Solar Fountain Tips

As the cost of energy rises and more people try to find alternate sources of energy, solar fountains continue to grow in popularity. In addition to being friendly to the environment - not to mention your wallet - they are extremely user-friendly and easy to set up. As you look for the perfect solar-powered fountain for your outdoor space, consider these great hints about using them.

Solar Fountains in the Winter, Nighttime, and Cloudy Days

Solar fountains can be used in the winter, provided it is not below freezing. If the solar panel is connected to the fountain during icy or snowy weather, and it is sunny outside, the pump will likely be damaged. It is best to disconnect your solar fountain during these weather conditions. However, on winter days when it is sunny outside and there is no danger of a freeze, your solar fountain will work fine.

Generally, the solar panels used in solar fountains have very thin PV cells, and therefore they cannot store large amounts of energy for use when the sun goes down or when it's extremely cloudy outside. Your solar fountain may work during overcast or slightly cloudy days, but it will likely have less power and therefore put forth a slower, thinner water flow. Some solar fountains have battery backups that can be used during these times, but most are designed to work only in sunny weather, during the day.

Benefits of Solar Fountains

Solar fountains can be used to beautify virtually any outdoor space, as long as there is a good amount of direct sunlight. Since no electricity is needed, proximity to a power source doesn't need to be considered when deciding where to place your fountain. People with large yards can certainly appreciate this - you can place a solar fountain far away from your house with no worries of how to power it.

The solar pond fountains - the kind that send a spray of water shooting into the air - are especially convenient because they need no installation, you can simply place them in your pond and let the sunlight power them. They have their solar panels built directly into them, so there are no cords to worry about. Some people like them to float around in their ponds or pools, while others use a rock and some rope to anchor them down in one spot.

Also, solar fountains are friendly to the environment and need virtually no maintenance. The solar panel has no moving parts and the electricity is generated with no emissions, no fuel, and no noise. There are also no toxic materials that can leak out of the solar panel system. Solar power is safe for your kids and your pets - no dangling electrical cords, no circuit breakers.