PetSafe Drinkwell 360 Pet Fountain Review
Drinkwell 360 Pet Fountain
$35
Pros
- Great for multi-pet households
- Several flow settings/options
- Easy to refill
- Sturdy
Cons
- Water splashes outside of fountain
- Filters need to be changed frequently
- Clogs easily
- Not easy to pick up
- Power Cord disconnect is poorly placed
Summary
The PetSafe Drinkwell 360 Pet Fountain is a great pick for multi-pet households. It’s slightly easier to clean than the PetSafe Drinkwell Platinum Pet Fountain, and comes in plastic or stainless steel. Overall, The PetSafe Drinkwell 360 Pet Fountain is a quality fountain despite a few shortcomings.
Description / Features
The PetSafe Drinkwell 360 Pet Fountain has a pretty large footprint compared to other fountains on the market. The dimensions of this fountain are 13.5″L x 13.5″W x 8.8″H. This fountain has a large capacity (128 oz) circular basin with up to 5 free-falling water streams coming from the center. The fountain is operated by a small electric pump that can run continuously for several years if it’s properly maintained. The PetSafe Drinkwell 360 Pet Fountain has a carbon filter that will need to be replaced every 2 weeks and a foam filter that needs to be replaced monthly.
In addition to the flow rings that can be added to change the number of streams, you can also adjust the flow with a lever. The more streams you have going, the weaker the overall flow will be. The fountain is large enough to allow pets to drink from either the free-falling water streams or the basin. Unfortunately, there is a good deal of splashing even with the reduced flow settings.
Functionality
The PetSafe Drinkwell 360 Pet Fountain is a highly functional pet fountain with excellent capacity and flow settings for multi-pet families. This pet fountain really mimics the flow of water from a faucet which cats love. The Drinkwell 360 is thoughtfully designed with your pet’s needs first. All the parts and pieces can be a bit cumbersome to deal with, but with that aside, this fountain is still one of the better ones we’ve seen.
Noise
As long as this fountain is operating with enough water in the basin, the submerged motor is pretty quiet. The sound of flowing water is very apparent if you have only a single stream on max flow. By adjusting the number of streams and the flow settings, you can reduce the water noise significantly. Overall, the PetSafe Drinkwell 360 Pet Fountain is quieter than average.
Maintenance
Even though the PetSafe Drinkwell 360 Pet Fountain is easier to clean than the PetSafe Drinkwell Platinum, it is still a pretty big hassle. The PetSafe Drinkwell 360 Pet Fountain has the tendency to clog easier than other fountains possibly due to the small channel and filter placement. Not only will you have to change the filters more frequently with this fountain, but you’ll also have to clean it out more often than the PetSafe Drinkwell Platinum. If the filters are not changed out regularly, the stream will be noticeably weaker and your pump will eventually stop working.
The PetSafe Drinkwell 360 Pet Fountain can be filled pretty effortlessly by pouring water straight into the basin with a cup. Picking the fountain up is a little tricky since there aren’t any built-in handholds. The power cord disconnect is poorly placed very close to the wall outlet, rather than close to the fountain. So you’ll have to drag a pretty long cord with you when you go to disassemble and clean the fountain.
Probably the most frustrating thing about The PetSafe Drinkwell 360 Pet Fountain is the mess it makes from water splashing outside the basin. You’ll definitely want to place this fountain on a mat or water resistant surface.
Quality / Longevity
PetSafe has a reputation for making quality-designed pet fountains and the Drinkwell 360 is no exception. This durable plastic fountain is incredibly sturdy and should last for several years. We just wish the filters were designed to last a bit longer!
Pros
- Good capacity
- Affordable
- Dishwasher safe
- Multi-Pet Friendly
- Easy to refill
Cons
- Frequent filter replacements
- Filters clog easily
- Small crevices make it difficult to clean
- Difficult to pick up when full
- Water splashes outside of fountain
Summary / Recommendations
The PetSafe Drinkwell 360 Pet Fountain is an excellent plastic pet fountain for multi-cat families. This high capacity fountain will definitely be a favorite for your pets. Once you get the flow settings all figured out, maintenance isn’t too much of a hassle.
Filters
PetSafe has replacement filters specifically intended for the Drinkwell 360 Fountain. The PetSafe carbon filters and the foam filters are approximately $2 each. We recommend getting the off-brand filters for about half the price. Based on a bi-weekly carbon filter change and a monthly foam filter change, the annual cost of replacement filters for The PetSafe Drinkwell 360 Pet Fountain is $42 – $71.
Original Post Date: 9/15/16
