Are you thinking about adding an outdoor fountain to your home? If so, you might be asking yourself whether you need to buy a special pump for it. It’s important to know what kind of pump will be best for your outdoor fountain, because not all pumps are the same. Depending on how big your outdoor fountain will be, you can use different kinds of pumps. An outdoor fountain pump is a device which helps water from a pond or stream flow up and through an outdoor fountain. There are many factors to consider when buying an outdoor pump, and this article will help you understand everything you need to know about them.
What’s So Important About an Outdoor Fountain Pump?
When you’re setting up an outdoor fountain, it’s important to choose the right fountain pump submersible. If you choose the wrong pump, your fountain may not function correctly. For example, if you have a large fountain and use a small pump, the water will not make it all the way to the top of the fountain or might not produce enough volume for the effect you wish to achieve. Whenever possible, it is best to find out what the fountain manufacturer recommends. This is usually a gallons per hour rating (GPH). But besides maximum GPH, you also need to consider the “pump flow curve” of the pump. The pump flow curve tells you how much water the pump is producing at various heights. For example, here is the pump curve for our FT-1250 pump:
| Item# | Watts | Max.Head | GPH | 20 | 40 | 60 | 80 | 100 | 120 | 140 | 160 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FT-1250-Outdoor | 120 | 156 | 1280 | 1150 | 1020 | 900 | 800 | 650 | 400 | 260 | 0 |
You will see in this pump curve, that the pump has a maximum GPH of 1280 gallons per hour. But at 80” of height, the volume is reduced to approximately 800 GPH.
You will also find in this table the watts of energy used by the pump (120). This one uses slightly more than a 100-watt light bulb. If you need to calculate amperage, here is the formula:
Watts divided by volts = amps.
So 120 watts divided by 120 volts is 1 amp of energy.
You also must consider the dimensions of the pump to make sure it will fit into your fountain. The dimensions are included for each of our pumps. Here are the dimensions of the FT-1250 pump:
Pump is approximately 5″ long, 3.75″ wide, and 4.4″ tall.
A loud pump can be very annoying, especially if you want to use your fountain as a relaxing addition to your backyard. Much of the noise of a pump is caused by vibration. Sometimes you will find cushioning the pump will decrease the vibration. Getting rid of pump noise becomes especially difficult in copper fountains, which tend to vibrate more than concrete or resin ones. As far as the “roar” caused by fountains using large pumps, there is not much that can be done, but usually the water sound is desired. You can always choose a smaller pump in the future. For tabletop fountains, which are usually placed in confined indoor settings, it is typically best to use the smallest pump possible.
Final Words
An outdoor fountain pump is the working component of any fountain. It propels water flow through your fountain, providing the water features and sound. Depending on the size of your fountain, you may need to use a small or powerful pump. Having a powerful pump will give you more WOW, but also can increase splash and evaporation. You can choose the size of pump you need by finding the flow rate of your fountain and then finding the closest pump with a flow rate matching your needs. Choosing the right pump is important because it can affect the aesthetics of your fountain and the amount of electricity it uses. If you use a small pump for a large fountain, your fountain may “tinkle,” but too much volume can cause too much roar and use more electricity.
