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Category: Technical

Choosing The Fountain Pump That is Right For Your Water Fountain

April 13, 2012

Carved Stone Creations has extensive experience in fountain design and installation and we can help you to pick out and install the fountain pump that is right for your water fountain. We can either work with your landscape architect or contractor to specify the necessary waterlines. Or we can coordinate with a plumber and electrician to have the  power sources needed and set them up before we install the fountain. We carry a selection of commonly used fountain pumps in our online store, and we can source other pumps if necessary to meet your fountains specific needs.

Purchase a Right Fountain Pump

If you are considering purchasing a fountain from us consider the following questions. This will help us determine your fountain pump needs. How large is the fountain you want to run (total height & pool diameter)? How high do you want your fountain to spray? The fountain pump output is determined largely by the height that you wish water to spray from the fountain and volume of water.  Water pressure is needed to accomplish that as well. Finding a fountain pump which will work within its peak efficiency curve will while meeting the fountain’s operating criteria at the same time will help to extend the life of the fountain pump. How far will the water drop from its maximum spray height to the pool or pond below it? The amount over spray or spillage that occurs is a by-product of how far the water has to fall to return to the pool. The greater the height, the more likely it will spray or spill over the sides of your fountain surround or basin, especially on a windy day.

Splash Factor

Even a seemingly large diameter surround may not be adequate to contain over spray or spillage if this issue isn’t factored into consideration. You can estimate how large the fountain surround should be by determining the Splash Factor. Measure the distance water has to fall to return to the pool compared to the distance to the edge of the pool surround you wish to use. The distance to the pool surround should be greater than the drop to the pool in order to prevent spillage and over spray. You can also minimize this by angling spitters towards the pool. So that the spray hits the water at an angle instead of a vertical drop.

Will it include multiple spitters, tiers, or bowls which will need a waterline to feed them? Some applications with multiple water features may require additional pumps to adequately feed all of the water features. Do you want to include multiple spray nozzles or a spray ring to your fountain? We can add a spray ring to your fountain as well. Spray rings are a fantastic way to accent your fountain and draw attention to it. We can create a custom copper spray ring for your fountain using adjustable spray nozzles. Learn more about spray rings in this article. Large spray rings may require multiple water inlets and pumps to properly modulate the pressure in the ring.

Powering Your Fountain Pump

Fountain pumps can be powered by an underwater junction box or a traditional 120v power cord coupled to the pump with an underwater disconnect waterproof power cord coupler. Either option allows you to disconnect power to your fountain pump without having to drain your fountain beforehand. With the help of an electrician we can also hard wire your fountain to a breaker or on/off switch in your home or set up a timer for it.

Caring for Your Fountain Pump

Your fountain pump should remain submerged at all times. Check on your fountains periodically to make sure that you have an ample water supply for them. While most fountains and pump systems will allow for very little spillage or water loss if set up right, the main loss of water from your fountain is simply from evaporation. If you hear a whining or suctioning noise from your fountain then it’s time to add some more water! Fountain pumps can be run continuously without any issues, but should still not be left unattended for long periods of time. If you are planning on being away from your home for several days, shut down your fountain as a precaution. In order to safeguard your fountain from low water level problems, we can also install an Auto Fill Sensor Kit. The auto fill sensor will monitor the water level of your fountain. It automatically adds water to your fountain through water lines. This handy option alleviates the need to check your fountain water level regularly and fill it. 

Fountain Winterization

As you can guess, it is not advised that you leave your fountain running in winter! Blockages from ice and freezing and thawing water in the pump can cause failure as well. Once the cold weather sets in, drain your fountain bowls and basin or surround, and remove the pump completely for the winter. We also recommend that you remove the pump cover and clean out.

Filtration

Most pump inlets will include a screen to prevent leaves, algae, and other debris from being sucked into the pump. We also offer a simple slip over sock style mesh cover for the inlet that is easy to maintain. Larger or more demanding applications may require a more advanced filtration system and we can help you source pumps for that as well. Hopefully this information gives you a better understanding of fountain pumps. The performance requirements that you will need to properly run your fountain with one.

Feel free to contact us if you have any questions regarding ordering a pump from Carved Stone Creations. Carved Stone Creations is located in Kaukauna, WI. We are a reasonable drive away from many Midwest metro areas including Milwaukee, Madison, Chicago, Indianapolis, Fort Wayne, Minneapolis, St. Paul, Grand Rapids, Ann Arbor, Traverse City, Davenport, Des Moines, St. Louis, Kansas City, Cincinnati, Columbus, etc. Visit our showroom to see first hand what we can design for you.

