How to Troubleshoot a Platinum Drinkwell Pet Fountain

Pet fountains, like the Drinkwell Platinum, may entice pets who suffer from urinary tract or kidney issues to drink more water, according to Dr. Louise Murray of the ASPCA Bergh Memorial Animal Hospital. The Drinkwell Platinum pet fountain provides a source of running, filtered water to your cat or dog. The fountain has a free-falling water flow that aerates the pet's water and a charcoal filter to remove bad tastes. If you experience problems with your Drinkwell fountain, take steps to remedy them, so it functions properly.

Things You'll Need

  • Surge protector
  • Dish soap
  • Aquarium filter brush
  • Vinegar
  • Cotton swab
  • Olive oil
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Instructions

    • 1

      Add water to the Drinkwell Platinum fountain if it makes a loud, gurgling noise, indicating the water level is low. Fill the main bowl 1/2 inch from the rim of the bowl with water. Remove the reservoir, fill it with water, and place it back into the fountain, to maintain the water at an acceptable level.

    • 2

      Plug the fountain into a surge protector if the motor runs warm to the touch.

    • 3

      Clean the fountain weekly to remove any debris. Take it apart and wash all of the parts in warm, soapy water. Unplug the fountain, remove the housing cover, filter, filter housing, reservoir, pre-filter and motor from the main bowl of the fountain. To remove the filter housing, press on its sides, where the curves meet the seems of the bowl, and pull up gently. Remove pet hair and debris from the pre-filter and use dish soap to clean all of the parts (except the filter), rinsing well before reassembly. To clean the filter, rinse it with plain warm water only. Reassemble the fountain and fill the filter housing, bowl and reservoir with water before plugging it in.

    • 4

      Remove the motor and clean all of its parts separately every two weeks, to prevent it from malfunctioning or making excessive noise when in use. Pull up the filter housing to expose the motor and take it out. Snap off the intake plate, connected to the flow control knob, from the motor. Remove the stator and the magnetic impeller. Wash each of the parts in water to remove hair and other debris, using an aquarium filter brush to gently scrub away any build-up. Reassemble the motor, place it back into the fountain bowl, and replace the filter housing and cover. Fill the unit with water and plug it in.

    • 5

      Run the fountain with vinegar, instead of water, to remove any hard water build-up from both the motor and the unit itself. Remove the filter and allow the vinegar to run through the machine for 10 to 15 minutes to break down any calcium deposits. Unplug the unit and clean all of the parts of the fountain, including the motor. Rinse thoroughly in water, then reassemble the unit and fill it with water before plugging it in. You can also soak the motor parts separately in vinegar for 10 to 15 minutes.

    • 6

      Check the cord on the unit for fraying and exposed wires due to chewing by your pet. If you find exposed wires, remove the motor (which is attached to the cord) and replace it with a new one, which you can order separately from the manufacturer, Veterinary Ventures (see Resources).

    • 7

      Unplug the unit and replug in the cord if the motor runs noisily or the flow is poor, even at the proper water level. If the motor still makes noise, disassemble it, clean it and rub a cotton swab dipped in olive oil over the metal pin inside the motor to lubricate it. Lubricating the pin, which connects to the impeller, allows the impeller to run smoothly. After replacing the motor into the fountain, make sure it is on a level surface and that the intake tube on the bottom of the filter housing properly lines up with the motor.