What comes with the Self Cleaning Birdbath Kit.
Self Cleaning Birdbath Bowl & 4" female threaded PVC fitting glued in leveled
4" male threaded to glue on fitting
Sprinkler with Self Cleaning Birdbath adapter nozzle
1/2" 90 degree elbow glue on fitting
1/2" female threaded to 1/2" glue on pipefitting
1/2" threaded Riser, user cut off to fit
Adapter threaded 1/2" female to 3/4" male
Foam sprinkler centering strip
What you buy at the hardware store to complete and install the mounting pole for the Self Cleaning Birdbath.
4" thick wall schedule 40 PVC pipe about 5' long
1/2" thick wall schedule 40 PVC pipe 10' (assemble controller with extra pipe)
Teflon thread tape
Glue for plastic pipe
Concrete quick setting
Spray paint for plastic
What you buy at the hardware store to make the fully automatic controller for the Self Cleaning Birdbath.
1/2" irrigation PVC pipe from the Sprinkler System Controller to the Self Cleaning Birdbath
Sprinkler System Controller with multi start times per day (the more the better)
Sprinkler System Valves 3/4" 24vac anti siphon (2 ea.)
3/4" male thread to 1/2" glue on fittings (4 ea.)
Check valves 1/2" glue on (2 ea.)
Quick disconnects for 1/2" pvc pipe, glue on
Manual ball valve to set low flow to refill Self Cleaning Birdbath
1/2" 90 degree elbow glue on fitting (2ea.)
1/2" "T" glue on fitting (2ea.)
Preparation of mounting pole assembly.
Make a hole in the side of the 4" mounting pole that will be below ground at the right depth for the incoming water pipe from the water sprinkler system controller, with enough pole below that to set the pole in concrete, to make it sturdy enough for the dog or raccoon to drink and play without moving the birdbath. Put a few drain holes in the pole to let water out.
Glue the 4" male threaded fitting to the top of the pole, use plenty of glue and seat the fitting squarely to the pole.
Glue the 1/2" 90° elbow to a length of 1/2" schedule 40 pipe longer than the
distance from the center of the hole for the in coming water pipe in the
mounting pole and the top of the 4" male threaded fitting. Slide the 1/2" 90° end
into the mounting pole until it is centered in the hole for the in coming water pipe.
Mark 1/2" pipe at the top of the 4" male threaded fitting. Remove the 1/2" pipe
and measure 9.5" from the mark just made at the top toward the 1/2" 90° elbow
and mark it. Cut at the new mark. Glue the threaded female 1/2" fitting on the
other end of the pipe with the 1/2" 90° elbow. The top of the 1/2" threaded
female fitting will be about 8.5" from the top of the bowl mounting 4" male
threaded fitting down inside the pole when set. Put the just now assembled
pipe inside the pole line up the elbow with the hole. Glue about a 1' piece
of 1/2" schedule 40 pipe to the elbow inside the pole through the hole in the
pole. Cover the ends of the 1/2" pipe assembly with plastic bags and rubber
bands to prevent concrete and dirt from going in it during pole setting.
Dig a hole to set the pole assembly in, making it big enough for concrete to
be used to set the pole. A small ditch from the side of the pole hole will be
needed for the 1' of 1/2" pipe. After checking the depth and orientation of
the water pipe entry, pour about a third of a bag of dry fast setting concrete
mix in the bottom of the hole. Set the pole assembly in, then pour enough dry
concrete mix into the pole so the level of concrete will cover the elbow and
side entry of pipe, remember the mix will settle down some when water is
added. This will hold the inner water pipe ridged and centered inside the pole.
Pour the rest of the dry concrete in the hole around the outside of the pole.
You may need more than one bag depending on how deep your hole is to
make the pole ridged. Center the water pipe inside the pole. Check
everything again if all is ok, using a level, level the top of the mounting
fitting glued to the pole, if this is not level the birdbath will not be level. If
all is ready add water gently until no more water will soak in, the pole
may have standing water inside it while concrete sets. Immediately after
adding water check height of water pipe inside pole and be sure water pipe
is centered in pole. Double check that top of the bowl mounting 4" male
threaded fitting is level, wait for concrete to set. Dry mounting pole. Mask
the 4" female plastic fitting glued to the bottom of the Self Cleaning Birdbath
and the 4" male plastic fitting on the mounting pole, so no paint will get on
the threads or the bowl. Spray paint the pole and bowl fitting.
Set up a the sprinkler controller with 2 valves or zones. The first valve,
zone 1, comes on at the set time at full force and starts the cleaning cycle
which should run for about 10 minutes or as long as needed to get clean.
Then the first valve shuts off and the second valve, zone 2, comes on which
is set to low flow, adjusted by the manual valve so the water will not go over
the edge of the bowl, until it is full and running over, about 2 or 3 minutes will
guarantee it will be full. These two valves are connected through one way
valves to the 1/2" pipe that goes to the birdbath.
With the water system done remove the cover from 1/2" fitting inside of the
mounting pole. Turn water on to test water delivery and flush out any dirt
that may have gotten into the pipe while it was being assembled when clean
water is all that comes out shut off water. Screw the 1/2" to 3/4" adapter to
the end of the riser, screw the adjustable cutoff riser into the 1/2" female
fitting inside pole loosely. Screw the bowl onto the top of the mounting pole,
loosely. Screw the sprinkler head with cleaning nozzle onto the adapter inside
the pole. Measure the excess height of the cleaning nozzle above the bowl.
Remove the sprinkler and riser from the pole, cut off the riser so the cleaning
nozzle will be about 1/2" above the inner lip of the bowl. Reinstall the cutoff
riser and sprinkler. Manually turn the sprinkler all the way clock wise, insert
the end of the centering foam strip under the cleaning nozzle and tuck it in
around the sprinkler going counter clock wise, when you get to the nozzle it will
turn counter clockwise so you can continue tucking in the foam until it is all in.
Be sure it is pushed down far enough that it does not grip the rotating part of the
sprinkler.
You are now ready for a test cycle.
Now you have the Self Cleaning Birdbath installed and working, it should be set to run about 3 times a day, this depends on daily bird count, whatever falls in the bowl, and weather to see if more or less cleaning is needed. I run mine while drinking my morning coffee, when I get home from work, and just before bedtime. I like to watch it run, sometimes the cycle will tell the regulars the Self Cleaning Birdbath has newly
freshened water, they cue up nearby or start getting in during the refill cycle.
In winter you may need to cycle as often as needed to keep from freeze damage to the system and to provide much needed non ice water for the birds. If your winter is so cold you can’t keep water from freezing, remove sprinkler/nozzle, remove bowl, drain water pipe, winterize, and shut system down.
If you prefer you should be able to get a local irrigation / sprinkler system installer to install this for you.
If you have trouble or questions, please email me at selfcleaningbirdbath@yahoo.com
