| DRINKWELL® FAQs |
| DRINKWELL® - The Original Pet Fountain A Waterfall of Health for your Pet! |
| Phone: (408) 625-7263 Info@JellyBeanPets.com www.JellyBeanPets.com |
| Copyright 2007, Jelly Bean Pets. All rights reserved. |
How often should I change the filter?
Filters should be changed approximately every six to eight weeks for cats and four to six weeks for large dogs.
Replace filters more frequently when using the fountain for multiple dogs and dogs that produce a lot of saliva. To
view our complete line of filters please click here.
Does the Drinkwell Big-Dog Fountain use the same filter as the Original Drinkwell Pet Fountain?
Yes, both fountains use the same filter. To view the Big-Dog Fountain please click here.
How do I get rid of the charcoal dust in the bowl?
Rinse the filter in cold water. Even after rinsing, you will still have remnants of charcoal dust settling in the bottom of
the bowl. This dust will eventually dissipate after a few cycles. The charcoal is completely harmless. Even as the dust
settles in the bowl, it continues to work by absorbing bad tastes and odors and purifying the water. If you are
uncomfortable with the amount of charcoal from the filter, you can remove the filter. The fountain will function without
it.
How often should I clean the fountain?
Clean the fountain and the inside cavity of the motor with soapy water about every two weeks. In between (weekly),
take apart and rinse with hot water.
If you have a reservoir container, lift it out of the back of the fountain and quickly turn upright.
Unscrew the reservoir lid and remove the black rubber O ring.
Unplug the fountain, remove the cover and pull out the filter.
Empty water out of the fountain.
Remove the upper housing of the fountain by pressing in the tabs at the sides and lifting up.
The flow control knob and stator are not attached and are freed when the housing is removed.
Remove the motor from the fountain (refer to "How do I clean the motor?").
Is the fountain dishwasher safe?
Remove the motor before cleaning the fountain. The motor is NOT dishwasher safe. Refer to motor cleaning
instructions. The Additional Capacity Reservoir containers along with the black rubber O Ring located in the reservoir
lid are NOT dishwasher safe. Hand wash the reservoir container with a mild detergent and rinse well. The rest of the
fountain is top rack dishwasher safe.
How do I clean the motor?
Unplug the fountain, remove the cover and pull out the filter.
Empty the water out of the fountain.
Turn the bowl over and remove the motor from its cavity by slipping your finger into the indentation behind the motor
and pulling that end of the motor out toward you so that it has turned a quarter of a turn.
Carefully lift the impeller out of the motor. It should slide out easily with no resistance.
Remove any hair tangled around it and wash it with the rest of the parts.
Pour soapy water into the inner cavity of the motor and scrub with a small round bristle brush or cotton swab. Rinse
well and replace the impeller after it is cleaned.
For detailed cleaning instructions with diagrams, download the instruction manual.
What should I do if the motor is not pumping the water properly or it stopped working altogether?
Lack of regular cleaning may result in the motor becoming clogged with pet hair and food debris. The motor must be
cleaned every two weeks to ensure proper function. Please refer to the motor cleaning instructions.
What should I do if my fountain suddenly becomes noisy?
It is normal for the motor to be slightly audible, like a low hum, but it shouldn't be very noticeable or loud. Most noise
is related to the impeller. Remove the motor from the fountain and make sure there is no hair or debris wrapped
around the impeller and that all four blades are intact. Please refer to the motor cleaning instructions.
What should I do if there is a white film in my fountain?
If you have "hard water" you may start to see white mineral deposits on or down inside the motor. This may eventually
prevent the impeller from turning properly. Loss of function as a result of mineralization from hard water does not
qualify under the warranty. To avoid having to replace the motor:
Clean the motor more frequently than you have in the past; or
Clean with distilled white vinegar and let the vinegar soak for several minutes inside the motor cavity; or
Use bottled water.
Why is my fountain making gurgling sounds?
The gurgling sounds indicate that the water level is very low. Add water to the fountain immediately. During regular
use, do not allow the water level to fall below the inlet grate on the bottom of the flow control knob, or the motor may
run dry and burn out.
Why is my fountain overflowing when I attach the reservoir?
