Gist I Vortex Mini with Ball Fountain I G-VRTX-MINI-B12

By: Gist

Order Confirmation

Once you place your order, you will receive an order confirmation from us. This email will confirm your order has been received and your credit card was approved for purchase.

Order Cancellation

Please note that all items can be cancelled up to 48 hours after you’ve placed your order for a full refund. After the 48 hours, there will be NO REFUND on any custom or made-to-order item(s). All other items are subject to shipping charges and a 15% restocking fee. Please refer to the Return Policy below for more details.

Shipping

Production Time: Please allow 12-16 weeks.

Delivery Time: Please allow 7 business days for delivery once your item has shipped.

LTL Freight with Liftgate Delivery - This service means that your item(s) will ship securely packed on a pallet by LTL(Less than Truckload) freight. A liftgate will be used to place the item(s) curbside on your property (end of driveway). The truck driver will not unpack and/or assist with final placement or installation of the item(s) once it’s off the truck.

Please make arrangements for any kind of assistance you might need at the time of delivery. The freight carrier will call you in advance to arrange a date and time for delivery. All orders are noted for residential delivery. An adult must be available to sign for the item(s) at the time of delivery.

Damaged Deliveries

Please be aware that damage to your item(s), although rare, may occur during shipment. In the event this happens, please contact us immediately and follow the instructions below. Your claim of damage must be reported to us within 24 hours of documented delivery.

• Upon delivery, it is very important to inspect your package for any potential damage that may have occurred while in transit. You are responsible to check the exterior of the box for any visible damage.
• If there is visible damage to the outside box, you need to REFUSE the delivery. Write “Damaged” along with a description of the damage on the driver’s proof of delivery (POD) paperwork, take pictures of the exterior damage and then contact us immediately. This will help when filing an insurance claim in case there is actual damage.
• We will request a copy of the driver’s paperwork showing it was signed for damaged and get another order processed for replacement.
• If you sign for the delivery without notating the visible damage, the freight company is no longer responsible for the damage and we will not be able to replace the damaged item(s) at no cost to you.
• If you find that your item(s) is damaged once you open and remove it from the box, please call us immediately or within 24 hours of documented delivery at the latest.
• You can contact us by phone at 800-975-4022 or by email at support@theblissfulplace.com to report any issues or damaged items.

Returns

All items that are custom or made-to-order are NON-RETURNABLE and NON-REFUNDABLE purchases. Any items that are not custom or made-to-order may be returned within 30 day of receipt, less any shipping charges that were incurred along with a small restocking fee of 15%.

Customers are responsible for the return shipping cost and the original shipping cost is non-refundable. You will be charged the actual shipping charges that we incurred to ship the item(s) to you, even if you received Free Shipping.

Please refer to our general “Return & Refund Policy” for more details.

What are the fountains made out of?

They are made out of glass fiber reinforced concrete (GFRC) which is lightweight in comparison to traditional concrete and more durable. The material has fiberglass which withstands the cold and will not crack. Like all concrete, surface cracks may appear.

How much water do I put in my fountain?

Please keep your fountain three-quarters full. Remember, water evaporates and if the fountain is running all day, it needs attention to refill it to avoid a pump burn out.

We offer an Auto Fill mechanism that can be connected to a water line. It must be ordered with the fountain so that we can cast the fountain with the extra hole it needs to connect the Auto Fill.

The flow on my fountain has slowed down and is barely running. What can I do to fix this issue?

You can turn the fountain off, use your garden hose and spray water in the top hole of the fountain and run water through it. This will push the debris from the pump out and help improve the flow. If this does not work, check to see if any of the clear tubing is kinked, most likely located in the sphere.

I have a float on my fountain and the fountain is overfilling. What should I do?

Locate the shut off valve on your water line and turn it off. You will need to order the top piece of the pedestal float ($15) and we can mail it to you to replace. There are 3 screws located on the top piece of the float, you will unscrew those and replace the top piece of the float. Turn the water back on and use the adjustable spring on top to adjust the water level.

I can hear my pump running but no water is coming out the top. What is causing this?

Check to see if any of the tubing is kinked. Check the filter located inside the pump to see if it is clogged. If there has been chlorine or bleach added to the fountain, this could destroy the impeller and the blades can break off, resulting in replacing the pump.

I fill my fountain every day and it keeps draining, what can I do to fix it?

If there was a drip line added to the fountain, it can be syphoning the water out. If this is the case, make sure the drip line is located above the waterline and not in the water.

It could also be the grommet (Rubber stopper in basin). We can send you out more perma gum (Grey gooey material to seal grommet and pump cord). The last reason for this is evaporation. Some of the smaller fountains may need to be filled each day in hotter areas of the country.

How do I remove the calcium build up?

Apply white vinegar where the buildup is. After you apply, run the fountain, the molecules in the water will actually diminish the residue. In some states, water is really hard making it very difficult to remove residue on any product made out of concrete but the vinegar will certainly help.

