Outdoor water fountains are fun, adding a bit of whimsy and wonder to any patio, lawn or garden.
But few people realize there are a couple of accessories every fountain owner needs (and at least one they should want).
The must-have accessories include an outdoor cover for the fountain and water treatments.
Both are equally important in keeping your fountain clean and running properly.
You've already purchased a beautiful fountain, so it makes sense to invest in an outdoor cover to keep the fountain looking its best.
If you live in colder climates, a cover is a must for the winter.
Otherwise, your fountain could crack, crumble, tarnish or stain, leaving you with only memories of a once magnificent outdoor decoration.
Outdoor fountains are fairly durable, so you needn't cover them each night.
But it is a good idea to use a cover during heavy storms you know about in advance in order to keep debris out of the fountain.
Cleaning and scrubbing is part of owning an outdoor water fountain.
You should clean debris out daily - pick out those sticks, leaves, bugs and whatever else each night.
Not only will the fountain look nicer when its clean, but particles can jam the pump and tubes, which can lead to taking the whole fountain apart.
Using distilled water will cut down on hard water deposits and white spots, but it's likely you'll still have to clean the fountain once a month, which is recommended.
Cleaning the water fountain regularly will also cut down on algae build-up.
Algae will change the color of the fountain's basin as it builds, as well as dirtying the water and emitting an awful odor.
Water solutions are available to add to the water fountain to keep the water clean and free of algae.
Products such as CLR and stainless steel polishes will keep your fountain looking new longer than fountains that are not cared for often.
And finally we come to the fun part of the accessories - lights and stones.
Heavy stones can be used in most fountains as they have no chance of clogging the pump.
Polished rocks are a perfect accessory to many types of water fountains, and they are cheap and easy to clean.
Simply wash off the rocks when you change the water in the fountain, usually once a month.
Add lights inside the fountain's basin to illuminate the rocks and pennies, or place some small spotlights around the fountain to enjoy the view at night.
Whether a must-have accessory or not, these items will enhance the appearance of your water fountain while prolonging the life of the pump and material.
Proper outdoor water fountain maintenance is the key to a beautiful garden or patio water feature.