Troubleshooting Your Solar Fountain

 

Is it getting enough sunlight?
THE ORIGINAL--The solar panel requires full sun to run properly. On overcast days it can run intermittently, and in the shade it won't run at all. Make sure that wherever you are putting it gets as much sunlight as possible for the majority of the day.

The LED--The LED pump comes equipped with a backup battery that charges off the solar panel. The battery will only come on if it gets enough charge during the day, and it only runs the pump at night. If the solar panel doesn't have enough sunlight, it will run the pump intermittently, or sometimes not at all. On overcast days it tries to run, and in the shade it doesn't run at all.
If there has been a few overcast days, once the sun comes back the pump will sometimes continue to run on and off or not as well. Remove it from the bird bath and put it in the sunniest location possible to give it a bit of a charge for an hour or so, then put back into the bird bath.

Is the solar panel white or discoloured?
Calcium in the water can build up on the solar panel, turning it white. The calcium also interferes with the panel's ability to gather sunlight and can result in the pump running incorrectly or not at all. Give the solar panel a scrub with vinegar or a gentle soap to get rid of the calcium.

Is there enough water?
THE ORIGINAL--Evaporation, birds splashing around, and some of the nozzles spraying can drain the level of your bird bath. When the water level isn't deep enough to fully cover the pump intake, it begins to suck in air. The pump will continue to try and run, and having it suck air for too long can burn it out entirely. If it is pulling in air and water, the fountain won't have a consistent height or spray.

If the water level is too low, fill it back up. If your pump doesn't immediately start running, push down and submerge it into the water to release any air still inside.

The LED--The LED model comes equipped with two metal prongs on the side of the pump. The prongs are a water sensor that will shut the pump off if the water level drops below them. If the water level drops too low, your pump won't run until you refill the basin. If the pump doesn't immediately start running, push down and submerge it into the water to release any air still inside.

The pump is spraying too high.
Some of the nozzle heads that come with the solar fountain can spray up to 18 inches high. On windy days or if your bird bath isn't completely level, it can actually spray the water right out of the bath and drain the basin very quickly. Try experimenting with different nozzles, bird bath placements, or even no nozzles at all (the water can still bubble an inch and a half to two inches high even without any of the spray nozzle attachments) to see what works best for you. If you are using it just for the fountain spray and aren't concerned about birds hopping into the basin, try putting the fountain in a deeper basin, a pool, or a pond.

The solar fountain comes with four plastic 'straws' and four grey plastic clips to help keep your pump in the center of your basin.

THE ORIGINAL--Keep an eye on the solar fountain to ensure it doesn't run too low on water as it can burn out the pump. When putting the four straws in place, flip your pump over and look for the four slits in the foam to know where to put them.

The LED--The backup battery adds a bit of extra weight to one side of the fountain and can make it float on a bit of an angle. You can try counterbalancing the weight by adding something to the bottom of the other side of the fountain, or just fill the bird bath up to the point that the fountain can run but it doesn't float around.

Have you cleaned the filter recently?
THE ORIGINAL--If you flip the fountain over and look at the pump, there is a plastic 'grating' on the one side that works as a filter for the water. 

Remove your nozzle head from the top, and gently tug the pump out of the bottom.

 It will still be attached by wires, so be careful not to let the solar panel dangle and strain the cords. 

Once the pump has popped free of the panel, find the seam along the edge of the grate.

 Using your fingers or a narrow tool, gently wiggle the grating free to reveal the pump. 

Give the grating a rinse and, if necessary, a scrub to get rid of any gunk or buildup. 

Inside the fountain pump, you will see a tiny white fan-looking bit. Give it a quick look and, if you notice anything inside, use a Q-tip or tweezers to pull out debris if you can, then give it a rinse.

To put it back together, gently push the grating back on until it makes a click sound, and put it back into the solar panel.

The LED--Remove your chosen nozzle and flip the solar fountain over. 

The pump attachment can be wiggled free, though it will still be attached by the wires so make sure not to let the solar panel dangle as it can damage the wires. 

Once the pump has popped free, flip the pump upright and you will see what looks kind of like a loose sponge inside a plastic casing. The water is filtered through the sponge, which catches any gunk and keeps it from getting into the pump itself. 

Remove the sponge and rinse it thoroughly. Once the sponge is removed, the plastic casing can also be popped off the pump to allow you to check inside, and clean any remaining gunk.

Give the casing a rinse as well, and take a peek inside the pump at the white fan blades to see if there is anything else that needs to be removed. 

The fan blades can be pulled free easily with a pair of tweezers if necessary.

Once clean, put the fan blades back in place, click the plastic casing onto the side gently, and slide the sponge back inside before putting the assembly back into the solar panel. 

Still not working?

Come visit us in store and we will take a look!