Picking the Best Outdoor Fountain for Your Budget

When the weather warms up, it’s time to think about your garden again. An outdoor fountain is a popular addition, and it’s a great idea to think about getting one before spring begins in earnest. That’s the best time to save on outdoor fountain purchases. Don’t worry about storage; modern water fountains are self-contained units with simple instructions for storage and setup. Outdoor fountains come in a wide range of prices. As one of the leading online water fountain merchants, Serenity Health provides the following tips for selecting the right water fountain for your budget.

Tip 1: Pick a Space Where Any Sized Outdoor Fountain Will Shine

Size is one of the main factors affecting an outdoor fountain’s price. If you want to save money, choose your fountain’s location carefully. Your basic requirements are level ground and access to an electricity source – either an outlet or if you opt for a solar water fountain, an area with plenty of sunlight. Within these restrictions, look for a spot that’s easy to see without craning your neck. To maximize the impact of a smaller fountain, seek a spot on higher ground, or make it the center point of a landscape feature that contains a mix of heights, clustered around the fountain. A decorative wall, stacked, loose stone and planters are excellent companions. Just make sure the elements near your fountain don’t obscure it, or throw a shadow on to it.

Tip 2: Outdoor Fountain Materials Affect Pricing

Materials are another factor in outdoor fountain pricing. Ceramic is usually the most cost-effective fountain material because it’s the simplest to manufacture. It can hold virtually any shape, color, sheen or texture. The drawback of ceramic is that it’s less suited to more delicate designs. That’s one reason copper – a more expensive option – is commonly used for more complex fountain designs. One popular series molds the copper into thin leaves. Copper’s price comes from the metal itself, along with the processes used to shape and treat it for use in an outdoor fountain. Higher end outdoor fountains feature slate, glass, mixed materials and handmade designs. Pick what you like within your budget, but remember that it’s fairly easy to find a matching, inexpensive ceramic design.

Tip 3: Pick a Fountain You Can Maintain

Your outdoor fountain’s lifespan is a function of how well you maintain it. This article at Water Fountains and Relaxation introduces basic maintenance tips. Generally speaking, size, the number of parts and pump quality determine how much labor you’ll need to keep your outdoor fountain running in top shape. If you get a smaller fountain it can be as simple as keeping it clean and moving it indoor for the winter. If you have a larger fountain you may need to purchase a cover and leave it outdoors. On the other hand, premium fountain models tend to have the best fountain pumps. The pump is your outdoor fountain’s heart; if it stops working, your fountain is nothing but a static sculpture. You can buy replacement pumps without too much trouble. This is an added expense however, so it makes sense to take special care of your pump to keep it running for as long as possible. Maintaining any fountain is actually fairly simple if you commit to a plan, but be honest with yourself. If you’re the kind of person with empty garden boxes and old weeds, you’ll probably be better off with the simplest outdoor fountain models. If you pick an outdoor fountain you can take care of, you’ll save in the long term.