First, make sure there is a black rubber O-ring in the base of the reservoir lid. It should be located in the groove in
the lid and not on the canister itself.
Try loosening the reservoir lid. The lid needs to fit snuggly, but not too tight. Over-tightening will cause the O-ring to
compress.
Make sure the fountain and the reservoir are on the same level surface. If you are using a mat, make sure the mat is
under the fountain and reservoir.
Filters should be changed approximately every six to eight weeks for cats and four to six weeks for large dogs.
Replace filters more frequently when using the fountain for multiple dogs and dogs that produce a lot of saliva. To
view our complete line of filters please click here.
Does the Drinkwell Big-Dog Fountain use the same filter as the Original Drinkwell Pet Fountain?
Yes, both fountains use the same filter. To view the Big-Dog Fountain please click here.
How do I get rid of the charcoal dust in the bowl?
Rinse the filter in cold water. Even after rinsing, you will still have remnants of charcoal dust settling in the bottom of
the bowl. This dust will eventually dissipate after a few cycles. The charcoal is completely harmless. Even as the dust
settles in the bowl, it continues to work by absorbing bad tastes and odors and purifying the water. If you are
uncomfortable with the amount of charcoal from the filter, you can remove the filter. The fountain will function without
it.
How often should I clean the fountain?
Clean the fountain and the inside cavity of the motor with soapy water about every two weeks. In between (weekly),
take apart and rinse with hot water.
If you have a reservoir container, lift it out of the back of the fountain and quickly turn upright.
Unscrew the reservoir lid and remove the black rubber O ring.
Unplug the fountain, remove the cover and pull out the filter.
Empty water out of the fountain.
Remove the upper housing of the fountain by pressing in the tabs at the sides and lifting up.
The flow control knob and stator are not attached and are freed when the housing is removed.
Remove the motor from the fountain (refer to "How do I clean the motor?").
Is the fountain dishwasher safe?
Remove the motor before cleaning the fountain. The motor is NOT dishwasher safe. Refer to motor cleaning
instructions. The Additional Capacity Reservoir containers along with the black rubber O Ring located in the reservoir
lid are NOT dishwasher safe. Hand wash the reservoir container with a mild detergent and rinse well. The rest of the
fountain is top rack dishwasher safe.
How do I clean the motor?
Unplug the fountain, remove the cover and pull out the filter.
Empty the water out of the fountain.
Turn the bowl over and remove the motor from its cavity by slipping your finger into the indentation behind the motor
and pulling that end of the motor out toward you so that it has turned a quarter of a turn.
Carefully lift the impeller out of the motor. It should slide out easily with no resistance.
Remove any hair tangled around it and wash it with the rest of the parts.
Pour soapy water into the inner cavity of the motor and scrub with a small round bristle brush or cotton swab. Rinse
well and replace the impeller after it is cleaned.
For detailed cleaning instructions with diagrams, download the instruction manual.
What should I do if the motor is not pumping the water properly or it stopped working altogether?
Lack of regular cleaning may result in the motor becoming clogged with pet hair and food debris. The motor must be
cleaned every two weeks to ensure proper function. Please refer to the motor cleaning instructions.
What should I do if my fountain suddenly becomes noisy?
It is normal for the motor to be slightly audible, like a low hum, but it shouldn't be very noticeable or loud. Most noise
is related to the impeller. Remove the motor from the fountain and make sure there is no hair or debris wrapped
around the impeller and that all four blades are intact. Please refer to the motor cleaning instructions.
What should I do if there is a white film in my fountain?
If you have "hard water" you may start to see white mineral deposits on or down inside the motor. This may eventually
prevent the impeller from turning properly. Loss of function as a result of mineralization from hard water does not
qualify under the warranty. To avoid having to replace the motor:
Clean the motor more frequently than you have in the past; or
Clean with distilled white vinegar and let the vinegar soak for several minutes inside the motor cavity; or
Use bottled water.
Why is my fountain making gurgling sounds?
The gurgling sounds indicate that the water level is very low. Add water to the fountain immediately. During regular
use, do not allow the water level to fall below the inlet grate on the bottom of the flow control knob, or the motor may
run dry and burn out.
Why is my fountain overflowing when I attach the reservoir?
