Is the water level in your fountain or basin at least 5 cm above the pump? A pump that sucks in air will rattle and strain.

Debris on the pump’s intake screen forces the motor to work harder, making a grinding or humming noise.

Unplug the pump, lift it out of the water and rinse the filter screen under a tap to remove leaves, algae or grit.

The impeller is the small spinning wheel inside the pump. If a pebble or debris is jammed in it, you’ll hear a loud grinding sound.

Open the pump casing (twist or unclip - see your pump’s manual), remove the impeller and check for anything stuck around the blades. Rinse and replace.

Gurgling or intermittent rattling can mean air is trapped in the pump or hose.

Tilt the pump gently side to side while it’s submerged to release any trapped air bubbles. Also check that the hose going up to the fountain isn’t bent sharply or kinked.

A Low water level is the most common cause of weak flow. The pump must be fully submerged to work properly. If the inlet is exposed, it sucks in air instead of water.

A clogged intake screen is the #1 reason flow drops over time. Algae, leaves and mineral deposits slowly block the mesh.

Unplug the pump, remove it from the water, abd Scrub the filter gently under running water with an toothbrush.

A kinked or pinched hose is like putting you thumb over a garden hose - it chokes the flow significantly.

Trace the hose from the pump all the way to the fountain head. Straighten any bends or kinks and make sure nothing is squashing the hose (e.g. rocks, pot edges).

Mineral scale on the impeller blades reduces spinning efficiency, cutting flow. This is common if you haven’t cleaned the pump in a few months.

Open the pump casing, slide out the impeller, and sock it in white vinegar for 15 minutes then scrub gently. Rinse before reassembling.

If the pump is running out of water to draw from, it’ll spin freely without moving any water - and can overheat quickly.

Turn the pump off immediately and check the water level. The pump must be fully submerged at all times.

An airlock means an air bubble is trapped inside the pump or hose, blocking water from flowing even thought the pump is running.

While the pump is on, tilt it gently in different directions while it’s submerged. You should hear a gurgle as the air escapes, then water should start flowing.

Check the hose running from the pump to the fountain nozzle. A tight kink, sharp bend, or a blockage inside the hose can completely stop water - even while the pump spins.

Disconnect the hose from the pump outlet and check that water comes out the pump end freely when the pump is on.

A kinked or pinched hose is like putting you thumb over a garden hose - it chokes the flow significantly.

Trace the hose from the pump all the way to the fountain head. Straighten any bends or kinks and make sure nothing is squashing the hose (e.g. rocks, pot edges).

Let’s start with the basics. Confirm the pump is plugged in and the PowerPoint is switched on Try unplugging and plugging back in firmly - sometimes the connection workds loose.

Inspect the power cord from the plug all the way to the pump. Look for cuts, fraying, kinks, or chew marks - especially if pets, lawn mowers or garden edges have been nearby.

If you see any damage to the cord, do not use the pump. A damaged cord is a safety hazard.

Many homes have a safety switch (RCD) in the electrical box that trips when something overloads the circuit. Go to your main switchboard and look for any switches that are in the “OFF” or middle position. Flip them fully off, then back on.

Mineral scale on the impeller blades reduces spinning efficiency, cutting flow. This is common if you haven’t cleaned the pump in a few months.

Open the pump casing, slide out the impeller, and sock it in white vinegar for 15 minutes then scrub gently. Rinse before reassembling.