Water feature installation and care

Water features

Installation & Care

Standard or self-draining?

Please check whether you have chosen the standard or self-draining water feature, and make sure that you are following the correct installation and care instructions, as they do differ in places.

Installation

Positioning your water feature

You will probably already have a location in mind for your water feature, but there are a few practical things to consider when choosing a position. We advise that the reservoir is set a little above the surrounding level by approximately 20mm. If below or at the same level, rainwater can flush surrounding leaves, soil or other objects into the reservoir, and potentially clog up the pump.

Your water feature kit includes:

Pot with brass and copper fittings
Reservoir
Grid pump

Step 1
Dig and prepare a suitably sized hole for the reservoir. It must rest upon a firm surface. A solid base can be created with a concrete base for a large water feature or a bed of compacted hardcore and sharp sand for a smaller one. Your contractor or our yard staff will be able to advise. Once you have ensured the base is completely level, place the reservoir in the hole.

Step 2
Install the grid and ensure that it is level. Pots weighing above 150kg (including water) will need internal support for the grid (see the attached diagram for weights of your water feature). At its most simple, this can be three or four columns of bricks or block. It is not necessary or advisable to use mortar between the bricks. We’ve found that mortar can cause lime scale build-up in the pump.

Step 3
Fill the reservoir with water. Place the pump on the bottom of the reservoir and run the cable to your electricity supply. Switch on the pump to ensure it is operational.

Step 4
Place the pot onto the centre of the grid. Ensure that the pot is level and adjust with small wedges if necessary. The brass coupler will extend through the grid. Reach your hand through the grid opening and connect the coupler to the brass fitting on the pump.

Step 5
Switch on the pump again and check that water is coming up through the copper pipe within the pot.

Step 6
Switch off the pump again. Fill the pot with water up to the tip of the copper pipe. Re-check that the pot is still level. Top up the reservoir to within 5cm below the grid.

Step 7
Switch on the pump once more. You should now see the water bubbling up and over the lip of the pot. It will take 30 minutes or so to flow evenly over the pot without beading. This is normal.

Step 8
Arrange your pebbles or other camouflage over the grid. The grid consists of 5cm squares, but you can use a galvanised mesh over the grid if you wish to use a smaller material. Avoid using a non-permeable membrane over the grid.

Step 1
Dig and prepare a suitably sized hole for the reservoir. It must rest upon a firm surface. A solid base can be created with a concrete base for a large water feature or a bed of compacted hardcore and sharp sand for a smaller one. Your contractor or our yard staff will be able to advise. Once you have ensured the base is completely level, place the reservoir in the hole.

Step 2
Install the grid and ensure that it is level. Pots weighing above 150kg (including water) will need internal support for the grid (see the attached diagram for weights of your water feature). At its most simple, this can be three or four columns of bricks or block. It is not necessary or advisable to use mortar between the bricks. We’ve found that mortar can cause lime scale build-up in the pump.

Step 3
Fill the reservoir with water. Place the pump on the bottom of the reservoir and run the cable to your electricity supply. Switch on the pump to ensure it is operational.

Step 4
Place the pot onto the centre of the grid. Ensure that the pot is level and adjust with small wedges if necessary. The brass coupler will extend through the grid. Reach your hand through the grid opening and connect the coupler to the brass fitting on the pump.

Step 5
Switch on the pump again and check that water is coming up through the copper pipe within the pot.

Step 6
Once the top vessel has filled with water, it should start bubbling up and over the lip of the pot. It will take 30 minutes or so to flow evenly over the pot without beading. This is normal.

Step 7
Arrange your pebbles or other camouflage over the grid. The grid consists of 5cm squares, but you can use a galvanised mesh over the grid if you wish to use a smaller material. Avoid using a non-permeable membrane over the grid.

The workshop team will calculate the total weight of your pot when it is full of water and provide this information with your pot.

Care

Your water feature must be fully drained for the winter. If left filled, the water will freeze, expand, and seriously damage your pot. It’s a good idea to drain your water feature in late Autumn before we start getting frosts.

First, switch off the electricity. Drain the water from the pot using a suction or hand pump. Disconnect the pump’s flexi connector from the pot – this a simple push/pull connector. You do not need to undo any of the brass fittings. Leave the pump in the reservoir during the winter. It is sensible to give the pump a clean and check over in a bucket of clean water when the pot is recommissioned in the Spring, see below for instructions.

If possible, store the dry pot upside-down in a frost-free place for the winter. If this is not possible, you must fully cover the top of your pot to prevent rainwater filling up the pot and subsequently freezing. You can use an upside-down saucer or a non-permeable liner to do this.

Your water feature is self-draining so should never be full of water, therefore you do not need to drain it. Please be aware that running water can freeze, so it is essential that you disconnect your pump during winter.

Disconnect the pump’s flexi connector from the pot – this is a simple push/pull connector. You do not need to undo any of the brass fittings. We recommend that the pump is lifted out of the water and wrapped in a plastic bag for the winter. Be sure to isolate the electrics if you do this. It’s sensible at this point to give the pump a clean and check over in a bucket of water, see below for instructions. If possible, store the dry pot upside-down in a frost-free place for the winter.

Topping up your reservoir

From time to time, and especially in summer, you will need to top up the water level of the reservoir. The water level can be reduced by evaporation and splash off from wind. If the water level gets too low, the pump may be drawing air rather than water which can cause overheating and damage to the mechanism.

Caring for your pump

In hard water areas, lime scale can build up on the impeller. Check your pump from time to time to ensure it is free of scale.

Follow the instructions below to clean your pump.

Disconnect and remove the pump from the reservoir.
Place the pump in a clean bucket of water.
Remove the pump cover and brush out any debris before rinsing it vigorously with clean water.
Add a pump cleaning solution to the bucket of water following the manufactures instructions.

Caring for your pot

From time to time you may need to clean your pot of algae, which is formed in reaction to sunlight. Be aware that terracotta can be damaged by harsh chemicals, so the best way to clean it is to scrub with diluted washing up liquid or Milton fluid. Never use a pressure washer on your pot as it may damage the surface.

We advise you reseal your pot every two years with a masonry water sealant suitable for sealing brickwork. This is available at most good DIY stores. Clean the pot first and allow it to dry. Apply two coats, inside and out, following manufacturer’s instructions.

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