DO NOT USE ANY ACID PRODUCTS ON THE FOUNTAINS AS IT WILL REMOVE ANY PAINT OR STAIN COLOR.

I chipped a piece of the fountain off, what can I do?

There will be a repair kit packaged in the fountain with the appropriate color(s). Follow the instructions on how to repair a damaged piece.

Fountain Set-Up

All Gist fountains are shipped with assembly instructions and a parts bag. Please check that you have both before you begin the set-up of your fountain.

The general guidelines below should be followed for fountain set-up. Click here for a one page resource on "Fountain Placement & Precautions".

• All fountains should be placed on a secure foundation (i.e. concrete pad, pavers, travertine, stepping stone). The location you choose for your fountain should be firm and level, both for safety and the fountain's performance.
• Then, take the pump cord through the hole in the basin and plug up the hole with the rubber plug provided in the parts bag. For a secure fit, you can use the gray Perma Gum on the plug to act as an adhesive.
• Next, you want to connect the ball valve that is in the parts bag to the PVC pipe already installed in the top piece of the fountain. Then, connect the vinyl tube provided in part bag to the ball valve. The vinyl tube will connect to the pump.
• The pump is placed in the pump ring section of the fountain basin and the top piece is placed over. Fill the fountain three-quarters of the way with water, plug in the pump, and wipe down the fountain with your hands.
• Shim as necessary for leveling purposes. You can use river rocks at the top of the fountain to prevent water from wobbling.
• Fountains should be close enough to an electrical outlet so that an extension cord is not needed. The pump requires a three-pronged 110-volt(AC only) ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI).
• Position the fountain so that no water can spill or splash onto the electrical outlet. Loop the cord below the outlet, so if water does run down the cord, it will drip on to the floor before reaching the outlet.

Fountain Care & Maintenance

• Routine maintenance of your fountain is essential for optimal fountain enjoyment. Always check the water level before starting the pump. Never let the fountain run dry, lack of water will burn out the pump.
• Fill the fountain to the proper level to replace water as it evaporates. Depending on your climate, you will need to check the water level every 1 –3 days. Do not use water from a water softener that uses salt to soften the water.
• It is not recommended that fountains be left running during the night, or when you're not at home, as the water level cannot be monitored. Fountain pumps are not designed to run 24 hours a day non-stop. Operating time should consist of 8-12 hours a day with the correct water supply specified for your fountain.
• Drain and clean the fountain using a tile and grout brush or sponge and change the water frequently. Depending on the temperature, and resulting evaporation, you may see a buildup of white residue on the fountain surface from the mineral content in your water supply.
• Fountains without a painted surface may also experience Efflorescence, as well as mineral deposits due to the natural occurrence of alkali content in the water and concrete. Do not use any abrasive or harsh chemicals that can damage the finish i.e. bleach and chlorine.

Pump Care & Maintenance

• Routine monthly maintenance will add to your pump's life. To clean the impeller and screen on the pump, use a small brush and strong stream of water. Also, flushing water backwards through the pump while the pump is off, helps to remove any debris from the screen as well.
• Watch for leaves and other materials that might fall in and clog your pump's screen. Pets, birds, or kids may also place objects in your fountain. Algae will damage the fountain's surface and can clog the pump, causing it to overheat and burn out. Some fountains contain piping that can collect debris, and the piping may need to be flushed out with a strong stream of water periodically.
• Pumps may be cleaned using 2 cups of white vinegar to a gallon of water. Soak the pump in a bucket containing the vinegar water solution for a few minutes, then, with the pump in the solution, plug it in and let it run for 30 minutes. The vinegar will loosen the lime or calcium deposits in the pump. When cleaning the pump, you should also remove any debris (leaves, twigs, etc.) from the screen.
• Bromine tabs are good to use as a less harmful chemical than chlorine. Chlorine based products should never be used to control algae in your fountain because they will damage the parts in your pump and void the pump warranty. Additives are also available that help reduce the buildup of mineral and calcium deposits. These products are available at most local pool and spa stores.

Winter Care

Below are some additional tips for the care and maintenance of your fountain during the cold, winter season.

• Remove pump, rubber stoppers, drainpipes, finials, and other small components for storage indoors. Note that stoppers or drainpipes are removed to allow drainage in the event water accumulates in any basin.
• Raise the fountain base from the ground with wood strips so that the base will not freeze to the ground surface.
• Drain the fountain and then cover it. You can use a fountain cover, burlap or other absorbent material (old blanket or towel) and then cover securely with plastic, making sure that water will not accumulate in the basin or other fountain component and freeze.
• Check the fountain periodically to insure that the plastic is secure and water is not accumulating in any fountain component.

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Price Match Guarantee

Your satisfaction and happiness as a customer is very important to us. If you find one of our products offered at a lower price by a competitor, please contact us about our price match guarantee.

Authorized Dealer

We are proud partners with many top name brands in the industry. We only work with companies that are committed to making high quality products that our customers will love. As an authorized dealer, we pledge to bring you a wide selection of exceptional products along with top notch customer service both before and after the sale.