Pond Fountain Troubleshooting

Sanco has several different fountain pond pumps available.  Often we will get a phone call if a fountain is not working properly and her are some actions you can take to avoind any service fees.  What can you do to diagnose your fountain problems before you call the pros?  Here are a few tips to check before making that call.

The first thing to check when your fountain stops working is the circuit breaker leading to the fountain’s electrical panel.  Often, the circuit can be tripped due to weather related issues and is the first thing to check when troubleshooting your fountain.

Now, if the fountain still is non-functioning, check the GFI that is in the panel or on the plug.  The GFI is a ground fault sensor that trips if power begins to ground out into the water or the ground.  Sometimes water will enter the panel or junction box and cause the GFI to trip.  Flip the GFI back on and if it functions normally, the unit is not grounding out now.  You should examine the panel and connections to make sure that there are no leaks where water could short out the fountain.  If it trips immediately, then you have a problem with water penetrating the electrical portion of your fountain installation.  At this point, you may need to examine the electrical cord all the way from the box to the fountain, necessitating the removal of the fountain from the water.  Be sure to shut off the circuit breaker before conducting this examination.

Tripping of the unit could also be caused by the plugging of the fountain with a plastic bag, mats of algae, muck, fish, etc.   You should clear the debris screen and make sure no objects are caught in the impellor or propeller of the fountain.

Keep in mind that muskrats enjoy chewing on your fountain’s electrical cable.  Look for chew marks near the fountain and near the shoreline.  Eliminate muskrats as soon as they appear to keep them from damaging your fountain or pond shoreline.