Technician checking water flow on a running tiered fountain

Outdoor fountain repair

Tiered, wall, urn and bubbling fountains brought back to life. We find what's wrong, give you a written price and fix it properly.

Updated November 2026

Free written estimates
Upfront pricing
Fountains, ponds and waterfalls
Homes, HOAs and businesses

Common fountain problems

A fountain has four working parts. The pump moves water, tubing carries it up, the basin holds it, and lights and wiring finish the job. Any one can stop the show, and different failures look alike from the patio. A pump that won't start and a tripped GFCI both give you silence, which is why each part gets tested before anything gets replaced.

The usual list around The Woodlands: pumps that hum without pushing water or won't turn on, basins that lose water however often you fill them, weak or lopsided flow over the tiers, cracked bowls, white mineral crust and lights that died years ago. Something else going on? Describe it when you call. Not sure it's the fountain at all? Run the fountain troubleshooter first.

Pump failures and weak flow

The pump is the part that fails most. Pine needles and leaves clog the intake and make it strain. A pump that runs low on water overheats and can burn out in hours. Mineral scale and algae coat the impeller and tubing and choke the flow a little more each month. Sometimes a good cleaning brings full flow right back.

When a pump can't be saved, the replacement has to match the fountain's lift and flow. Too small and you get a trickle. Too big and water throws itself over the edge of the basin, the level drops and the pump runs dry. Pick the pump for the fountain, not from whatever sits on the shelf. The pump repair and replacement page goes into more detail.

Technician scrubbing mineral scale from a carved stone lion-head wall fountain in a courtyard

Leaks, cracks and water loss

Close-up of a gloved hand sealing a hairline crack in a stone fountain tier

Three things make a fountain lose water: a crack in the basin, a failed seal where tubing or the cord passes through, or splash over the edge. Concrete and cast stone crack at hairlines after a hard freeze, and each crack opens a little more every time the basin dries out and refills. A small repair now beats a big one next spring.

The first step is a leak test, so the fix targets the real problem. Cracks get cleaned out, filled and sealed with a flexible waterproof compound made for constant water. Bad seals get replaced. Splash gets handled by adjusting the flow, the spill lip or the pump size. You get a written price for whichever one applies.

Lights, wiring and power

Technician testing the outdoor GFCI outlet that powers a backyard fountain pump

Many "dead" fountains just have no power. GFCI outlets trip after storms, outdoor timers fail, and an extension cord meant to be temporary corrodes in the mulch. Confirm the pump gets steady power before you condemn it. That one check keeps people from buying a pump they didn't need.

Fountain lights fail for similar reasons: water in the fixture, a burned-out bulb or a dead transformer. We can repair or replace them, and older halogen units often swap for LEDs that run cooler and last longer. A new circuit or any wiring beyond the fountain goes to a licensed electrician.

What fountain repair costs

Most residential fountain repairs in the north Houston area run $200 to $700. Clearing a clogged pump or resealing a fitting sits at the low end. Pump replacements, crack repair on a big tiered fountain and new lighting sit higher. HOA and commercial fountains are priced per job because they vary so much.

You get a free written estimate before work starts. If something unexpected turns up partway through, we stop and talk to you before doing anything extra. The fountain repair cost guide breaks prices down by service, and ponds have their own page: pond and waterfall repair.

Service	Typical range
Fountain repair (most residential jobs)	$200–$700
Fountain pump repair	$50–$400
Fountain pump replacement	$300–$900
Fountain cleaning and descaling	$150–$450
Pond or water feature cleaning (single visit)	$250–$450
Full pond clean-out (annual)	$800–$1,200
Water feature repair or rebuild projects	$600–$1,500+

Typical ranges for the north Houston area. Your price is the free written estimate you approve before any work starts.

Questions about fountain repair

Is it worth repairing an old fountain or should I replace it?

Most fountains are worth repairing. The basin and statuary are usually the expensive part, and they last for decades if the cracks are sealed and the finish is protected. The pump, tubing and lights wear out much faster and are cheap to replace by comparison. Replacement only makes sense when the basin itself is badly cracked, the fountain is undersized for the spot, or you want a different look.

Why does my fountain keep losing water?

Some water loss is normal from evaporation and wind, especially in July and August when a fountain can drop an inch or more in a hot, breezy day. If it's dropping faster than that, look for a crack in the basin, a failed seal where tubing passes through, or water splashing over the edge. A leak test during the visit tells us which one it is.

Can you fix a cracked concrete or cast stone fountain?

Usually, yes. Hairline and small structural cracks in concrete and cast stone can be cleaned out, filled with a flexible waterproof repair compound and sealed. Large cracks through a tier or a broken bowl may need the piece reset or replaced. We'll tell you which one you're looking at.

My fountain light stopped working. Can you fix that?

Yes. Most dead fountain lights come down to a burned-out bulb, water inside the fixture or a bad connection, and many older halogen lights can be swapped for longer-lasting LED units. We also check the GFCI outlet and transformer, since those cause a lot of lighting problems.