Why Your Solar Bird Bath Fountain May Struggle In Fall

If you're a bird lover and you want to attract a more diverse variety to your yard, you probably already have a bird bath. Better yet, you have a fountain in your bird bath to keep the water fresh, free of mosquitoes, and attractive to your avian visitors. But when summer comes to an end and the cool and cozy months of autumn roll around, you might notice your solar fountain lose steam a little bit. It's not just you, and it's not a reason to throw it out and order a new one. There are tons of reasons why solar bird bath fountains struggle in the fall, and it might as simple as where you put the bird bath. 

A lack of sunlight, debris from the trees, and cold batteries are all to blame for poor performance from solar fountains in the fall. While they are fantastic additions to your outdoor space, they're at their best during the long and sunny days of summer, when no leaves are filling the water basin, and temperatures are mild. 

Once it gets colder and water starts to freeze, neither the bird bath nor the fountain should be outside. Freezing water can damage the structure, but it can also harm your feathery friends as well. Best to clean all parts and store in the garage until spring. If you still want to give the birds a drink, you can switch to a shallow plastic saucer that you can refill every morning.

The solar water fountain works with a pump, which means water is continuously sucked in and pushed out. During the fall, dead leaves and debris can easily make their way into the water basin and get stuck in the pump's filter, causing it to get jammed. To clean it, remove the filter from the pump and rinse it in running water, using a brush as needed. 

If this isn't the issue, another reason your fountain may struggle in the fall is simply because it lacks sunlight. Solar fountains typically need around five hours of direct sunlight each day to work. The sun changes position in the sky with every season as well, so while your bird bath might have been sitting in the sun in spring and summer, it could now be under the shade of a tree for most of the day. If so, consider moving it to a sunnier spot. The fountain might also struggle because of cloudy weather and shorter days. If lack of sunshine isn't the issue, the solar panel might be too dirty to generate energy. If so, use a wet cloth to remove grime buildup from the solar panel (bird poop, pollen, leaves), and see if that does the trick. 

Your solar fountain might also struggle because temperatures dropped too low for its batteries to charge. Solar batteries are at their best when temps are around 70 degrees Fahrenheit — when it drops lower, the battery doesn't charge as well. Freezing temperatures means charging is nearly impossible. If temperatures are too cold for your solar fountain, there's not much you can do about it besides putting it in storage until warmer days.