There are 8 parts to the fountain:
1. two mounting brackets
2. one water pan
3. one light box
4. one water pump
5. the mosaic on a stainless steel frame
6. a two part water pan cover
7. an installation kit (E-Z anchors & mounting screws, two light bulbs
and a green scouring pad)
8. four oz. of Fountain Clear™
The frame, water pan and light hood are made of stainless steel. Some are
finished with a baked-on powder coating, which is impervious to most solvents
and cleaning fluids. The finish can be scratched or abraded so DO NOT use
kitchen cleanser or other abrasive cleaners or abrasive scouring pads on
the powder-coated surfaces. Stainless steel may be cleaned with any stainless
steel cleaner.
Unless your fountain is custom designed, you have one of two standard fountain
sizes.
Small fountain- follow green information.
Overall dimensions: 19 ½”W x 63”H x 6 ½”D
Water pan holds approximately 2 ½ gallons of water.
Large fountain-
follow blue information.
Overall dimensions: 38”W x 73”H x 6 ½”D
Water pan holds approximately 5 gallons of water.
Two important considerations when choosing a location for your mosaic wall
fountain:
A convenient and appropriate power source. Both pump
and light box should be plugged into a GF (Ground
Fault Interrupter)
outlet capable of handling up to 150 watts for the light box and up to
25 watts for the water pump. You may choose to have an electrician install
a switched power source behind the fountain so the electrical cords will
be hidden.
A sturdy mounting surface. This may seem obvious but,
if you have a small fountain, you must choose a surface capable of holding
approximately 75 lb. for the mosaic fountain frame and 25
lbs. for the
filled water pan. If you have a large fountain, you must choose a surface
capable of holding approximately 115 lbs. for the mosaic fountain frame
and 45 lbs. for the filled water pan. The weight of the light hood is
negligible but in all installations proper anchors and screws should
be used for specific substrates that correlate to the weight that will
be hung. If your installation substrate is 3/8” to
5/8” drywall, the 30 lb. E-Z anchors included with the installation
kit will suffice. There are other drywall mountings devices that will work
equally well – just be sure they are capable of holding the above
listed weights. Different substrates will require different anchoring
devises. These should be obtained from your local building supply or
hardware store.
You will need:
Level and/or plumb bob and line
Pencil
Tape measure
#2 phillips screwdriver
#1 Philips screwdriver short shank
An awl (or a large nail and hammer)
3 or 5 gallons of distilled water
depending on the size of your water pan
Spray bottle filled with distilled
water
Furniture pad or something to protect the floor
during installation
Assistance of another person
Installation
Install the mounting bracket/s: Measure up from the floor
75” or
80” (Note: this is my recommended placement. You may install the fountain
at any height you’d like). Draw a 15” or 32” wide level,
horizontal line. Measure down from this line 49 ½” or 58” and
draw a parallel, level, horizontal line. This measurement places the mosaic
and frame about 1 ½” into the water pan. Be sure to use
a level or plumb bob and line to be certain that the lower line is
even with the top line. With the flange lip up and away from the wall,
position the bottom of the mounting brackets on top of these lines
and mark the wall through the three or four holes with a pencil.
Punch a pilot hole into the drywall with the awl where your pencil marks
are and with a 2# Phillips screw driver, screw in the 30 lb EZ-Anchor.
Be certain they are flush with the wall. Secure the mounting brackets
with screws (included). At this point do not fully tighten the two outside
screws of the upper mounting bracket.
Install the light box. Align the
bottom edge of the light box with the bottom edge of the upper mounting
bracket. The back flanges of the light box should be tucked under the
mounting bracket about ¼” on
both sides. Mark the wall for the two holes in the upper back flanges
of the light hood. Install the E-Z anchors as mentioned above. Tightly
secure both the upper mounting bracket and light hood.
Connect the pump.
Stand the fountain frame on cushioning or pads close to where it will
hang. The pump will, in most cases, have a 16’ electrical
cord. Determine how much cord you will need and coil the unneeded cord
and hang it within the braces behind the fountain frame (wire tie and
hanging position provided). Be certain your electrical
switches are turned off. If your electrical installation outlets are behind the
fountain, plug in the fountain and light hood at this point. For shipping
purposes, the nylon reinforced hose may be tucked within the back of
the lower support section of the fountain frame. Remove the end of
the hose and place it within the center slot of the bottom frame brace.
Push the hose onto the flanged fitting of the pump. The hose length
is precut to accommodate the pump position. The pinch valve near the
end of the hose has been preset to maximize the water flow and minimize
splashing.
Hang the mosaic
fountain. Carefully lift the fountain into the light hood, toward the
ceiling and let it rest on the lip of the upper mounting bracket. Be
certain not to pinch the electrical cord for the light hood. The fountain
should hang level at this point.
