There are several materials used in the construction of fountains for a home garden and none make for a more beautiful water feature than copper. In addition to the natural beauty of copper, there is a unique sound of the water splashing against the metal walls of the fountain. However, that beauty and soothing sound does come with a price. Copper fountains require much more maintenance than fountains made of other materials.
No matter the style of water fountain you are searching for, you can easily find one made of copper. There are copper fountains for the garden, the tabletop, or even ones made for the wall. You will typically find the copper used in these fountains to have a natural finish or a clear coating. The clear coat is applied in order to prevent the natural oxidation process which causes the copper to turn green. I suppose to some, when copper turns green it is not the look that they desire. If this is the case, then choose one of the fountains that have the clear coating applied and clean it periodically by applying furniture polish. Be sure to use a soft cloth for the application as copper is a softer metal and can easily be scratched. You can also apply car wax every few months which will also help protect the clear coat finish and cause it to last longer thus preventing the oxidation process for a longer period.
However, no matter how well the clear coat is applied, or how well your efforts at preventing the oxidation process are carried out, the effects of aging will occur. Oxidation of copper is a natural process and will occur over time no matter how hard you attempt to prevent it. If the green appearance really puts you off, then maybe you should consider some other material in the construction of your water feature.
If you are like me and consider the oxidation process and greening of the copper part of the attractiveness of the metal then you should choose the natural finished copper fountain. If you go this route, when your fountain needs cleaning, just use a non-abrasive cleaner and a soft cloth to remove any build up of grime. Once clean, apply ordinary furniture polish with a soft cloth to help keep the fountain cleaner for a longer period of time.
Outside of these cleaning methods, the maintenance of a copper fountain is much the same as any other water fountain and proper maintenance will help you enjoy its use for years to come. Make sure that you periodically add additional water to the container to compensate for any evaporation that may occur. This is especially critical if you live in an area of the country where there is high humidity. When you clean, be sure to rinse everything thoroughly to prevent any cleaning fluids from entering and possibly damaging your pump. If you live in an area that is susceptible to freezing temperatures, you may want to remove your pump and cover your fountain during the wintertime months. Or, even better and if possible, remove the fountain completely and store in a heated area.
