If you read my semi-recent post on purchasing a solar fountain, you’re aware that I recently entered the fountain market, and thus I haven’t owned one for long enough to have to replace the pump. I actually purchased a kit that came with a pump, so I never had to worry about the choice in the first place. That being said, I received 3 or 4 emails from people wondering how to choose the proper water fountain pumps for their fountains. I figured there may be quite a few people struggling with this decision, so I decided to post about this topic as a follow-up.
Submersible vs Dry
Before deciding on a pump, you should know the difference between submersible pumps and dry pumps. Dry pumps are the kind that you attach to the fountain outside of the water reservoir. Submersible pumps are so-named because they must be under water in order to function properly. In general, submersible pumps are the most commonly used type for water fountains.
What Purpose Do These Pumps Serve?
A water fountain pump generally serves on or both of two purposes:
- Circulating the water
- Lifting the water
Water circulation is important mostly because of the impurities that can form when the water sits for too long. Circulation causes new, fresh water to pump into the system, giving the fountain a fresh look and smell. If you are using the fountain to attract wildlife, you’ll almost certainly meet with far more success if the fountain has clean water at all times.
The other use for the pump, lifting, allows the fountain to move the water over a specific area. For instance, if the water is meant to circulate up through network of reservoirs and splash down into a contain, a certain amount of lifting power will be required. This means that you will need to carefully consider the power of the pump that you get enough power to move the water without going overboard.
How Powerful Do You Need Your Pump to Be?
First of all, you should be aware that fountain pumps are measured in “GPH,” or “gallons per hour.” If the your desired pump has a high GPH rating, do not make the mistake of thinking that you can get away with buying a lower power pump to cover a couple of feet. Generally speaking, you need to buy a higher powered pump that you might naturally assume, so be sure to consult a sales person; they will point you in the right direction of just how powerful a pump you need for a specific distance.
For a fountain water pump, the “maximum head height” rating will determine to what elevation the pump can raise water. In other words, the height from the bottom of whatever you are using as a water reservoir to the top of the “water feature.” A water feature is simply any device or structure over which the water is pumped. As a general rule, you always want to buy a pump that has a higher maximum head than the actual height you are trying to reach. Generally, a couple of feet over and above the desired height will be fine for the maximum head height.
Assembly and Demonstration of a Solar Fountain Pump
Outlet Size
Lastly, be sure to consider the outlet size of the pump, matching it up with the hose that the water is pumped through. If you mismatch the tube and the outlet, you can restrict the flow of the water through the entire system, reducing the life of both the house and more importantly the pump. You definitely don’t want to have to replace the pump every month because you are putting undue strain on it. Another issues is water clarity: If the incorrect pressure is passing out of the pump thus restricting the flow, the look and smell of the water might suffer.
Outlet size is one of the most common sticking points that I’ve seen people having trouble with on various lawn decoration forums. For this reason I recommend trying to find a pump kit that comes with the correct hose diameter already included. It’s best not to take chances unless you are comfortable with matching these parts together into an efficiently working system.
Conclusion
If you are going to dispense with getting a water fountain in kit form, be sure that you have the above issues in mind when shopping for a fountain water pump. Specifically, you will need to know how high the water level will reach (the head height) so that you can get a pump with a max head height that exceeds this number. Additionally, be sure to match all the components of the system so that that the flow is never unduly restricted at any point along the line. Lastly, you will need to figure out whether you need a dry or submersible pump. While most fountain systems operate with a submersible pump, be sure to consult the manual for your fountain for any information that the manufacturer may provide on efficiently operating the device.
If you stay informed on these basic factors, you may very well extend the life of your pump as as well as improve the clarity and quality of the water, making the experience more enjoyable for the people viewing the fountain as well as any wildlife that you are trying to attract.
Want more water dispenser information? Head to the front page of the site for more!
If you’d like to read about water features for the inside of your home, check out this article on indoor floor fountains.