First, make sure there is a black rubber O-ring in the base of the reservoir lid. It should be located in the groove in
the lid and not on the canister itself.
Try loosening the reservoir lid. The lid needs to fit snuggly, but not too tight. Over-tightening will cause the O-ring to
compress.
Make sure the fountain and the reservoir are on the same level surface. If you are using a mat, make sure the mat is
under the fountain and reservoir.
| Manuals and Additional Information |
| Click on the product name you are interested in to view the materials and additional product information in Adobe PDF format. |
| A Little Background on Dr. Burns, the Inventor of the Drinkwell Pet Fountain |
After her undergraduate major in Medical Technology at West Liberty State College in West Virginia, Mary V.
Burns, D. V. M., graduated from Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine in 1988. During her veterinary
education, she developed a special interest in the field of Animal Behavior. After graduation and licensing, Dr.
Burns relocated to Reno, Nevada. As part of her practice of veterinary medicine, she offered behavior consultations
to clients and spoke about behavior to canine clubs in Reno. Her favorite part of practice was Client Education. This
love of teaching led her to accept a position as an associate professor at the University of Nevada, Reno in 1991.
The specialized program in which she taught was discontinued due to budget cut backs in 1995. Now at a
crossroads, Dr. Burns had to decide whether to return to private practice or take to market what is now the
Drinkwell Pet Fountain. She had invented the Fountain specifically for her cat “Buckwheat”, a constant faucet
drinker, in 1994. She chose to market the Fountain and founded Veterinary Ventures in early 1996. Through the
first fledgling years of Veterinary Ventures, Dr. Burns provided preventative medicine services, such as health
examinations and vaccinations, at the Nevada Humane Society Clinic.
By 1999, Veterinary Ventures Inc had grown beyond any mere mortal’s ability to successfully manage it while
juggling other responsibilities, so Dr. Burns bid farewell to other interests. From the beginning she had utilized
outsourcing services and one part time employee to assist her in running the business. She hired her first full time
employee in 2001. By only the next year, the growth and needs of VVI had outpaced Dr. Burn’s ability to manage it
as it needed to be managed. So in 2002 she relinquished her baby to more qualified parents, Northstar Investors
and Meridian Business Advisors. With Sean Rowe now at the helm, Dr. Burns could not be more proud of the
further success of VVI. She loves knowing the Drinkwell Pet Fountain genuinely helps pets and their owners.
Source: http://www.vetventures.com/inventor.asp
Burns, D. V. M., graduated from Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine in 1988. During her veterinary
education, she developed a special interest in the field of Animal Behavior. After graduation and licensing, Dr.
Burns relocated to Reno, Nevada. As part of her practice of veterinary medicine, she offered behavior consultations
to clients and spoke about behavior to canine clubs in Reno. Her favorite part of practice was Client Education. This
love of teaching led her to accept a position as an associate professor at the University of Nevada, Reno in 1991.
The specialized program in which she taught was discontinued due to budget cut backs in 1995. Now at a
crossroads, Dr. Burns had to decide whether to return to private practice or take to market what is now the
Drinkwell Pet Fountain. She had invented the Fountain specifically for her cat “Buckwheat”, a constant faucet
drinker, in 1994. She chose to market the Fountain and founded Veterinary Ventures in early 1996. Through the
first fledgling years of Veterinary Ventures, Dr. Burns provided preventative medicine services, such as health
examinations and vaccinations, at the Nevada Humane Society Clinic.
By 1999, Veterinary Ventures Inc had grown beyond any mere mortal’s ability to successfully manage it while
juggling other responsibilities, so Dr. Burns bid farewell to other interests. From the beginning she had utilized
outsourcing services and one part time employee to assist her in running the business. She hired her first full time
employee in 2001. By only the next year, the growth and needs of VVI had outpaced Dr. Burn’s ability to manage it
as it needed to be managed. So in 2002 she relinquished her baby to more qualified parents, Northstar Investors
and Meridian Business Advisors. With Sean Rowe now at the helm, Dr. Burns could not be more proud of the
further success of VVI. She loves knowing the Drinkwell Pet Fountain genuinely helps pets and their owners.
Source: http://www.vetventures.com/inventor.asp
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