Compressed Air - and rubber tipped air blower nozzel might work.

A photo of what your working on - would be helpful.

I have a picture of the fountain dave777 How do I send it to you?

carp-
Do you have an online, free photo storage site, like Photobucket? If so, you can just post the link here and everybody can look at the picture.

I CAN USE SNAPFISH OR FACEBOOK

Please post a link to your fountain photo on Facebook or some such. Or you could use Photbucket like kudzu9 suggested. Lots of people would like to see the fountain.

If the above is difficult - you could send the fountain photo in an email to: carp5gr@skybreeze.com

A couple of photos would be very helpful.

car5gr-
In case you haven't noticed, there is a box below the message posting box here that says "Optional Link URL," and that is where you can paste your link.

Thanks-I sent a picture to the email address above...

Ok - not sure if this will just 'load' in the window...

You can always go to the link below, and download or view photo. I didn't resize it. (2.89 megs)

Today is 10/9/09 I will keep it on my website for about 1 week. After that - link won't be valid.

Is the material of the fountain plastic, or clay? The water I take it comes out of the top... where is the pump motor located...

If the fountain tube is clogged - I still think compressed air might be the way to go...

Here is a link that might be useful: {{!gwi}}

I suspect it's not a straight shot between the inlet and the outlet ends of the fountain tube. I agree with Dave that you should try compressed air, first from the top and then from the bottom. A compressor would be best, but you can also try one of those cans of compressed air. You just need to use something like a wet paper towel jammed in the opening around the nozzle to make an airtight seal so that the tube pressurizes a little. If that doesn't work, a flexible piece of wire is your next option.

THANKS DAVE AND KUDZU9
THE FOUNTAIN IS MADE OF CLAY AND YOU'RE RIGHT THAT THE TUBE IS NOT STRAIGHT-THE WATER GOES IN THE BOTTOM AND CURVES AROUND AND COMES OUT THE TOP.
I WILL TRY YOUR SUGGESTIONS,,,,
THANKS AGAIN

carp-
Please report back. If you don't succeed, we'll see what else we can think of.

I WILL LET YOU KNOW WHEN I TRY IT... TODAY IT IS RAINING HERE WHICH WE REALLY NEED. I HAVE TO SEE IF ANY OF MY NEIGHBORS HAVE A COMPRESSOR. THANKS SO MUCH

Carp -

A compressor is the way to go. "Raining here, which we really need" Where about do you live? Obviously not in Seattle. I had been wondering where you live, thinking to bad I couldn't just pop over and let you use my compressor.

Home Depot sells some compressors REALLY cheap. "Harbor Freight Tools" sells some compressors REALLY, REALLY, REALLY cheap. Harbor FT don't last long though...

When you get the compressor, put a TOWEL down around the input opening. You probably also want to remove the pump. Putting in a rubber tiped air blower (at the top - where the water comes out), and 40psi on a metal tube will probably remove the obstruction.

HOWEVER - the rock pebbles or whatever is blocking it - will shoot out (at the bottom input opening) as fast as a bullet. Screaming out. Need to have some towels and burlap or newspaper in there - to absorb the speed and impact. Otherwise you might damage the fountain which is sculpted out of clay...

dave-
Good points as usual. I have only one suggestion: I was thinking he may want to set the compressor lower than 40 psi for starters, and then ramp up if it's not working.

Haven't been back here for a while. Still waiting for my friend to get his compress over here. Thanks for you nice offer. We live Ojai, CA and really needed the rain too. By any chance do you know anything about fireplace top dampers? We moved about 6 months ago and have a receipt that a top damper was installed 2yrs ago and the home inspection says the damper is operational, but just had a chimney man look at it and he says there is no damper. Someone cut out the metal flap that is usually the damper. they are even suggestion someone took the top damper which I don't buy! Very Bazaar!!

Your welcome.

Don't know anything about 'top dampers'. Do know, that in house sales - some stuff can get realy crazy. My lovely wife is a RE Agent.

According to the inspection - you had a damper and it was operational. Now, chimney man - states you have no damper.

