How to Make Your Own Bucket Tabletop Fountain
A bucket tabletop fountain adds nature's comforting sound of flowing water to your home as well as a decorative element and helps to reduce stress, according to the University of Hawaii at Manoa. A fountain made from a wooden bucket, a galvanized bucket or hand-painted bucket makes a conversation piece for a living room, bedroom or home office. Create your own bucket fountain in the size and style of your choice. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Bucket, 2-gallon or larger
- Fountain pump, 100 gallons per hour
- Fountainhead
- Large watering can or pitcher
Instructions
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1
Turn the power switch on the fountain pump on, if it has a power switch. This way you won't have to reach into the water after you've assembled the fountain. Keep the pump unplugged until after you add water.
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2
Center the pump in the bottom of the bucket.
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3
Push the base of the fountainhead firmly into the hole on the top of the fountain casing. The fountain head gives shape to the fountain water and creates a spray on the water level. This makes a dynamic display in a bucket fountain and hides the pump.
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4
Place the bucket fountain in the desired place. Position the bucket so it's out of direct sunlight. If you place the tabletop fountain in the sun, you'll have to refill the bucket often.
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5
Fill the bucket with water to within 2-inches of the top of the fountainhead. A large watering can or pitcher works well for this.
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6
Dry your hands. Plug in the pump's plug.
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Tips & Warnings
If you find an old bucket, fill it with water and leave it overnight to make sure it doesn't leak.
A fountain pump is also called a submersible pump.
Garden centers, home improvement stores, pond supply and landscaping suppliers carry fountain pumps and fountainheads.
Take the site for the tabletop fountain into consideration when you choose the size of the bucket. A flimsy table may break under the weight of a 5-gallon bucket filled with water.
Larger, heavier pumps won't need clay to stay in place.
If you have hard water, using distilled or filtered water helps prevent mineral deposits in the fountain. Alternatively, add 1 tbsp. of white vinegar to the fountain's water once a month.
Clean the bucket fountain once a month. Wash the bucket with cool water and dish soap. Rinse it well. Rinse the pump and fountainhead separately under running water.
If the pump starts making noise or becomes sluggish, soak it overnight in white vinegar and then flush it under a faucet.
Don't handle a fountain pump plug with wet hands.
Place the fountain so the cord isn't a tripping hazard. For example, center the bucket fountain on a table next to a wall and run the cord behind the table.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit bucket image by MLProject from Fotolia.com
