How to Remove a Concrete Fountain

A concrete fountain that does not work can collect smelly green water, bird droppings, and house moss, ruining the look of the landscape. Although breaking up a concrete water fountain is a challenging and time-consuming task, with the right tools in hand, it can be completed by an enthusiastic do-it-yourselfer. Follow these steps to remove the eyesore yourself instead of hiring a professional to do it for you.

Step 1: Drain Out Excess Water

If your fountain has a pump, use it to remove the existing water. Otherwise, rent a pump and connect it to a large diameter hose to drain water out. Make sure the hose is long enough to drain it away from your house. Use a wet vacuum to clean out all the leaves, moss, bird droppings and other debris the fountain has collected.

Step 2: Remove Fountain Pump

If the fountain has a pump installed in it, take it out and remove the filter and any plumbing. Turn the supply of electricity to the unit off.

Step 3: Determine Fountain Type

Check if the fountain can be disassembled. Some fountains are available in kits that are easy to assemble and install and can be removed as easily. But if you find the fountain structure is old and made of solid concrete blocks, you will need a sledgehammer to break it apart and remove it. Some fountains also have reinforcement bars that can be removed with jackhammers only.

Step 4: Chip Concrete Fountain

Wear your safety glasses, earplugs, and gloves to prevent accidents that can be caused by flying pieces of concrete. Begin chipping off a piece of concrete to see how thick it is. For concrete that is as thick as 4 inches, a sledgehammer will suffice, but thicker concrete needs a jackhammer to break it.

Begin at one side of the fountain and start chipping with a sledgehammer. If the concrete the fountain is made of is not very thick, it will crumble easily and you can continue working until your entire fountain breaks apart. However, if after a few strikes you notice the fountain structure is still intact, with only an inch or two chipped off, you need to rent a jackhammer to break it into smaller manageable pieces.

Step 5: Break Concrete with a Jackhammer

A jackhammer is quite heavy and vibrates when it is turned on so make sure you hold it firmly. Position it straight over the concrete and engage the trigger to drive it in and then take it out. Continue this procedure until you form a large crack on a side of the fountain. Insert a pry bar into the crack and pry the concrete pieces loose. Collect broken pieces in a wheelbarrow.

Step 6: Cut Reinforcement Wire

Cut concrete blocks that are reinforced with rebar or wire using a reciprocating saw. Continue using the jackhammer or sledgehammer to break the pieces of the concrete fountain until the entire structure is removed.

Dispose of the pieces of broken fountain collected in a wheelbarrow and sweep the area with a broom to remove any last remnants of the fountain that once stood there until you failed to maintain it and had to destroy it.