Our convenient centralized location also means we can bring all of the tools and heavy equipment. We need to tackle any installation job. CSC understands the affect our harsh Midwest winters can have on exterior stone work. We design and install architectural stonework like stone fountains, stone statues, exterior stone veneer, etc with those factors in mind. We’ll make sure the stone work we install for you stands up to the weather and the test of time! Outside of the Midwest? We can install there too. We have done work from New York to Florida to California as well.

Adding a Spray Ring and Other Features to Your Water Fountain

April 13, 2012

In their own right, a fountain is an impressive feature for any landscape. However, going the extra mile with additional enhancements like multiple water features, spray rings, lighting, and timers can really make your water fountain an awe-inspiring sight to behold. If you have the budget and the idea we can make it happen! While such enhancements are not necessarily a regular part of our fountain designs and installations. We are glad to help you source and install such features.

Fountain Spray Rings

First, let’s talk about one of the mainstay features that Carved Stone Creations can add to a fountain; fountain spray rings. While the spray of water from a fountain finial and the cascading water falling from tier to tier on a fountain is certainly interesting and soothing to watch. It doesn’t have nearly the visual effect that a spray ring can add to a fountain. A spray ring literally encircles a garden fountain with a halo of spraying water. The arching curves of the spray really draw your eye path into the fountain as a whole and the effect of the water catching the light is a spectacular sight to behold. A spray ring really does add a whole new dimension to your fountain.

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Copper Spray Rings

We design our spray rings from a copper tube which will have a much longer life then PVC tubing which could potentially explode if water freezes within it or warp under high heat.  (PVC tubing also gets brittle with UV damage over time, so typically won’t last much longer then 5 – 10 years outside.)  Our copper spray rings are bent from copper tubing and soldered together for a watertight fit. Spray nozzles are soldered to the ring directly and the ring sits atop tubing feet. You can adjust spray nozzles according to your wish because we use adjustable brass nozzles. We can vary the number of nozzles on the right to include as few or as many as you desire. Besides installing a spray ring in the fountain pool we can also install smaller spray rings in the smaller upper tiers of a water fountain. The smaller ring in the upper tier of the fountain pictured below draws additional attention to the beautiful angel statue without obscuring it or overpowering it visually by using fewer streams of water from the spray ring.

How to Install Fountain Spray Ring?

Lets take a look at the hardware necessary for installing a fountain spray ring. In the picture below you can see the copper spray ring, water pumps, and water fountain lights.

For maintaining accurate water pressure in spray rings you can use two water pumps. A dump valve allows you to control the pressure going to the ring, while a water line also feeds the fountain itself.

The Underwater Disconnect Coupling allows the power to the pump to be disconnected without the need for a junction box. Unplug your pumps, and stow them away for the winter.

An underwater junction box feeds power to all of the lightings. Just like the underwater disconnect plug, you can easily fish the junction box out and disconnect the lights if desired.

Most spray rings will require two pumps (or more depending on the size). Pump size depends on the height of stream and number of spray nozzles.

This may look a bit cluttered right now, but keep in mind that nearly all of this will be submerged once the fountain is filled and out of sight. Here’s the same fountain in action:

The added lighting really makes it stand out at night as each stream from the spray ring is illuminated

While we typically stick to standard installations and simpler features like spray rings and lighting, we can work with you to really make your fountain stand out with other added water or lighting features and maintenance controls if your budget allows.

 Check out this following interesting “outwards facing” copper spray ring. (With a ring like this, the cost of the copper spray ring is less, as there is less copper tube and nozzles used.  But, you need a much larger granite pool surround to catch those outwards facing splashes, otherwise the water will bounce right out of your pool, and drench the area outside the pool (possibly killing your nearby foliage), cause major water loss, and possible slip/fall issues.)

Advance Fountain Features

In the realm of improved fountain maintenance. some advanced control features will go along way towards cutting down your fountain maintenance and extending the life of your fountain hardware.

You can maintain water level with efficient water sensor and avoid from starvation. This is an advanced sensor system . We can also add spitting animal fountains like these fish to your fountain pool.

Wind Speed Sensor

Another helpful maintenance feature is a wind speed sensor. When wind speed picks up even a strong highly pressurized spray stream of water is bound to break up and scatter in the wind. Suddenly the spray from stone fountain finial or carefully aimed spitters could be missing the pool entirely and soaking the grass, passing pedestrians on walkways, or even passing vehicles that are in the wind’s path! This may not be a high concern for a typical residential fountain.  Commercial or park settings with frequent foot and vehicle traffic can be a problem. A fountain wind sensor can monitor wind speed and shut the fountain pump off once the wind speed exceeds a certain threshold.

