How to Clean a Drinkwell Pet Water Fountain

The Drinkwell Original Pet Fountain provides fresh, clean drinking water for your pet. The fountain features a 5-inch free-falling stream of water that continuously aerates your pet's water with oxygen and a charcoal filter that removes bad tastes and odors. The fountain requires regular cleaning and maintenance to keep it working properly. In addition to changing the filter, owners should take apart and clean the fountain and motor cavity with soapy water every two weeks to maintain normal function.

Things You'll Need

  • Soapy water
  • Small round bristle brush
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Instructions

    • 1

      Unplug the fountain and empty the water.

    • 2

      Pull out the filter. Press in the tabs at the sides and lift up to remove the filter housing. Turn the bowl over, slip your finger into the indentation behind the motor and pull that end out toward you so that it turns 90 degrees to unlock the motor. Pull the motor out.

    • 3

      Rinse out the filter.

    • 4

      Lift the impeller (it looks like a white propeller) out of the motor and use the brush to remove any hair wrapped around it.

    • 5

      Use soapy water to wash the impeller.

    • 6

      Pour soapy water inside the motor cavity and use the brush to clean inside.

    • 7

      Rinse the impeller and motor cavity thoroughly. Replace the impeller.

    • 8

      Use the brush and soapy water to clean the discharge tube. Rinse thoroughly.

    • 9

      Wash the remaining fountain parts in soapy water and rinse thoroughly.

    • 10

      Turn the bowl over and push the threads of the motor through the hole in the bowl to reattach the motor. The motor must go in at a right angle to the bowl and you must push the threads past the threads of the bowl.

    • 11

      Push the end that is jutting out in towards the bowl in order to turn the motor into its resting position.

    • 12

      Place the stator on the neck of the motor in the 12 o'clock position. Place the tabs of the knob into the groove of the stator to join. Hold in place with one hand and attach the housing with your other hand, sliding the cutout in the wall down in between the control knob and the stator. Click the housing into place.