Pump for fountain to suck out small debris

dch...@hotmail.com

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Sep 29, 2009, 5:25:07 PM9/29/09

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I have a medium sized fountain in my backyard that I have to clean out
every few weeks. I have a pump to drain the water, but it cannot pick
up small debris at the bottom of the fountain such as leaves and tiny
rock fragments. Is there a pump that I can get so that I can suck out
the debris using a hose before I drain the fountain?

Thanks

bfr...@hotmail.com

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Sep 29, 2009, 6:28:36 PM9/29/09

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A "Shop-vac" type of thing would work. Many of them come with a large
suction hose and a fitting where you can screw on a garden hose if you
want to redirect the outgoing water so you don't have to keep empting
out the tank.

SteveB

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Sep 29, 2009, 9:54:12 PM9/29/09

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<dch...@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:837ee7a9-5098-4d35...@l2g2000yqd.googlegroups.com...

Spa shops make a small vacuum that is driven with a garden hose, and they
have a large hypodermic syringe looking thing that is for just that.

Steve

tra...@optonline.net

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Sep 30, 2009, 5:48:30 PM9/30/09

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On Sep 29, 9:54 pm, "SteveB" <oldf...@depends.com> wrote:
> <dcho...@hotmail.com> wrote in message

Seems it would be easier to drain it first, then use a shop vac to get
the remaining water and debris.

Dennis

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Sep 30, 2009, 8:50:26 PM9/30/09

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I see that wet vac such as Ridgid 6 gal vacuum comes with a filter in
it. Will the filter get clogged with all these leaves and small rocks?
I have never used a wet vac before and am not sure how much the vac
can handle.

Thanks

Dennis

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Sep 30, 2009, 8:51:17 PM9/30/09

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Does it still go through the filter that is in the wet vac? Wondering
how fast the filter will get clogged by the leaves and small debris...

Dennis

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Sep 30, 2009, 8:51:44 PM9/30/09

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On Sep 29, 3:28 pm, bfra...@hotmail.com wrote:

Does it still go through the filter that is in the wet vac? Wondering

Bob

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Sep 30, 2009, 9:53:45 PM9/30/09

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Depending on the size of the fountain and whether you can extend a hose
below the water level, you could use a siphon hose with sufficient
diameter to also handle the debris.
Start the siphon by submerging the entire hose, making sure that no air
is in the hose. Hold your finger or palm of your hand over one end of
the hose while taking it out of the water and extending it over the edge
and below the water level. A 1.5 inch pool vacuum hose will drain a 400
gallon spa in about 10 minutes. Work quickly if you just want to remove
debris without completely draining the fountain.

Jim Elbrecht

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Oct 1, 2009, 6:49:08 AM10/1/09

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Dennis <dch...@hotmail.com> wrote:

-snip-

>I see that wet vac such as Ridgid 6 gal vacuum comes with a filter in
>it. Will the filter get clogged with all these leaves and small rocks?
>I have never used a wet vac before and am not sure how much the vac
>can handle.

All the wetvacs I've used have been wet/dry vacs. You take the filter
out when sucking wetness [the filter is just for dust].

And be sure to thoroughly dry the vac before putting the filter back
in. Even if it doesn't get moldy, the dampness makes concrete out of
the dust and ruins the filter.

Jim

SteveBell

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Oct 1, 2009, 10:43:20 PM10/1/09

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Dennis | 2009-09-30 | 7:50:26 PM wrote:

>I see that wet vac such as Ridgid 6 gal vacuum comes with a filter in
>it. Will the filter get clogged with all these leaves and small rocks?
>I have never used a wet vac before and am not sure how much the vac
>can handle.

The filter is for airborne dirt, not for liquids. You remove the filter
before vacuuming up water.

--
Steve Bell
New Life Home Improvement
Arlington, TX USA