How to Clean Your Drinkwell® Original Pet Fountain

The fountain should be cleaned at least once a month to avoid mineral buildup and to ensure clean drinking water. It is recommended to clean the pump and change the filter when cleaning the fountain.

Note: Multi-pet households may need to clean every two weeks.

Disassemble the Fountain

disassemble-drinkwell-original-fountain-illustration1disassemble-drinkwell-original-fountain-illustration1

⁠Unplug the pump from the wall adapter and empty the fountain.

disassemble-drinkwell-original-fountain-illustration2disassemble-drinkwell-original-fountain-illustration2

Lift the lid off of the tower unit.

disassemble-drinkwell-original-fountain-illustration3disassemble-drinkwell-original-fountain-illustration3

Remove the filter from the tower.

disassemble-drinkwell-original-fountain-illustration4disassemble-drinkwell-original-fountain-illustration4

Press the sides of the tower unit and lift off of the base.

disassemble-drinkwell-original-fountain-illustration5disassemble-drinkwell-original-fountain-illustration5

Lift the pump out of the bowl. Remove the rubber grommet and unthread the cord from the hole.

disassemble-drinkwell-original-fountain-illustration6disassemble-drinkwell-original-fountain-illustration6

Clean the fountain and removed parts, excluding the pump, with unscented soap and warm water.

The bowl and tower are dishwasher safe on top rack only.

Note: If there is leftover residue, soak the fountain in white vinegar and warm water for 30 minutes. Wash again with unscented soap and warm water before use.

Disassemble the Pump

Note: Place the pump parts in a safe place to avoid dropping them down the drain.

disassemble-pump-drinkwell-original-fountain-illustration1disassemble-pump-drinkwell-original-fountain-illustration1

Pry open the faceplate on the end opposite to the cord.

disassemble-pump-drinkwell-original-fountain-illustration2disassemble-pump-drinkwell-original-fountain-illustration2

Pull up on the small lip to remove the teardrop shaped stator.

disassemble-pump-drinkwell-original-fountain-illustration3disassemble-pump-drinkwell-original-fountain-illustration3

Remove the impeller by pulling up from underneath the white disk.

Note: The impeller is held in place by a magnet. This may give some resistance when trying to remove.

Clean all parts of the pump using unscented soap and warm water with a small brush. Completely rinse the pump.

If hard water build up occurs, soak pump in equal parts vinegar and warm water for 30 minutes, then scrub.


Reassemble the Pump

reassemble-pump-drinkwell-original-fountain-illustrationreassemble-pump-drinkwell-original-fountain-illustration

Once clean, place the impeller, stator and faceplate back onto the base to reassemble the pump.

Rinse the Filter

Note: The carbon is made from coconut shells and is safe for your pet.

rinse-filter-drinkwell-original-fountain-illustrationrinse-filter-drinkwell-original-fountain-illustration

Rinse the carbon filter under warm water for 30 seconds before use. Loose black particles may rinse out from the filter and can be seen in the bowl if the filter is not rinsed thoroughly.


Reassemble the Fountain

reassemble-drinkwell-original-fountain-illustration1reassemble-drinkwell-original-fountain-illustration1

Place the filter with the flow control knob facing into the bowl. Thread the pump cord through the hole on the base of the filter.

reassemble-drinkwell-original-fountain-illustration2reassemble-drinkwell-original-fountain-illustration2

Ensure the rubber grommet is pushed firmly into the hole.

reassemble-drinkwell-original-fountain-illustration3reassemble-drinkwell-original-fountain-illustration3

Slide the housing into place. A click will be heard when it is locked into position.

reassemble-drinkwell-original-fountain-illustrations4reassemble-drinkwell-original-fountain-illustrations4

Place the carbon filter with the black side facing the front of the fountain.

reassemble-drinkwell-original-fountain-illustration5reassemble-drinkwell-original-fountain-illustration5

Attach the lid to the top of the housing unit.

reassemble-drinkwell-original-fountain-illustration6reassemble-drinkwell-original-fountain-illustration6

Pour water into the fountain bowl, leaving an inch of room from the edge.

reassemble-drinkwell-original-fountain-illustration7reassemble-drinkwell-original-fountain-illustration7

Connect the pump cord to the power adapter and plug it into a standard electrical outlet.


Contact Customer Care

If you need further assistance, please contact our customer care team.

We’d love your feedback on the page you just read!

Related Articles