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Average user rating:  | |
 relative value | |
| I purchased my first unit for a friend, who has multiple pets (kitties and pomeranians). It worked so well for them, I bought one for my own 'pack'; I have been equally satisfied.
From a performance standpoint, the unit is solidly constructed and runs quietly (as long as you keep the water levels high enough). It does require a degree of maintenance, however. The unit benefits from at least a weekly cleaning ... in fact, it is essential to clean the intake of the pump at least that frequently, because hair and other gunk can clog the unit, causing the water flow to be greatly diminished. From a hygiene standpoint, it's a good idea to disinfect at least that frequently anyhow. The filters need regular replacement too, and can be devilish to find. With those considerations in mind, is the unit really a value? From my viewpoint, absolutely. The fountain has become the watering station of choice for all of my animals (and my friend's pets too); the water stays cool and presumably fresh, and the 'kids' drink more frequently than they did with ceramic bowls (lot less slime, too). I wouldn't hesitate to recommend this product to anyone - provided they accept the responsibility of keeping it maintained. | |
 NOT "Ultra Quiet" | |
| I see other reviews to the contrary, but the one we got was FAR from silent. The other attributes of this pet drinking fountain appear to be accurate. The sound level, however, is more like a coffee grinder than a 'silent' fountain. We checked all the applicable trouble-shooting tips, such as making sure the pump was properly secured to the bottom on its suction cups, and also making sure there was sufficient water in the system for the pump to function properly. Still, quite loud. The cat reacted to it like it was a killer robot from space. Returned it and got the Drinkwell, which also has some pump noise, but it is well masked by the sound of the splashing water, which seems to appeal to the kitty, rather than repelling her. | |
| Catch 22 | |
| I've used this fountain for about a year and while it's better than stagnate water in a bowl, it does have some drawbacks. Due to the water flowing down a ramp it doesn't really aerate the water properly. Which means that the water gets slimy and nasty within about 3 or 4 days, even with pouring out the water and refilling every couple of days. Not a problem as long as you clean it frequently but the fountain isn't easy to clean. It has lots of nooks and crannies in the area where the pump and filter are so you're never going to get all of the slime and bacteria out, which promotes more slime and bacteria growth. A real catch 22 situation.
As far as the noise that some people have reported. I've found that if when refilling the thing you pour water directly into the top of the pump and fill the hole leading to the pump it will get all of the air bubbles out and there won't be any noise. Basically you're priming the pump. |
