Whether you have grabbed a bargain tabletop water feature or splashed out on a large stainless steel fountain, you will need to care for your feature to ensure it stays at its best.

Water features require different care depending on the season. During spring and summer when the days are hot, water can evaporate quickly so you must keep an eye on the water level in the feature to prevent it running dry. Remember that the pump must always be submerged in water – if the fountain is left running but is without water, this can cause considerable damage to the pump and prevent it working properly in the future.

Likewise, in winter it is important to make sure that the water in the fountain is kept above freezing point. Water expands when it freezes, so if it is allowed to freeze within the feature, the pressure can cause a lot of damage, potentially preventing the fountain from working properly. If you have an outdoor water feature that you can bring indoors, the temperature inside your home should be high enough to prevent the water freezing. However, if you want to leave the feature outdoors, you should remove any water at the start of the winter, or alternatively try Primrose’s Fountain Frost-Free, an eco-friendly and safe product which you simply add to the water to prevent it freezing, enabling you to continue enjoying the feature throughout wintertime.

Fountains can also be prone to algae growth, particularly outdoor fountains; the supply of water together with plenty of sun provides optimum growing conditions. This can cause the water in your feature to turn green. To avoid this, make sure you change the water regularly to prevent any build-up of algae. You can also buy a water feature cleaner which will keep the water clear and free of algae. Primrose recommends Ambienté Fountain Safe as an economical, effective and safe fountain cleaner. This can also be combined with Ambienté’s Stainless Steel Water Feature Cleaner, a fantastic, innovative product designed to prevent limescale buildup on stainless steel features and to keep them shiny and clean.