instructions! I didn't know about taking the housing off and opening the motor. The fountain works much better now!
Thanks! My water flow was very weak and now it is back to normal after cleaning the pump. I also was noticing the front reservoir level rising too high as you mention. A general cleaning would always solve the problem for a while but I never knew why it was actually happening. Nice to know it's that little pre-filter. Very helpful!
I picked up the one with the extra filters and cleaning kit. My cats were afraid of it at first but now they love it. Thanks for the cleaning demo, made things easier.
This was an exceptionally helpful how-to video! Highly recommended!
SIR, you are a SAINT...thank you so much for this video. After cleaning my cat's drinkwell fountain, it works as if it was the day i purchased it!! Thanks so much!!
Thank you so much for posting this! I had no idea the fountain came apart in so many places until I saw your video. I feel bad for only half-ass cleaning it so far. I bought your scrub brushes to help with cleaning. Thanks again!
Many thanks for the demo! Your cleaning tips worked wonders!!!
thanks for that demonstration! Now my foutain is like a new one.
I find that I have to take the resevoir and soak it with effervescent tablets to get all of the algae out of the corners that are at the bottom, and in the water all the time. I also use filtered water to fill the fountain with. It has kept my female cat from needing her anal glands expressed by the vet for over a year now due to more water intake! My male has less UTI issues now too due to more water intake. I also do a quick wipe of the bowl to get debris out, clean that little bit that catches hair going into the back chamber and then actually break it down and scrub it once every 3-4 weeks. This seems fine and no excess build up of grossness. You just have to remember to wipe around the bowl and clean that piece once a week, unless your animals routinely drop food in it, then I would do it once a week.
Many thanks this vid was a life saver.......well saved my Sunday avo getting clean 👍👍
Just found your video. You didn't take the motor down as far as is possible. I've found that the little magnetic propeller gets a significant buildup of scum and algae down inside its housing. I take the little secondary cover off and the propeller out and use q-tips to clean the rest of the motor out. Then I set it up in the sink with a little vinegar water and fun the pump to thoroughly clean and sanitize all crevices without resorting to bleach or any other harsh chemical.
Hi Kim, "You go girl" as I was also going to reply on the situations that you mentioned as well, lol... Very important steps that should had been mentioned, ;)... But it seems, sometimes life happens, I guess... Vinegar is the best way to help keep all clean, as I know the animals don't need any left over soap scum that's left behind by the person cleaning this... Once a month I run it through my dish washer, (Not the pump though.) but sure takes allot of space, but is what it is, so I move on in the best fashions as well as anyone else, :)... I've had my Pet fountain for a year, but have water running over from the front bowl area & I cleaned the hair catcher, but STILL outstanding issues & with Christmas being around the corner, I can not afford to have to already buy a new one & not sure where my papers are, can't find them, as I believe the warranty was for 2 years... Anyone else have any issues & what did you do to make this stop running over please? Thank you
Exactly, here is a really good UA-cam video that PetSafe has on UA-cam showing how to clean their pumps. It shows each step in breaking the pump down to get all the way inside and clean the whole thing. I like your vinegar idea, I will have to try that in my older PetSafe fountain.
Yes, the filter needs to be replaced every 2-4 weeks. A cleaning should be done each week, so replace the filter every 1-4 cleanings depending on usage, water type, and debris you observe in the filter.
Yes, this can run without resetting, but someone may need to refill the reservoir. It's important to keep the fountain filled with water, as it will damage the pump if run dry.
I believe you need to run water through the filter in sink before you drop it into the fountain
You may be able to do this, however, it will require one of the larger models like the Platinum. In order to know for sure, you would need to measure their intake for the same period, and then compare that with the capacity.
There is another brand, Ergo Systems, that has larger 2, 3, and 5 Gallon waterers as well. The water is not free-falling, but it does resolve any capacity issues.
Yes, you can use soap and water.
yes soap, or a mixture of vinegar and water, just make sure you rinse everything very well afterwards.
Yes, I think it may work. The question is whether they could stand on the rim - I do not know whether parrots can grab stainless steel and balance on it, or if they would need something with more grip.
