Things You'll Need
Dish-washing soap
Water
Cotton swab
White vinegar
Bleach
Drinkwell Pet Fountains provide cats and dogs with a continuous flow of cool, running water that is clean, filtered and well-oxygenated. The running water encourages pets to drink more water, according to Drinkwell, therefore improving their overall health. If you have the Drinkwell Platinum Pet Fountain, you will need to clean the unit and the motor regularly to ensure that it operates efficiently.
Cleaning the Fountain
Step 1
Unplug the Drinkwell Pet Fountain prior to cleaning it.
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Step 2
Remove the water reservoir on the backside of the fountain by lifting it up and away from the main fountain unit. Unscrew the cap to empty out any remaining water.
Step 3
Use your finger to pull up on the top lip of the pre-filter and remove it from the backside of the drinking bowl. Clean the pre-filter thoroughly with dish-washing soap and water.
Step 4
Press your fingers into each side of the unit, right about where the curve meets the seam. Lift up on the top of the fountain while applying pressure to each side, until the top of the unit is removed. You'll encounter some resistance on the right-side of the fountain because the action will cause the water intake tube to pull away from the motor.
Step 5
Disconnect the inline plug to remove the motor from the fountain. Set the motor aside to be cleaned separately.
Step 6
Clean all of the parts with warm, soapy water or put them on the top rack of the dishwasher. If possible, reduce the temperature of the wash cycle when cleaning these parts of your Drinkwell Pet Fountain. Do not place the pump and motor in the dishwasher.
Step 7
Allow the parts to dry thoroughly prior to reassembling the pet fountain.
Cleaning the Motor
Step 1
Remove the motor from the drinking fountain as described above. It is important to clean the motor thoroughly to ensure the cleanliness of the water. Keeping the motor clean is also important for ensuring the validity of the warranty.
Step 2
Gently squeeze each side of the intake plate to pull it apart from the motor. If you are having a difficult time pulling the plate off, insert your fingernail into the seam to help pry it off.
Step 3
Remove the stator by inserting your fingernail underneath the small lip and pulling gently. The stator is the teardrop-shaped plastic piece that is located directly underneath the intake plate.
Step 4
Remove the white, three-bladed propeller by pulling it from the motor. Known as the impeller, the piece is held in place by magnetic force.
Step 5
Clean all the disassembled parts with soap and water, using a cotton swab or Drinkwell motor cleaning kit to remove built-up debris from hard to reach places. For hard water or extra cleaning power, use full-strength white vinegar to clean the motor parts.
Tip
Replace the filter every 4 to 6 weeks--more often if your pet produces excessive amounts of saliva. Extra filters are available at pet supply stores or directly through Drinkwell.
To remove algae and disinfect the unit, soak the cleaned parts in a sink full of diluted bleach for 10 minutes. Make sure to rinse the parts carefully to remove all traces of chlorine before reassembling the pet fountain.
Warning
Never use soap to wash the filters. Rinse them thoroughly with clean water prior to reassembling the pet fountain during the routine cleaning.
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