Water Pump Timer

You can also add pump timers and on/off controls to your fountain. You can hard wire a switch to your home, add a wireless remote control. If the fountain is in close proximity or sets up timers to run your fountain during certain hours.

You can attach pump timer with a fountain in different ways.  We can help you design a fountain that truly sets itself apart through the addition of the features we mentioned.

Fountain Installation 

Looking for someone who can install a spray ring and other fountain accessories for you? Carved Stone Creations is located in Kaukauna.  We are a reasonable drive away from many Midwest metro areas including Milwaukee, Madison, Chicago, Indianapolis, Fort Wayne, Minneapolis, St. Paul, Grand Rapids, Ann Arbor, Traverse City, Davenport, Des Moines, St. Louis, Kansas City, Cincinnati, Columbus, etc. Visit our showroom to see first hand what we can design for you. Our convenient centralized location also means we can bring all of the tools and heavy equipment required.

We understand the effect our harsh Midwest winters can have on exterior stone fountains. We design and install architectural stonework like fountains, statues, exterior stone veneer, etc with those factors in mind. We’ll make sure the stone work we install for you stands up to the weather and the test of time!

Outside of the Midwest? Just contact us,We can install there too. We have done work from New York to Florida to California as well. 

The Advantages of Natural Stone Vs. Cast Stone

March 6, 2012

While advances have been made in cast stone and other faux stone alternatives, there is still simply no comparison to the durability, beauty, longevity, and value of natural stone. A natural stone fountain, statue, planter, etc. will last much longer then a cast stone counterpart that will eventually chip, crack, and crumble due to exposure to natural elements, especially in cold weather climates where freezing and thawing cycles allow water to seep into the porous surface of concrete and expand to create damage.

Carved Stone Creations uses granite for most of the outdoor fountains, statues, window and door surrounds, trim, and cladding we provide because it is virtually non-porous, is resistant to fading, and requires little maintenance. Regardless of whether you call it patina or weathering, the aging and damage caused to cast stone by the elements is still deterioration! (The following photos are of a concrete fountain that only lasted less than 3 years in a Michigan installation.)

While many cast stone companies claim that their product meets ASTM standards for withstanding freeze/thaw cycles, what they don’t tell you is that these tests represent a really small cycle time in comparison to what most fountains or other outdoor stone elements would face in a single winter. ASTM standards call for withstanding a 100 cycle freeze/thaw test.

Think about how many times that fountain could freeze and thaw in a single day if temperatures peak over freezing during the day and drop into the teens or below zero temperatures at night! It should also be noted that certain natural stones are also susceptible to damage from freezing in cold weather climates but they pose no concerns in warm weather climates.

Limestone is porous enough to absorb moisture and potentially cause damage due to freezing and thawing. Travertine has naturally occurring air pockets within the stone which could create structural issues if water were to collect in these recesses and freeze. Certain types of marble also have a potential for damage if they contain a large number of veins. For this reason Carved Stone Creations works mostly with Granite for outdoor stone applications where cold weather may be a concern. 

Modern techniques for faux stone casting have created more believable textures and colors through the use of ground stone mixtures and pigments but there is no substitute for the beauty of the natural color, mineral deposits, veining, crystalline facets, and texture that natural stone provides. Hundreds of years of water, heat, and pressure combined give natural stone a unique composition and aesthetic that pigments can’t duplicate. Stones like limestone and sandstone which have uniform texture and color may be easy to simulate, but stones such as marbles, travertines, and onyx are difficult to replicate in a convincing manner.

It is also difficult to match the color of the faux finishing in the event that the cast concrete is damaged or needs to be cut down during installation for fitment. In addition to the durability concerns, casting does not yield the same level of detail that carved natural stone has. There’s only so much detail and complexity to what you can capture with a mold and the end product is only as good as the mold you make it from.

Our artisan sculptors are capable of capturing amazing detail in our sculptures due to the hardness and density of natural stone, especially in marble. Our sculptors can carve life-like hair or fur, clothing, facial features, and muscle tone from natural stone.

Cracks and chips in the cast stone surround as well.

