On May 8th 2013, our sales associate from our Texas Warehouse, Robbie, was featured on the KHYI 95.3 The Range radio program. Their topic of the day was Texas Water Conservation. Robbie helped answer why automatic waterers solve most problems that farmers and ranchers face in the reality of drought and diverse land conditions.
Robbie is a Texas native and is familiar with the challenges farmers face when watering their animals. From drought to algae growth, changing climates and ensuring your animals have a constant supply of fresh clean water. During this interview, Robbie will discuss all of these challenges and ways a Ritchie automatic waterer will help solve them.
We are happy to share this radio program with you. As you listen, we hope you are able to find the benefits of why Ritchie automatic waterers are not only a time saver, but good for your animals, the land and for you!
To listen to the program in it’s entirety, please click the link below.
KHYI radio program featuring Ritchie’s Robbie Vedrenne
Spring is here and with Spring comes spring cleaning. This is the time of year that we receive a lot of questions for tips on how to clean a Ritchie Waterer. We recommend that cleaning is done about every 3 days on our open trough units or as needed. The more often you clean, the easier future cleanings will be. Below is a summary of tips that can be used when cleaning.
Tools that you will need:
Scrub brush or towel
For added clean, animal safe cleaners can be used*
EcoFount Series
The EcoFount series features a cover that will help prevent a lot of debris from blowing into the trough area. This helps when cleaning its stainless steel trough.
- Step 1: Remove the wingnuts and flip open the cover
- Step 2: Remove floating disc(s)
- Step 3: Remove drain plug/overflow pipe to allow water to drain Tip: Hold float in up position to prevent water from running as the trough drains. You can also shut water off to the unit if shut off valve was installed under the waterer.
- Step 4: Scrub or wipe the trough clean allowing debris to drain out of the drain hole.
- Step 5: Allow water to run as you rinse the trough. (You may need to turn the water source on if previously turned off)
- Step 6: Replace drain
- Step 7: Replace the floating disc(s)
- Step 8: Lower trough and secure with wingnuts.
- See Video – How to clean a Ritchie EcoFount waterer
Open trough units – CattleMaster, OmniFount, WaterMatic, WaterMaster series
The CattleMaster and OmniFount series are designed with our fully insulated poly casing and stainless steel trough with overall heat coverage. The WaterMatic and WaterMaster series are one piece, all plastic units. They often feature optional heat in northern climates.
For quick, frequent cleaning
- Step 1: Remove the top valve chamber cover
Water Seal Groove
- Step 2: Clean debris from the water seal groove found at the top of the chamber.
- Step 3: Remove drain plug Tip: Hold float in up position to prevent water from running as the trough drains. You can also shut water off to the unit if shut off valve was installed under the waterer.
- Step 4: Scrub or wipe the trough clean allowing debris to drain out of the drain hole.
- Step 5: Allow water to run as you rinse the trough. (You may need to turn the water source on if previously turned off)
- Step 6: Replace drain plug and tighten drain plug wingnut if necessary.
- Step 7: Replace valve chamber cover and allow waterer to fill.
Optional – If you have the optional heat installed in either the WaterMatic or Water Master series units, remove the Immersion Heater, wipe clean and store until the fall.
Stall Fount Series – Stall Fount and Stall Fount II
The Stall Fount series offers a flush mount, 304 Stainless steel waterer and a corner mount, combination fully insulated plastic and stainless steel waterers.
Stainless Steel Stall Founts
- Step 1: Unscrew the bolt that secures the flip to access cover
- Step 2: Remove drain plug – This may require an extra tool to push the plug up into the trough
- Step 3: Hold float in up position to prevent water from flowing
- Step 4: Allow trough to drain. Use bucket to collect water if necessary
- Step 5: Scrub or wipe the trough clean allowing debris to drain out of the drain hole
- Step 6: Release float and allow water to flow to rinse trough
- Step 7: Replace drain plug and allow trough to fill
- Step 8: Secure access cover with bolt
Stall Fount II – corner mount options
- Step 1: Unbolt and remove stainless steel ring
- Follow steps 2-8 above
All Plastic, Covered Units – Thrifty King Series and Thrifty King for Swine
The Thrifty King Series can be used energy free under the right circumstances however additional heat may be added if needed. The Thrifty King series requires the removal of the entire red cover for a good clean.
- Step 1: Remove the top valve chamber cover
- Step 2: Clean debris from the water seal groove found at the top of the chamber.
- Step 3: Remove entire red top by removing bolts
- Step 4: Clean debris from the water seal groove under red top
- Step 5: Remove drain plug. Pressure from the water in the take may require additional tools be used to push the drain plug into the trough. Using a dowel or broom stick handle to push the drain plug may be necessary. Tip: Hold float in up position to prevent water from running as the trough drains. You can also shut water off to the unit if shut off valve was installed under the waterer.
