Drain and Winterize Outdoor Fountain or Water Feature
Why It Matters
Freezing water cracks basins, destroys pumps, and shatters stone features. Draining before winter saves expensive replacements.
Quick Guide
- 1
Gather your tools and materials
You'll need: basic tools. Materials required: Fountain cover.
- 2
Perform the drain and winterize outdoor fountain or water feature
Drain pumps and basins, clean and cover outdoor fountains or water features before freezing weather.
- 3
Verify and clean up
Check that the work was completed correctly and clean up your workspace.
Tools & Materials
Materials
- Fountain cover
Community Tips
Drain the fountain completely and blow out remaining water from internal tubing using compressed air to prevent ice expansion damage, which can crack pumps and pipes costing $150-400 to replace—this 10-minute step eliminates 90% of winter-related fountain failures.
A Shop-Vac wet/dry vacuum ($60-120) with a small hose attachment removes standing water from fountain basins and recessed pump areas far more efficiently than manual bailing, reducing winterization time from 45 minutes to under 15 minutes.
Heavy polyester fountain covers like Classic Accessories RainProof ($35-55) must be secured with bungee cords or weighted anchors in windy climates; unsecured covers allow snow and ice accumulation underneath, trapping moisture that promotes algae growth and corrodes metal components come spring. ---