DIY Water Fountain Repair: Fixing a Secondhand Garden Fountain
Hubs went to his first estate sale with me a few weeks ago and we found a few terrific items, including this concrete water fountain. The lady said it wasn’t working, but Hubs figured he could fix it. He is a power engineer and a millwright, so I was 100% confident. It turned out to be a very simple fountain repair, and he’s going to show you how to fix one yourself. a
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Our backyard came with a deck and a patio. The patio is bordered by two plain grey fences and the patio pad is polished grey concrete. It looked very stark and plain, so this fountain is the first of a few projects to add some interest and colour to the patio.
The fountain comes with three main pieces: the base that also acts as the water tank, the upper portion of the fountain, and a decorative lion face where the water flows out. The working part of these fountains is very simple and only requires a small fountain pump and a short length of plastic tubing.
Step 1: Replace the Fountain Pump
We found the replacement pump at Home Depot. The pump we chose was the smallest size they carry, a 100 GPH pump. The tubing is simple 1/4 inch clear plastic tubing, which Hubs also picked up at Home Depot. a
Step 2: Install the Replacement Pump and Tubing
Place the pump with the clear plastic tubing attached into the water well. Run the power cord through the slot in the back seam of the fountain so the upper section can sit properly on the base.
Fill the Water Tank
Once the pump is in place and the cord is positioned at the back of the fountain, fill the tank with water. The pump sits inside the reservoir while the clear plastic tubing feeds up through the fountain.
Step 3: Repair the Fountain Outlet
Your fountain may only have a pump issue, but ours had another problem as well. For the price we paid it was still well worth fixing. Now it’s time to start assembling the fountain.
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Pull the clear plastic hose up through the opening in the upper portion of the fountain. Feed the hose through the small opening where the water exits (in our case, the lion’s head). This is where the water will flow out.
Our fountain was missing the fittings that seal the lion’s head to the fountain (you can see it in the picture above). Hubs dug around in the garage and found a small piece of rigid plastic tubing that fit the opening. If you have this issue, any rubber or plastic tubing that fits snugly will work.
Hubs applied silicone to the plastic piece and inserted it into the fountain opening as shown. Once the silicone set, the two pieces fit snugly together and the lion’s head stayed attached to the main fountain.
Step 4: Assemble and Test the Fountain
Assemble all the pieces of the fountain and turn on the pump to check the water flow. Once the water is circulating properly, the fountain repair is complete.
Creating a Small Garden Around the Fountain
Our patio area was too stark to have the fountain sitting directly on the concrete, so we created a small flower garden using interlocking bricks.
When laying interlocking bricks it’s important to make sure everything is level. Otherwise they won’t sit together properly. I also wanted the fountain to sit a bit higher, so I built a small base in the center to place the fountain on.
Once the bricks were adjusted so they were even, we filled the space with soil and planted the flowers.
My little flower bed looks rather sad right now with its day old pansy plantings, but I’m hopeful that by the end of summer, it will be full of pretty blossoms.
Hubs fixed the pump for me, but otherwise I completed this project on my own. With this tutorial I could probably do the repair myself next time. Next year I may plant some vines, but for now I love how it turned out.
A Tip When Buying Secondhand Water Fountains
If you come across a broken fountain at a garage sale, check to see if the structure is solid before passing it up. Many fountains only need a simple pump replacement to work again, and the repair is often inexpensive. I am certainly glad we bought this one.
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As a homeowner, repairs and updates are pretty constant, aren’t they? Not always as much fun as creating something new, but you can certainly save a lot by doing the repairs yourself.
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The sound of water is so soothing I would love to have this in our backyard.
Great fountain! So relaxing to hear water.
Thank you Jaxx. Its chillaxin to listen to it.
I love the fountain! and most especially a good deal. This is a great start for the garden of your dreams.
🙂 gwingal
Thank you for commenting Nikki. Gardening takes patience but I am excited to see how it grows
I love fountains and the sound of running water. I love that this option is so much less expensive than buying a new fountain! Thanks for the tutorial:) #HomeMattersParty
Hi Sara: Thank you for commenting. I would never have been able to get such a large fountain brand new. I am really happy with how it turned out.
It`s so beautiful Leanna! I love the contrast between the fountain and your green plants!
Hi Cristina: Glad you like it. The patio really needed some sort of feature.
Fountains are my favorite! I’ve had indoor ones but never outdoor and wow, it looks so beautiful! I especially love the garden surrounding it. What a beautiful job!
Hi Carolann: I am very happy with it. Our patio needs some sort of pretty feature are and the little trees we planted near it of course take several years to establish.
Thanks for commenting, hope you had a really good week.
I love this fountain. I have often wished I had one for my front porch. Maybe this will be the year I find one.
Hi Lisa: I have come across broken fountains are garage sales before. I am really glad we took a risk on this one and figured out to to fix it. Thank you for commenting.
First time visiting and your new follower on Pinterest. Love the party! Thanks so much for hosting. You’re so fortunate to ahve a handy husband and he did a beautiful job with the fountain. My share is “Ways to Use Rainbow Colors to Make Positive Change.” If you like what you see, please follow me. Enjoy. Nancy Andres at http://www.colors4health.com
Hi Nancy: Glad to have you, thank you for taking the time to comment.
This is a really helpful post! Your flower garden is going to look absolutely gorgeous when those flowers grow! That’s a really cool fountain. I hope we’ll see some pics of it later when the flowers get going!
Hi Cassie: Thank you. I felt the post would be useful, as the fountain is super easy to repair. I always thought it would be difficult, but it isn’t. I will post the pictures once the blossoms are mature. I cannot wait.
Leanna- This is so cool….thank you for this inspiration! I am sure the pansies will grow in soon – making it a charming and calming spot to relax in. Please take pictures for us in the future!
Hi Kristine: Hope your having a good Spring. I am sure the pansies will grow I am just a bit impatient to see their pretty face like blossoms.
This is so pretty, I agree with Michelle, I love the sound of a fountain and how fresh and relaxing it feels! This fountain is so cute Leanna, good for you that you got it all fixed, enjoy!!!
Hi Katrin: I am pretty happy about it, I always wanted a fountain but the full size ones were so expensive. I feel very fortunate to have one.
This is seriously one of the coolest fountains!! What a lucky find!! Love how you guys fixed this baby up and arranged it on your patio. It is gorgeous! And I’m sure by the end of the summer your flowers will be looking amazing. Hope you have been well Leanna!
Thank you Randi. Its a nice tall fountain but doesn’t take up lots of room. I love it too so glad Hubs knew how to fix it.
I probably wouldn’t have thought to fix a water fountain before I read this but now I see it isn’t as hard as I thought. The garden area looks wonderful and you will be able to have many relaxing moments outside.
That back deck is my favorite spot to go first thing in the morning. Pj’s a hoodie coffee and my pup. Its so good that it’s finally warming up. Thanks for commenting Debra.
I love the sound of water trickling, there’s just something about it is so relaxing. I’m real glad your hubby could fix the water fountain for you, it’s going to look fabulous in a few weeks time when all those pansies are in full bloom Leanna.
Thank you Michelle. The patio has Adirondack chairs so its comfortable and sunny back there. I look forward to it having some greenery and the trickle of water.