Install the water pan and position
the pump. As you lift the water pan into position, pull the bottom
of the fountain away from the wall slightly and hang the water pan
on the lower mounting bracket. The pump should be inside the water
pan, below the fountain frame. The pump does not have to sit securely
on the bottom, nor should it be wedged directly under fountain. The
intake side of the pump, (generally the X shaped design), should be
facing down to the lowest part of the water pan. Suspending the pump
within the water pan just a little will reduce vibrations.
Tuck
away all visible electrical cords if your electrical outlets are not
behind the fountain.
Fill the water pan with approximately 2-2 ½ gallons or 4-5 Gallons of DISTILLED water. Always be sure the water level is
high enough to cover the pump. A low water level could damage the pump.
You should never allow the water level to get so low that the pump
will take on air. Never allow the pump to run dry.
Install the two component
water pan cover: The part labeled “A” should
fit between the bottom of the mosaic and the lower back brace of the fountain
frame, effectively wedging it in place. The Part labeled “B” should
fit over part “A” and hang downward toward the front of
the water pan at a slight angle. See the diagram for a good visual
explanation of this point.
Install two light bulbs in the light box. Two or three
50 watt halogens have been included.
Wet the mosaic surface with your
spray bottle then plug in and/or turn on the pump. If the water does
not flow evenly over the mosaic surface, run your finger over the top
front edge of the mosaic frame. Along with pre-wetting the surface, the
water should now be flowing evenly.
Helpful Hints
Always wet the mosaic surface with the spray bottle
before turning on the pump. Keep a spray bottle filled with distilled water
handy and use it every time you start your fountain. You can use your hand
once the water is flowing but you will find this to be really messy.
Be
careful not to place the fountain in a spot where it could be bumped
or damaged.
Try to avoid delicate floor surfaces that could be
damaged by splashing. Although all fountains are tested before they
are sold, a small amount of splashing may occur depending upon the
mosaic design.
Place an old towel on the floor beneath the fountain
until the entire fountain surface is wet and all final adjustments
are made. Installing your fountain in a windy area may cause splashing.
Consider
placing a piece of cork or a plastic spacer between the back of the
mosaic and the water pan at the lowest point of the mosaic. This small
adjustment could place the fountain at a slight backward tilt, which
may help reduce splashing.
Maintenance and operation techniques
Use only distilled water. This will
prolong the life of the pump and greatly reduce mineral build-up.
Do
not apply oils, waxes or silicone sealers to the areas that water flows
over. Oils and waxes applied to the mosaic or the top flow tray may
cause water to separate or collect and, therefore, splash. Use the
green scrubbing pad to lightly abrade the front flow tray lip occasionally.
Check
the water level in the water pan periodically and always maintain the
proper amount of water. Remember that dryer climates and/or use of
air conditioning may cause the water to evaporate more quickly.
A product
called ProTec® Scale and Stain Remover
can be added to the water to prevent mineral build up if you choose
not to use distilled water. This can be purchased at your local aquarium
or pet store. Stain and scale removers may be purchased at hot tub
and spa dealers. Some of the stain and scale removers are acid based
so be certain to use these products sparingly and with caution.
Periodically
clean the pump and water tray. Disconnect or turn off all electrical
and remove the water pan by lifting it up over the lower support bracket.
You may want to remove most of the water from the water pan first by
siphoning or bailing the water from the pan. Wash the inside of the
water pan with vinegar, a mild bleach solution or a product like CLR
but be sure to thoroughly rinse away all cleaners.
Use Fountain Clear™ as
directed to reduce to prevent organic contaminants.
Try a little aroma
therapy. Add a small amount of fragrance designed for hot tubs and
spas to the water.
Trouble shooting
Pump is too noisy.
Be sure the pump’s output nozzle is
securely inserted into the fountain’s intake hose, since forced
water escaping at this connection may cause a bubbling noise.
You can
adjust the sound of your fountain with the level of the water in the
water pan, or by adjusting the pinch valve, thereby changing the flow
rate. Make sure the pump is always completely submerged.
If the pump is
in contact with the sides or bottom of the water pan, this may cause
a noisy vibration. Suspending the pump or placing a small kitchen sponge
under the pump will reduce vibration.
Water does not flow.
Check water level to ensure there is enough
water in the pan.
Make sure the electrical cord is plugged into a working
receptacle.
Check to ensure the pump’s water intake is not
clogged. Contaminants, lint, pet hair and dust can collect within the
water pan and in time may plug the pump and hose. If this happens, you
should dismantle the water pan, disconnect the pump and remove its intake
control, and pinch valve and clean everything thoroughly.
Check for any
kinks in the tubing.
Try unplugging the pump and plugging it in again.
Water does not flow evenly.
Run your finger over the top front
edge of the mosaic frame as the water begins to flow.
Make sure the fountain
is level.
Use a green Scotchbrite® pad to gently rub across
the very front edge of the flow tray at the top of the mosaic and gently
on the surface of the mosaic.
Some of the mosaic surfaces may have some
protruding elements that could cause water to divert around