Asked on Jul 29, 2013
Fountain
by
Amy R.
+36
Ok so I made this fountain...a lil' tacky...moved it to back rock garden...ever since day one I cant get it right no matter where I put it...it spills but the water is running back behind the top barrel....any ideas on how to make all the water go back in the bottom...I have tilted it and tilted it...it needs something...cant figure it out?????????????
38 answers
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I'm tagging @Julee S - she knows a thing or two about fountains. Also, there is nothing tacky about this. It's AWESOME!
Miriam Illions
on Jul 29, 2013
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Thnx....I hope I get it going again!
Amy R.
on Jul 29, 2013
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TACKY!!! NOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!! like Miriam said-it's AWESOME!! I absolutely love it!! wish I could help with the problem. are you going to post how u did this? good luck with the water problem!
Jean Vercler
on Jul 29, 2013
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yes soon when I get it back together...moved it...
Amy R.
on Jul 29, 2013
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I think you need to 'funnel' it. The spill needs to be a tad bit beyond the edge of the the barrel lip.
360 Sod (Donna Dixson)
on Jul 29, 2013
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Not tacky.......BEAUTIFUL!!!!!!!!!!
Melody Drinkwater Wagner
on Jul 29, 2013
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Adorable!
Curtain Lady Design
on Jul 29, 2013
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@Amy R. I agree with the others, it is beautiful! I think that @360 Sod (Donna Dixson) is right there needs to be a way of making the water fall forward so it doesn't travel to the back of the barrel. Could be the top barrel needs to have more of a forward tilt to it, It might also help to put some kind of a clear sealant on the front where the water falls to the lower barrel. Perhaps a smooth surface there would help direct the flow - just my brain spewing out ideas LOL Thanks for sharing - I truly love the look!
Gail Salminen
on Jul 29, 2013
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Maybe even carve a little channel in the edge of the barrel to direct the water into the bottom barrel. Not sure if this is feasible, but I have an old whiskey barrel and I know the edge is rather thick and has a lot of grooves in it, that leads me to believe the water is dispersing horizontally instead of the vertical position you're going for.
Mella J
on Jul 31, 2013
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neat idea! Donna and Gail correct. Look at a pitcher or liquid measuring cup; they have a "mouth" that directs the liquid when pouring. A metal lip of some kind. Aluminum ? Maybe so it won't rust.
Roberta Eagleston
on Jul 31, 2013
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Great job on the fountain!! A small block of wood cut on a 45 degree angle with the angle towards the back and the long part in the front will "funnel" the water to a point below where it can run back along the bottom of the barrel.Stain or paint to match the barrel and clear coat for long life.
Bobby Goodwin
on Jul 31, 2013
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Water tends to follow a surface. It is running back following the under surface of the barrel. An L shaped piece of tin or metal bent so as to guide the water down will prevent this. This "L" does not have to be long. Just enough to prevent a back flow.
Phil Miller
on Jul 31, 2013
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Phil M is right!
Richard
on Jul 31, 2013
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How about tacking a small piece of sheet metal to the underside of the barrel that extends to make a sort of spout.
Misty50
on Jul 31, 2013
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This is very inspiring. I also want this for my home! The water dilemma though is a bit challenging, but maybe landscape architects will have some great info on how to solve this.
Roberta Madison
on Jul 31, 2013
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Turn off water, get spray foam insulation and fill in all around where water flows. After it is completely dry, trim off excess, reposition flowers, rocks, etc. around to cover. May need to paint also if too light. I think its called 'great stuff', home depot and lowes carries it. You can also take heavy plastic and shape the water valley, prop with rocks, wood, etc., let the plastic hang down to direct the water, cover with foliage.
Vickie Goss
on Jul 31, 2013
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Great fountain with absolutely no tacky factor. It needs a lip or over hang to give the water someplace to drip from much like the bottom of the sill of a window.
Traci
on Jul 31, 2013
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If you could make one of those cement leaves for it to trickle over it would not only bring it further out so it no longer runs along the back of the barrel but it would look WAY cool.