I've had my Pet fountain for a year, but have water running over from the front bowl area & I cleaned the hair catcher, but STILL outstanding issues & with Christmas being around the corner, I can not afford to have to already buy a new one & not sure where my papers are, can't find them, as I believe the warranty was for 2 years... Anyone else have any issues & what did you do to make this stop running over please? Thank you
I do not use bleach as I've read that some people have/is, but found that vinegar & water & let it run through, then dump all after 2-6 hours of running through, then rinse well in hot water, & take the pump all apart & clean properly (As not mentioned here.) with Q Tip/pipe cleaners etc.! Then use the scrub brushes & clean all & 1 time a month, goes in the dish washer, but not the pump! It is also important to get cleaned properly, as I'm sure we all may know... Just want the animals safe is all with no bleach... Take care & cheers to good health for our fur babies & in hopes for some less Vet bills, enjoy...
Can I use any soap to clean it or just water?
Wow, I didn't know it came apart like that. I just stuck it all on the dishwasher excpet the pump:)
What a great video. I'm looking to buy the stainless steel model for my parrots to play and bathe in. Do you think that would work?
My pump has stopped working on mine, is there some way to disassemble the pump further to clean it or should i just order a new pump? and where can i find the replacement part?
Every week? Suddenly hunching over and cupping the shower faucet water at my Bengals command seems like less of a hassle. lol
At the beginning of the video you mention that some pieces can go in the dishwasher, but you never say which parts.
Catharine Devine nothing clear, and nothing black...the rest should be fine in the dishwasher. No pump, no filter pad, no reservoir. The lid for the reservoir could go in there though.
Hi Barry,
I grow my hair to donate to make wigs for people that lose their hair to cancer treatment, severe burns, and other medical ailments. This year (2012) will be my 8th donation since growing my hair out in 1995.
I donate to Pantene's Beautiful Lengths program. Google it - it's a great program.
Perhaps you might want to make a donation, as it is a great cause that helps thousands of people - including kids.
I'll address your customer service issue next
Peace and Love,
Andy
This thing is an algae magnet, and it's next to impossible to properly rinse the transparent plastic holder due to bad design, unless you straight up soak it in vinegar+water. I recommend getting a model easier to disassemble and/or stainless steel for ease of cleaning.
ttobyg - I have two cats so they go through the water pretty quickly so I can imagine that having one cat and the water sitting there too long might grow algae but for me I have found what works well is that every time I go to fill up the reservoir with filtered water from my fridge I first fill it 1/3 to 1/2 way with warm to hot tap water and put the cap back on, then I hold it so it stays closed and I shake it vigorously upside down and the rinse the water out. I repeat this a few times. If the reservoir starts to get a strong algae smell or if it gets any layer or green or white algae film then I will clean it well with dawn dish soap or vinegar and rinse it really well. I also make sure to take a q-tip to clear the gunk and hair from the filter screen so that it doesn’t get sucked into the filter. Then as needed I take everything apart and put everything except the clear water reservoir which you can soak in vinegar or dawn, put in a new filter and hand clean the pump and everything else can go into the dishwasher to be cleaned well. You can also rinse the charcoal filter in the sink every week to get longer life out of it but then it still needs to be replaced every few months.
You're not wrong. The square corners on this thing as impossible to get to. That wire brush doesn't nothing.
In the meantime, I've taken the time to see whether or not you've purchased a fountain from our business under the name Barry Stevens. It doesn't look like it to me, but perhaps you are using an alias name here on UA-cam. It's noted that you opened this UA-cam account on 5/1.
That said, if you've received a defective fountain from us, all you would need to do is notify our Customer Service (debnroo@gmail.com or 970-416-6300), and we will immediately send a replacement.
I've had my Pet fountain for a year, but have water running over from the front bowl area & I cleaned the hair catcher, but STILL outstanding issues & with Christmas being around the corner, I can not afford to have to already buy a new one & not sure where my papers are, can't find them, as I believe the warranty was for 2 years... Anyone else have any issues & what did you do to make this stop running over please? Thank you
I do not use bleach as I've read that some people have/is, but found that vinegar & water & let it run through, then dump all after 2-6 hours of running through, then rinse well in hot water, & take the pump all apart & clean properly (As not mentioned here.) with Q Tip/pipe cleaners etc.! Then use the scrub brushes & clean all & 1 time a month, goes in the dish washer, but not the pump! It is also important to get cleaned properly, as I'm sure we all may know... Just want the animals safe is all with no bleach... Take care & cheers to good health for our fur babies & in hopes for some less Vet bills, enjoy...