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PetSafe Drinkwell® 360 Stainless Steel Pet Fountain Review

Most pets prefer drinking fresh running water, so a pet fountain is a great way to encourage them to stay hydrated. 

The 
PetSafe Drinkwell® 360 Stainless Steel Pet Fountain offers a free-falling stream, a generous basin, an integrated filtration system plus adjustable flow control for maximum freshness. It is suitable for indoor use only.

SETTING UP YOUR PET FOUNTAIN

Your PetSafe Drinkwell® 360 Stainless Steel Pet Fountain comes in a box including all the components you will need to assemble. 

We recommend to check first that all parts are there and in good condition, then rinse them with warm water and set them aside prior to assembly and read the operating instructions.

There are quite a few elements but putting them together is relatively simple and the operations manual is one of the best we've seen with clear step-by-step instructions and images.

1. Set up the small submersible Pump. Once the In-Line Plug is connected, secure the Foam Filter around it and place it inside the indentation at the bottom (in the centre) of the stainless steel bowl. The suction cups under the pump help fix it into position.

This Foam Filter serves an important function to collect pet hair, debris, pet food before they reach the pump and you should replace it every 4 to 6 weeks. If multiple pets use the fountain you may need to rinse (or change) the filter more frequently.

2. Then, place the Intake Tube into the circular opening on the top of the pump.

3. Align the stainless steel cone so that the power cord runs through the notch and place the cone into resting position. Not only does it protect the pump from curious pets, it also acts to reduce the sound of falling water and splashes.

4. You will need to insert the Charcoal Filter (this absorbs bad tastes and odours to keep the water fresh) into the Filter Housing. Remember to always rinse it under cold water to remove any loose charcoal dust. Simply lift up the Flow Control Cap and drop the Filter (pull-tab facing up) into place. Ideally, you should change this Filter every 2 to 4 weeks.

5. Looking into the Cone opening, insert your Filter Housing and push straight down to attach it to the Intake Tube.

6. You can select a Spout Ring (from one to five streams) based on your preference. Place your chosen Ring on top of the Filter Housing and gently press down to secure. Replace the Flow Control Cap (align with raised notches) on top and it will snap into place when you press down gently.

The water flow is increased by turning right and decreased by turning left. NB: a decrease in the flow of water is a good indication you have a clogged, dirty filter or you need to clean your Filter Housing.

7. The last step is to attach the 3 Cord Clips provided. They ensure that the power cord is secured over the rim of the bowl and the Cone is locked into place.

8. Now you can fill your pet fountain with water, taking care to always keep the water level above the MIN fill line (about 2.5cm above the bottom of the bowl) as t
his prevents the pump from running dry as you could burn the motor. The MAX fill line is designed to avoid splashes.

Please note that when moving your pet fountain to its final location or for cleaning, you should lift the bowl with both hands and never grab it by the cone.

Pets always dribble so it’s a good idea to place a protective mat or towel underneath, not only to protect your floor but to also avoid slips caused by spills or splashes.

HOW DOES THE PET FOUNTAIN WORK?

The PetSafe Drinkwell® Pet Fountain mimics the effects of a running faucet with its free-falling stream design (choosing from 1 to 5 stream options). 

An integrated filtration system featuring an activated carbon filter keeps your dogs' water supply fresh, clean, and free from odours to entice them into drinking more water. 

Not only is the design of this fountain functional, but it is aesthetically pleasing (the stainless steel finish easily blends in most kitchens). Most importantly for us it operates so quietly that we hardly notice it - the more streams are running, the quieter the fountain... We ended up positioning the pet fountain in the dining room away from the normal feeding areas and thoroughfares.

The pet fountain is built solidly and very easy to use once set up... The submersible motor and foam filter do an excellent job of removing dirt and hair from the water column but you should follow a regular maintenance schedule to get the best out of your pet fountain.

IMPORTANT ADVICE ON MAINTENANCE ...

Left to Right: Pump components / Assembled Pump & Foam Filter / Filter Housing parts & Spout Rings

The manufacturer recommends cleaning your pet fountain 
once a week with warm water and soap and based on our experience, it is essential to avoid the bottom of your water bowl turning slimy due to the build-up of saliva, pet hair etc.

The pump parts should be cleaned at least every two weeks. It may sound like a bit of work to clean these internal parts and rinse (or change) the foam filter but it took us less than 5 minutes to pull apart all the components. We let them dry for an hour and it just took 5 minutes to put them all back together again.


OUR VERDICT


Did you know that for their overall health, your pet needs to drink 70ml of water per 1kg of body weight every day? So for our 29kg dogs, this means an average of 2L per dog per day which explains why we had to keep topping up the water level during the recent heatwave! We even added a handful of ice cubes to the bowl for more refreshing water on hot days.

The perfect pet fountain should keep your dogs’ water supply fresh and clean whilst encouraging them to drink more water. Your dog's water bowl should also be hard-wearing and easy to clean. 

The PetSafe Drinkwell® 360 Stainless Steel Pet Fountain ticks all these boxes though it may take a bit of getting used to for some pets.

Having three dogs, we witnessed three very different initial reactions... Our senior dog has lived a little so he went straight in for a drink! 

Our Malinois Porthos did his due diligence - a good look around and a sniff at first but he was happy to use the pet fountain within the hour. Our female Malinois decided this devilish contraption was best avoided for over two weeks so we provided an old ceramic bowl to ensure she was drinking. Eventually, she accepted the "steel monster" was not going to harm her and now she happily drinks from the pet fountain.



PROS: Simple but pleasing design (aside from the cord clips), generous 3.8L water basin great for larger dogs and multiple pet households, adjustable flow control, quiet operation.

CONS: Assembly required prior to use and for cleaning, regular maintenance, initial price compared to a pet bowl, costs to replace both filters in accordance with the manufacturer’s recommendations. 

If you're not a fan of stainless steel, please note that the Drinkwell® range includes many other options (ceramic, BPA-free plastic) at various price points to suit every budget.


PRICE & WHERE TO BUY

RRP: $139.99 from store.intl.petsafe.net/en-au
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