A dog water fountain works hard all summer. When the first hard freeze is on the way, a little preparation protects the valves and supply line inside it, and makes reopening in spring a quick job instead of a repair.
Know your climate and your supply line
In mild climates many fountains stay in service year-round. Where the ground freezes, water left in the supply line, valve or hose bib can expand and crack fittings. The plumbing requirements sheet covers how the supply and drain should be run; the most important item for winter is a shut-off and drain point below the frost line, so the line to the fountain can be emptied.
A fall shutdown checklist
- Shut off the supply at the valve that feeds the fountain.
- Drain the line. Open the drain point and press the push button until the water stops, so the valve and riser are empty.
- Open the hose bib on hose models and disconnect any hose, so no water is trapped in the outlet.
- Clean the bowl and spout and check the access panel hardware before the fountain sits idle.
- Tag it. A simple “closed for winter” sign stops visitors pressing a dry button and reporting it broken.
Portable fountains are even easier
The Portable Water Fountain with Hose Bib connects to a standard garden hose, with no permanent plumbing. Disconnect the hose, drain the unit and roll it into a maintenance building for the winter.
Spring start-up
Close the drain, open the supply slowly, and run the fountain for a minute to flush the line before dogs use it. Check the stream height and that the push button closes fully. Then it’s ready for the first warm weekend.
Planning a project? Contact us for a quote or call 800.931.1562, and we’ll help you choose the right fountain for your site.