Free checklist
Water feature pump annual maintenance checklist
The annual water feature pump service is the deep pass: the measurements, cleanings and tests a quarterly round doesn't reach. This checklist keeps the full service on record with the photos that make it defensible later. Work is commonly verified against the applicable plumbing code, manufacturer's published instructions. Confirm the edition your authority having jurisdiction has adopted.
- Items
- 3
- Photos required
- 5
- Built for
- Subcontractors
Who runs it
The maintenance service lead at the annual (or seasonal start-up) service.
When in the schedule
Once a year, at start-up or during a scheduled drain-down, when the basin can be emptied and the pump pulled without leaving a dry feature on display.
The checklist
Every item, and the photo that proves it
The photo count on each row is what RTI would require before the item can be submitted. Copy the list as is, or load it into RTI and let the gate enforce it.
Pump service
- 2 photos
Pump pulled, impeller and seal inspected and serviced
Impeller free of debris and wear, shaft seal replaced or confirmed sound, volute clean, bearings quiet on a bench spin.
Filtration and basin
- 2 photos
Filter media cleaned or replaced and basin drained and scrubbed
Filter or cartridge cleaned or renewed, basin drained free of algae and sediment, drains and overflow clear, refilled clean.
Controls and level
- 1 photo
Level control, timer and low-water cutoff verified through a cycle
Auto-fill and low-water cutoff proven by drawing the level down, timer or controller running the schedule, pump stops before dry.
What usually sends this back
The failures are almost always the evidence, not the work
- Impeller and seal never serviced until the pump seizes, when a scheduled seal kit would have kept it running.
- Basin and filter media left fouled, so algae and sediment recirculate and the pump strainer plugs again within weeks.
Run it with the Photo Gate
A checklist nobody can submit half-finished
Load this list into RTI, stick a QR tag on the area it covers, and the submit button stays locked until every mandatory item is answered and the 5 required photos exist. Approved walks roll into a branded turnover package with a tamper-evident record behind every line.
Submission state
The gate is enforced on the server, so it holds even if the phone is offline when the walk happens.
Common questions
- What does this water feature pump annual checklist cover?
- 3 items across 3 sections, covering pump service, filtration and basin, controls and level. Each item spells out what the person walking the job is actually looking for, not just a box to tick.
- Who should run this inspection?
- The maintenance service lead at the annual (or seasonal start-up) service.
- When in the schedule should this walk happen?
- Once a year, at start-up or during a scheduled drain-down, when the basin can be emptied and the pump pulled without leaving a dry feature on display.
- Why does every item ask for a photo?
- 5 of the 3 items call for photo evidence. A checklist answer without the photo is a claim; the photo is what makes the record worth something in a dispute and lets a reviewer approve work without re-walking the job.
- What most often fails a water feature pump annual inspection?
- Impeller and seal never serviced until the pump seizes, when a scheduled seal kit would have kept it running. Basin and filter media left fouled, so algae and sediment recirculate and the pump strainer plugs again within weeks.
- Can I use this checklist in RTI?
- Yes. Start a free RTI workspace, build this list as a checklist, and the Photo Gate holds the submit button until every mandatory item is answered and its photos are attached. Approved inspections roll into a branded turnover package with a tamper-evident audit trail.
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