Adding a fountain to your back yard, front yard, or even indoors can be the finishing touch you have been looking for. One of the biggest features of a fountain you will need to take time to consider is the size of splash a fountain can create.
There are many different types of fountains you may considering for your special area. From Tiered fountains with water flowing from one level to the next to simple features where water flows out of a copper spout and into a large basin below. Whichever type you are considering, you will want to look at how far the levels of water will need to travel.
Tiered fountains often have a great deal of splashing. As water bubbles out of the top tier of a fountain, it will overflow the smallest bowl and flow into the next level below. As the water overflows into the next bowl, depending on the tiers water will often splash out onto the ground. Assessing how much water is in the fountain can be a good way to control the water flow. A fountain pump needs to be completely submersed in water in order for it to run properly, so it is important to make sure that your water levels will cover the pump. With tiered fountains, water can easily splash onto the surface on which the fountain is placed. It is important that you consider who will be around the fountain and where it is placed. If you have slate or tiles upon which the fountain is placed, water can collect over time for the splashing. This will create a very slippery surface. If you have young children or elderly who frequently visit, you need to make sure that they stay away from these areas because they can become very slick and they could easily fall and injury themselves.
Even if a tier fountain is not your choice, many other fountains will create splashing. Water elements that have features where water flows out of piping a great distance and into a basin below will need to be looked over carefully. If the water if falling a large distance and the basin is not deep enough to catch the splashing that will occur from the cascade of water, then you will most certainly end up with some water outside of the basin.
Another issue to consider when it comes to splashing is the fact that a fountain can run dry due to extreme heat conditions and excess splashing. As a fountain continues to splash the water inside the water feature decreases. If too much water escapes the fountain, the fountain pump will not be completely covered by water. This can cause the pump to burn out and eventually fail. One manufacturer has come up with a solution for this issue. Campania International has introduced the automatic refill device. This device hooks up to a garden hose and monitors the level of water in the fountain, much like a float that is seen on your average toilet. By using a device such as this, you can be worry free about your water levels.
Outdoor fountains are a wonderful choice for many landscapes, but you will want to take into consideration the location in which you intend to place your next water feature.