Marci N
on Jul 31, 2013
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I have a wishing well fountain and the bucket was doing the same thing..Some of the problen is wood shrinks and swell..As a last resort I tried the flex seal spray you see advertised on tv..It comes in black..I sprayed the inside with two or three coats..Im going to have to spray it every year probably because the wood shrinks in the winter and leaves gaps between the wood slats.Also it isnt tipped enough..If this hadnt worked I would have stopped using the fountain..I had to constanly refill it
Gail lichtsinn
on Jul 31, 2013
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You have done a wonderful job! - it's beautiful! You already have lots of advice, but - - have you tried using the plastic liner made just for these ½ barrels? I know they are usually used upright, but don't know why it wouldn't work on side also..
Joyce
on Jul 31, 2013
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I put a small bead of silicone about an inch or so long just under the edge of my water feature. It made just enough of a ridge to stop the water from flowing back under the top part.
Melissa
on Jul 31, 2013
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You could try the spray sealant for stopping leaks on your gutters!
Cindy Argo
on Jul 31, 2013
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I fought the same difficulty for years with my homemade fountain. If you will run the water in tube that extends beyond the edge of the barrel and add a nice long piece of coated copper wire that is just large enough diameter to cause the tube to bend down lower than the barrel lip, your problem will be solved :) If the water drips rather than being forced past the barrel lip it will always find a way back up the barrel edge.
JanB
on Jul 31, 2013
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Instructions? This is great!
Betsy
on Jul 31, 2013
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Thnx to all of you for your great ideas! I was gonna use the flex seal too!
Amy R.
on Aug 04, 2013
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I have that same problem with one of my fountains - I was thinking I needed a stronger pump. It only happens when its been on for a while.No tacky factor - great job!
Trish F
on Aug 04, 2013
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amy the flex seal worked for me but i had to use a couple of coats..Its dries really fast but DONT breathe it in..Turn you head a little or cover your mouth and nose with a scarf or something
Gail lichtsinn
on Aug 05, 2013
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I love your fountain! It's absolutely gorgeous!
Eleanor G
on Aug 05, 2013
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i think your fountain is really cute love it xx
Chris aka monkey
on Sep 04, 2013
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So, what did you do to alleviate the problem? My first thought was to tilt the top barrel forward so it doesn't want to run back. Like when pouring something out of a glass, you just tilt it forward more so it goes out the FRONT and doesn't run down the back. Wha did you end up doing?
Marg Kendall
on Jul 18, 2014
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I love your fountain. Water features are so calming!!
TheDIYShow.com
on Jul 18, 2014
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A stronger pump or bring pump up closer to the surface and add some water plants to camouflage it. And some kind of lip would make a cleaner flow. Love it!
Lyn Therese
on Dec 29, 2015
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What a cute idea! Love your fountain
Janet Smith
on May 10, 2016
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Is your top barrel sealed at the back and bottom (side slats to about half way around the barrel circumference)? I would perhaps even seal the entire inside of the top barrel with a coating of some sort so that even if the water collects in the top back, it will eventually have to run out the front edge and into the bottom. Also ensuring that the bottom edge is level or tipped slightly forward as suggested may help and adding a lip along the outside edge of the top barrel could encourage the water to trickle straight down instead of following the barrel slats backward. I love the idea and think this is so cute for a water feature in a corner.
Jennifer Vallot
on Sep 10, 2016
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I have never made a fountain ,but pretty good at problem solving ! So ,the barrels are too wide for a single waterfall . You wouldn't be able to tilt it enough to achieve a single stream without some of the water running and keep your decorations . My thought is you could attach,mount end of a spade on the outside of the top barrel .Bend the metal spade downward ,attach it to the barrel by the wooden handle so it works as a spout! Should be a easy fix.
Cd.12082042
on Sep 21, 2016
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I could have simply said YOU NEED A SPOUT!!! It can be made out of anything i had had just suggested a easy one , no limits to the imagination :)
Cd.12082042
on Sep 21, 2016
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Tip the barrel a bit more forward
Lorraine Bradshaw-martin
on Sep 29, 2016
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Awwwh that is so pretty i love it and if u say it's taky well i love the tacky too gorgous water fall😊
Nancy
on Nov 16, 2016
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