Fresh flow pet fountain help

Does anybody on this forum use the Fresh Flow Deluxe Pet Fountain? My cats love it. I have trouble getting the pump apart to clean it. Does anyone have any tricks for prying that cover off the front of the pump?

Thanks!

I just work at it till it comes off.

Long fingernails help. But otherwise, you can use a tweezers to grab ahold of the cover by pinching the intake grill and pulling off. Tweezers are also quite handy to get the rotor out.

Good thing you're cleaning the motor. Some people skip that, to their regret.

that's why I don't have one - sounds too much like hard work

Needle-nose pliers . That's one of the reasons that when I replaced it I went to the Drinkwell.

Cindy

http://www.felinediabetes.com/petmat...w_cleaning.htm

Here are the directions for the filter.

Originally Posted by RoseHawke

Needle-nose pliers

. That's one of the reasons that when I replaced it I went to the Drinkwell.

Cindy

Click to expand...

I don't use pliers. I can easily take Fresh Flow pump apart by hand.

But I am thinking of buying Drinkwell anyway because my cat is a faucet drinker.
How do you like it so far?

Well, I can't get the impeller out without something to grip it with, and the pliers is the only thing I've found that'll do the job for me. YMMV of course.

Well, Mithril LOVES it, as he drinks just below where the water comes out, so if yours is a faucet drinker, it would be very similar. It's not nearly as quiet as the Drinkwell is the only thing I don't like about it, and we've got it in the bedroom, but you get used to it.

Cindy

Originally Posted by coaster

Long fingernails help. But otherwise, you can use a tweezers to grab ahold of the cover by pinching the intake grill and pulling off. Tweezers are also quite handy to get the rotor out.

Good thing you're cleaning the motor. Some people skip that, to their regret.

Click to expand...

My fingernails just bend when I try to use them. I'll give tweezers a try next time. I've also pried it apart using a butterknife, but the knife keeps slipping and I'm afraid it'll tear up the plasic. I do use my fingernails for the little rotor, though.

Prego is a longhair and his hair gets caught in them pump. Also, Polly likes to play in water, so I think it's best if I clean the pump eveytime I clean the fountain.

Thank you for the link, Annette!
I've never tried to disassemble my pump - I just ran vinegar thruogh it for a while, and then rinsed it thoroughly by running water through it again, rinse, run water through, rinse, run water throught, etc. until it had rinsed enough to give back to the cats. Disassembling the pump should be a much quicker process.

I've noticed that the flow rate of the fountain drops off quite a bit when the pump gets dirty...and it's not just the hair and stuff that collects on the intake grill. A layer of slime you can hardly see on the little channels and openings inside will do it. So that's a good reason for taking apart the pump and cleaning it thoroughly. I notice a big difference in the flow after cleaning.

And I don't know if it's hard water or what, but after a while some kind of scale builds up on the inside walls of the shaft that contains the impeller. This scale comes off and floats around in the water. So be sure to clean that, too. Q-tips are quite helpful in cleaning all the small openings.

I have pulled some nasty slimy hairballs out of our pump : ( I just turn the knob thingy and pull in the directions it comes off at and it pops right off. It has to be unlocked though otherwise you might break it. I found the ChEAPEST place to buy filters at Jeffers Vet Supply. They have a website. Also they have the cheapest prices on FELIWAY spray and refills for the plugins that I have seen anywhere too...

How often do you guys clean the dish out? I usually just do it when it starts to run low on water. I figure I have to partially dismantle it to refill it; I may as well clean it while I'm at it. With 2 kitties, that's every 3-4 days.

Partially dismantle it to fill it? Naw.....you just remove the reservoir. Taking it apart to clean it is a whole lot more work. I clean mine once a week, and I refill it daily.

I never knew that pump came apart! I just cleaned the outside with an old toothbrush and vinegar! YIKES! I wonder what I'm going to find inside it tonight!