What is a water feature in architecture?
Water feature. In landscape architecture and garden design, a water feature is one or more items from a range of fountains, pools, ponds, cascades, waterfalls, and streams. Before the 18th century they were usually powered by gravity, though the famous Hanging Gardens of Babylon are described by Strabo as supplied by an Archimedean screw.
What are the different types of water features?
Most water features are electronically controlled, ranging from simple timer actuators to sophisticated computerized controls for synchronizing music to water and light animation .
How were water features powered in the past?
Ancient water features were powered using gravitational forces, man power or animals to pump in the water. Since the 18th century, the majority of water features have been powered by pumps. In the past, the power source was sometimes a steam engine, but in modern features it is almost always powered by electricity.
What do the specs on my water feature specs mean?
The two other common specs you’ll see are wattage (watts) and voltage (volts). The wattage spec will help you to determine how much energy your pump uses in order to, well, pump. So it’s a great spec for calculating the annual, monthly, weekly or daily cost of running your water feature.
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What is a water feature?
Water features can be a wonderful addition to your garden, as they create a soothing, calm atmosphere from the trickling of the water as well as adding an interesting focal point to your outdoor space.
Why do you need to cover a fountain?
If the fountain is connected to the home’s water supply, a shutoff valve needs to be installed so you can turn the water off to prevent frozen pipes. Some people choose to cover the fountain during the winter months which helps to protect the exterior materials.
Can you enjoy water feature at night?
Think about lighting the water in the feature, this creates a lovely effect, meaning you can enjoy the feature during the night too. Sometimes the features come with an option of an inbuilt light, or you could look into doing this yourself. If you're going to have it in sight of the house this will look really good all through the year, being able to enjoy the feature from the warmth of your house on cooler days.
Do you need a constant water supply?
The chances are you probably won’t need a constant water supply. Many water features are self-contained, so the water just circulates. You may just need to top up the water occasionally. A factor that is just as important as what the water feature looks like is the sound. Before you buy make sure you listen to your water feature to make sure you ...
Is it better to put a water feature in a garden?
It’s much easier to get a water feature to look good if it's placed in amongst plants and other existing garden greenery rather than at the centre of a space on its own. Nestled among the plants it doesn't matter if it's a bit too big or small and will blend in much better.
Do water features need electricity?
Make sure you pick a feature that suits your tastes perfectly! If the feature has moving water, you will probably need an electricity supply to drive the pump, unless the feature is solar powered. Practically all water features will work the same way. There will be a reservoir of water which has a pump that moves water up a pipe.
How do i know how much water to put in my water feature?
The amount of water depends on the size of the feature. There needs to be enough to ensure the pump is fully submerged at all times. You will need to keep your water feature regularly topped up, especially during much warmer weather.
How to keep water feature from freezing?
Drain the water feature fully ensuring no water is left inside the feature (you can use towels etc to soak up any excess). Then using a fountain protection cover keep your water feature tucked up over winter. If, in worst case scenarios, you are unable to drain your water feature you can pop a tennis ball into the reservoir with the water feature to help prevent the expansion of freezing water cracking or damaging the feature.
Can i buy replacement parts for my water feature?
Yes! We sell a full range of pumps, transformers and lights suitable for many water features.
How do i know what size transformer is suitable for my water feature?
Check out our handy guide here to find out how to choose the correct transformer.
Can i keep my water feature running 24/7?
It's not adviseable to keep your water feature on all day every day. We would recommend turning the feature off at night or when you're out of the house - as you would most electrical appliances.
Can you put tennis balls in a water feature?
If, in worst case scenarios, you are unable to drain your water feature you can pop a tennis ball into the reservoir with the water feature to help prevent the expansion of freezing water cracking or damaging the feature.
Do i need to bring my water feature in during the winter?
Wherever possible we would always recommend that you bring your water feature in during winter to prevent any damage.
How to measure a fountain?
It’s fairly easy to get this vertical measurement for a simple fountain. However, some fountains are more elaborate so you may need to do a bit more measuring. A good example is when creating a fountain that travels down a river bed into a pond below. You will need to get the vertical height from the water level of the pond to the height of the waterfall. Just measure straight upwards, even if there’s quite a long horizontal distance between the two points.
How to choose a fountain pump?
When choosing a fountain pump, focus on the gallons per hour (GPH), max height, max lift and even the cord length. And, try not to get bogged down too much with the voltage and the wattage, especially if you are purchasing a small pump for a backyard project. I hope this post gave you all of the information and the confidence you need to choose the the right pump for you!
Does the length of a fountain cord matter?
The only time that the cord length doesn’t matter much is if your fountain is somewhere out in your yard and you need to hire a contractor to run the electrical underground. In this case the cord length won’t matter too much because they’ll be running different wire and splicing it all together for you.
Does the length of a water fountain matter?
The only time that the cord length doesn’t matter much is if your fountain is somewhere out in your yard and you need to hire a contractor to run the electrical underground. In this case the cord length won’t matter too much because they’ll be running different wire and splicing it all together for you. In the case of this type of water feature, voltage becomes more important (see voltage section below for more info)
Is wattage a spec?
Overall, wattage is not a spec I’d focus on much when choosing the right pump for you.