- Step 6: Scrub or wipe the trough clean allowing debris to drain out of the drain hole.
- Step 7: Allow water to run as you rinse the trough. (You may need to turn the water source on if previously turned off)
- Step 8: Replace drain plug.
- Step 9: As tank fills, replace red top and then red valve chamber cover
Thrifty King for Swine
- Step 1: Unbolt red cover and remove
- Follow step 5-8 above
- Replace red top as trough fills.
If you have any questions regarding the cleaning of your automatic waterers, you are more than welcome to contact us at 800-747-0222, chat live with us 7:30-4:00 M-F CST or email us at info@ritchiefount.com.
*Contact your vet for animal safe cleaning solutions.
March 20th, 2013 brought the official start to spring. Although the weather doesn’t seem to be cooperating, at least here in Iowa. In hopes that spring weather is right around the corner we want to provide some general waterer spring maintenance tips.
Cleaning
In most cases, all you will need to do is clean your waterer. The cold weather often prevents a good cleaning. Now that the temperatures are warming up, grab a scrub brush and/or a towel to clean it out. Animal safe cleaners can also be used for an added clean without worry of damaging the waterer. Please feel free to contact your local Veterinarian for recommendations on animal safe cleaners.
Immersion Heater, Ritchie part #16311
Heaters
Additional steps may need to be taken if you have a WaterMatic, Thrifty King, Thrifty King for Swine or WaterMaster series and have the optional heat installed. After the threat of frost or freezing is over, we recommend removing the optional Immersion Heater, wipe it off and store in a safe place. Simply reinstall in the fall as the temperatures decrease. This step will help elongate the life of the heater by preventing deposits from accumulating on it. In most cases, the same plastic units also have a self regulating heat cable installed along the waterline and valve. It isn’t necessary to remove the self regulating heater however you can unplug it and leave it in place for the fall.
Units that have the heaters built in do not need any additional maintenance. You may choose to turn the electric source to the unit off, just remember to turn it back on when in the fall.
As always we are more than happy to answer any questions that you may have about your Ritchie automatic waterer. Simple steps like those above will help keep your waterer running for many years to come.
You could own this one and only Clinton Anderson built and signed EcoFount 1 automatic horse waterer.
If you were able to catch the premier of “Water for Life” the Downunder Horsemanship program on March 12, you would have seen Clinton building an Eco 1. This waterer is currently being auctioned off on Ebay to raise money for our friends at the Quakerdale Wolfe Ranch.
Quakerdale Wolfe Ranch is a local fun, safe, and inclusive environment with various equine programs for people of all ages. Located in Marshalltown, Iowa, Ritchie has been a long time supporter of the organization and their programs such as Equine Assisted Psychotherapy and Equine Assisted Learning. All proceeds from the auction will be donated to support the Wolfe Ranch. For more information visit the Quakerdale website.
To bid in the ONE and ONLY Clinton Anderson built and signed EcoFount 1, visit our ebay auction.
For more information about the Ecofount series please visit our EcoFount series page.
We have been keeping a little secret. While Clinton Anderson was at the Ritchie factory filming the upcoming episode of “Water for Life” he built a Ritchie Ecofount 1 waterer from start to finish!
This one and only, Clinton Anderson built and signed waterer will be going up for auction to raise money Quakerdale Wolfe Ranch. Ritchie has been a long time supporter of the Wolfe Ranch located in Marshalltown, Iowa. The auction will begin shortly after the episode airs Tuesday, March 12, 2013 at 12 pm and 10 pm EST. All proceeds will be going to the Wolfe Ranch.
By combining all of the best features of our traditional automatic waterers, our engineers developed the EcoFount series. The waterers are the most energy efficient, electric standard heated line of Ritchie automatic waterers. They are reliable even in extreme weather conditions utilizing their overall heat coverage and fully insulated casing. The flip top cover design will allow for easy cleaning and maintenance. And you can own the one and ONLY one built and signed by Clinton Anderson.
Quakerdale Wolfe Ranch is a local fun, safe, and inclusive environment with various equine programs for people of all ages. Located in Marshalltown, Iowa, Ritchie has been a long time supporter of the organization and their programs such as Equine Assisted Psychotherapy and Equine Assisted Learning. All proceeds from the auction will be donated to support the Wolfe Ranch. For more information visit the Quakerdale website.
Again the auction will begin shortly after the episode airs at 12 pm EST on RFD-TV. We hope you enjoy the program.
We will be chatting live during the first airing of the program. Join in on the conversation using hashtag #ritchiechat. We will enjoy hearing from you.