Have another chimney guy take a look if you can. If the damper was removed - during the house sale, or after closing - that was illegal. The damper was installed; and if someone wanted it - this had to be clearly stated in the house contract agreement, and some other stuff...

Depending on the costs of putting in a new damper, or getting a fireplace which was working when you viewed the house - working now - since it isn't available to be used now that you've moved in - this could be worth pursuing legally.

Whole bunch of stuff that goes into that... (Due diligence on part of buyer... myriad of other stuff.) You might want to talk with the RE Agent who helped you purchase the house.

My RE agent is looking into it and thought maybe the handyman who fixed the gas pipe into the fireplace between when our offer was accepted and the sale was final, probably took it but I am in constant contact with the seller and she says she was here the whole time he was working. I think the craziest part is why would anyone want to take a damper???? (but maybe handyman had a use for it) I understand it is illegal, but who really took it is the question and we can't prove it....we have a contractor/friend here and I am checking with him....thanks for all the imput..

Yes... sometimes RE A are not as aggressive on stuff as they should be.

I mentioned this situation to my wife who stated:

Legally - it does NOT matter who took the damper. You do not have to prove who took it.

The damper was installed in the house and chimney when you signed the purchase agreement. At closing - the damper was no longer installed. You've found this out - in trying to make your fireplace work properly.

The Seller IS Responsible. Period. I mentioned that you don't live in WA; and she said: Some of this legal stuff is NATIONAL, nation wide. The Seller is responsible. It doesn't matter if she knows what happened, or how it got removed. She is responsible for the house until it closes.

You are talking with the seller. So possibly you don't wish to make a bunch of waves. Which I can understand. But how much is it going to cost to correct the fireplace? If you have some bids done, and take her to court - you will be fully compensated; including court costs.

The seller should probably be talking with her RE A; because who knows who took it?? My wife has toured homes, where doors have been stolen during an open house... Sometimes RE A are sued because of stuff that happened...

WHO did WHAT can be hard to prove. But in your situation - the law and court cases are totally on your side. The seller is responsible for this - whether she knew about it or not. Just a truth.

If you took her to court - you would win. Slam dunk. No contest. So a frank and open conversation with her - might have you guys reaching an acceptable settlement outside of court.

Otherwise - you take her to court; she is ordered to pay you the money to have it fixed, and any court costs and attorney fees.

Then, she looks to take her RE A; to court - because someone stole something from the house - during an open house; and her RE A; was responsible for the house during any open's...

It gets all convoluted; but the bottom line: The seller is responsible for the missing damper.

What you do about that - is up to you. But the above is just basic RE Law.

Dave-Thanks for all the good info. I returned your email this morning but am not sure you will get it. The home inspection co. is going to pay for a new damper to be installed-probably because they know the law that you have stated. My RE agent must know the law, also. I can see it got so 'crazy' because everyone was trying to get out of the repsonsibility...

Dave,
The damper problem was solved when the company who was supposed to have put it in, remembered they never did. He said there was other construction going on and he couldn't get access to the fireplace! Thanks again

Carp -

So the company who was paid to do a job - never completed the work??

The seller paid them to do some work, and they didn't finish it? I hope you get them to finish it. Or possibly your not worried about it, and are going with your contractor/friend to have them fix this...

If your inspection company isn't going to have it fixed - they should at least refund you the cost of the inspection. Since the inspection was apparently incorrect.

"Due Diligence" on the part of the buyer - would not include ascertaining that the fireplace did not work, and had no damper.

On a different subject: Have you corrected the fountain yet? I really hope you get that fixed, and let us know how it goes... Thanks for the update on the fireplace.

Dave,
No fix for the fountain yet. I'll let you know.
The damper was replaced this morning by the company that didn't do it in the first place and it was free. I think he knew another company would know it was never put in and he didn't want that. My RE agent has had trouble with him before and doesn't like him. He is the only one in Ojai and most people like him because he didn't try to take advantage of them... the home inspector made a mistake too by not catching it and if he had looked, it would have been obvious. We're just glad the problem is solved...
Thanks for all the information and concern...