Make the investment in natural stone and rest easy knowing that it will last a lifetime. Although cast stone may be a less costly alternative the disadvantages of its lesser durability and longevity can leave you disappointed. Don’t set yourself up for the frustration of having costly demolition and replacement down the road. Need some proof that Granite is a superior choice? We are so confident that our Granite outdoor fountains are capable of standing up to cold weather that we run our fountains into the freezing winter!

Subjecting a cast concrete fountain to this kind of constant freezing and thawing cycle would almost guarantee to cause it damage in only a winter’s time.

Our Granite fountains held up to this test just fine. Looking for a stone fountain or other custom exterior stonework for your home? Contact us today to see what we can do for you Carved Stone Creations is located in Kaukauna, WI and we are a reasonable drive away from many Midwest metro areas including Milwaukee, Madison, Chicago, Indianapolis, Fort Wayne, Minneapolis, St. Paul, Grand Rapids, Ann Arbor, Traverse City, Davenport, Des Moines, St. Louis, Kansas City, Cincinnati, Columbus, etc. Visit our showroom to see first hand what we can design for you.

Our convenient centralized location also means we can bring all of the tools and heavy equipment we need to tackle any installation job. We understand the affect our harsh Midwest winters can have on exterior stone work and we design and install architectural stonework like fountains, statues, exterior stone veneer, etc with those factors in mind. We’ll make sure the stone work we install for you stands up to the weather and the test of time! Outside of the Midwest? We can install there too. We have done work from New York to Florida to California as well.

Installing a Disappearing Fountain (video)

July 6, 2010

So you’ve found the perfect fountain for your garden or landscape. Have you thought about how you want it installed?

Are you placing it in a pond or nearby one?

Do you want to (and have the space to) install it in a pool surround?

Would you rather have it stand alone?

Unless you are installing your fountain into an existing water feature such as a pond, many fountains will require some means to capture and recirculate the water that flows from them. Some fountains have a recirculating design, meaning that they were designed with a bottom basin or a lower tier that is large enough to catch any water that cascades from the upper tiers or spitters without it spilling onto the ground. Not all fountains do though, and it’s important to consider how you will be capturing and recirculating that water into the fountain.

Even small spitter fountains such as our Animal Fountains or bubbling fountains require some means of capturing the water they flow. You can aim spitter fountains at a nearby pond feature, but it isn’t advised that you just let them run off into the ground. That would eventually cause flooding or erosion issues. And there’s the space concerns.

Maybe you want to add a fountain to your garden or lawn and you just don’t have the room for a big 8’to 12′ diameter pool surround. Or you would rather keep more of a rustic or natural look to your landscape and would prefer to have your fountain drain into a bed of gravel. If that’s the case, then using a pondless basin for a disappearing fountain installation may be the right answer for you.

A pondless basin is a large high-strength plastic tub that is designed to be buried into the ground and covered with a screening material and a pebble or crushed rock bed that the water can drain though. The water collects into the pondless basin and a pump recirculates it through the fountain. Most pondless basins can support up to 2,000 lbs making them perfect for small to medium sized fountains. We sell a variety of Pondless Basins that we can install for you as well.

A disappearing fountain has a unique look that captures your attention and saves you space at the same time. Your guests will marvel at how the water flows back through your fountain as it simply disappears into the ground. Not only can you install conventional fountains this way, but you can also create a grouping of smaller Bubbling Fountains that will add a subtle yet distinctive water feature to your garden or landscape such as the boulder fountain in the 2nd video you see below. To give you a better understanding of how a disappearing fountain is installed, we’ve created a video showing our crew installing one.

Take a look at this video below too. It shows a group of natural basalt column bubbling fountains installed above a pondless basin.

The stealth disappearing fountain installation takes care of the water and doesn’t detract from the beauty of the natural basalt columns and the water flowing from them.

Need help installing your fountain? Contact us today to see what we can do for you Carved Stone Creations is located in Kaukauna, WI and we are a reasonable drive away from many Midwest metro areas including Milwaukee, Madison, Chicago, Indianapolis, Fort Wayne, Minneapolis, St. Paul, Grand Rapids, Ann Arbor, Traverse City, Davenport, Des Moines, St. Louis, Kansas City, Cincinnati, Columbus, etc.

Visit our showroom to see first hand what we can design for you. Our convenient centralized location also means we can bring all of the tools and heavy equipment we need to tackle any installation job. We understand the affect our harsh Midwest winters can have on exterior stone work and we design and install architectural stonework like fountains, statues, exterior stone veneer, etc with those factors in mind. We’ll make sure the stone work we install for you stands up to the weather and the test of time! Outside of the Midwest? We can install there too. We have done work from New York to Florida to California as well.

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