What Are Some Important Factors To Consider While Buying The Best Solar Fountains
Some factors may help you choose the perfect solar fountains for your outdoor gardens.
Solar fountain materials
The essential element to consider while purchasing the solar fountain is the type of material it is made of. The materials used in manufacturing show the durability of the product.
Some materials are given as follows to educate you about the material:
Polystone
It is a dense material that is made with sand and resin. This mixture molded the solar fountain into a heavy fountain with high durability and lifetime.
Fiberglass resin
It is made with two quality materials, i.e., glass fiber and resin. It provides hardening because of resin. This material is lightweight and easy to assemble. The fountains are made with these materials as two layers of resin and a layer of glass fiber.
Ceramic solar fountain
This is a hand-crafted material using high-quality clay fired to manufacture a smooth surface. This makes it unique as the smooth surface is very convenient to clean.
Buyer’s Guide For Finding A Top Solar Fountain
Solar fountains come in an abundance of styles, sizes, material ranges, and prices to fit in with your garden décor or outdoor looks. But on the other hand, it is also very challenging to select the most suitable solar fountains for your feathered friends. We have curated this buyers guide to help you.
Solar Fountains With Lighted Designs
A consistent drawback of fountains not being able to enjoy them at night time. This is easily solved with a LED lighting design. These lights have become popular in multipurpose in recent years. LED lights have durability, the lights will not only illuminate your fountain but keep running for years to come.
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Best Floating Aisitin 65w Solar Fountain Pump
Rather than a standalone water feature, the AISITIN 6.5W Solar Fountain Pump is the best solar powered fountain for anyone with a water feature already in their garden. And this doesnt just mean ponds the AISITIN can float in any body of water larger than its dimensions of 9.09 x 8.86 x 1.85 inches.
Power is provided by a 6.5W high-powered solar panel equipped with a 5000mAh battery and, after 12-hours of charging in direct sunlight, the fountain will work for seven hours in the dark.
The primary selling point of the fountain is that it lights with seven colors of LEDs, and a color auto-cycle. The fountain jets in the top have eight different spray shapes and a double layer of nozzles for a large amount of water.
Because its designed to be placed in ponds and birdbaths, the fountain has a complete set of filters to prevent debris from entering the pump.
Additionally, there is a low water level protection function that detects when there is too little water, and will shut the power off automatically.
What we like:
- The lights The addition of a 5000mAh battery and seven colors of LED lights means the fountain is as useful during the night as it is during the day.
- The filters Because of the danger of sucking debris into the pump, this fountain comes with a full set of washable filters.
What we dont like:
- Needs standing water If you dont already have an area of standing water, this isnt the fountain for you.
Blumfeldt Ocean Planet Solar Fountain
This understated water feature is perfect for small gardens and patios and would look great combined with a container display or in a herb garden. Whats more, this feature has four LEDs and can operate for up to 8 hours at night, for gentle evening lighting.
Price: £149.99
Buy Blumfeldt Ocean Planet Solar Fountain at
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Best Runner Up Asc Cascade Ceramic Solar Water Fountain
While it didnt quite snatch the top spot as best solar powered fountain, the ASC Cascade Ceramic Solar Water Fountain is a close runner-up with its pleasant design and easy assembly. The water circulates through five tiers of ceramic bowls and, unlike many of the other fountains on this list, has an external solar panel.
This feature means you can hide the panel, or position it to get better sunlight than the fountains position allows, giving you a little more flexibility.
Because it weighs just 12.39 pounds and has dimensions of 15.7 x 15.6 x 12.4 inches, the fountain is easy to position, easy to move, and breaks down into six separate parts if you need to store it.
The only downside to this fountain is a lack of battery, so it wont work if theres no strong sunlight.
What we like:
- The design The ASC Cascade Ceramic Solar Water Fountain has a pleasing five-tiered Mediterranean design made from ceramic cups on an iron frame.
- Easy to store The fountain can be taken apart and stored in six separate parts.
What we dont like:
- No battery The lack of a battery means that this fountain only works when the sun is shining.
If youre looking for a small portable fountain to give you some pleasant ambiance on a sunny day, then the ASC Cascade Ceramic Solar Water Fountain is a great choice.
What Are The Two Types Of Solar Fountains In The Market
Floating fountains
These types of fountains are commonly used. These come with a solar panel attached to the nozzle and a water pump. These can be easily stuck to the bottom of the birdbath as it has a suction cup with it. This suction cup helps to prevent it from floating.
Standing fountains
This type of fountain offers a separate solar panel that transfers the electricity through the wire connected to the panel. It is more convenient to use as you can place it anywhere you want, even under a shade. So, the electricity will transfer through the wire to the fountain.
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Premium Pick Sunnydaze Outdoor Solar Fountain With Battery Backup
The Sunnydaze Outdoor Solar Fountain is the best solar powered fountain for those looking for a premium fountain that still does not require mains power but looks high-end. The fountain is made from polyresin, which means it has all the durability and lightness of a modern material, with the appearance of polished granite.
With dimensions of 13.75 x 15.5 x 31.25 inches and weighing 15.4 pounds, this water feature wont dominate your garden or take six people to get situated. What it will do is provide a lovely centerpiece, and some pleasant running water ambiance.
The fountain runs on straight solar power via an external panel, or an internal battery.
A full charge of the battery will keep the fountain running for around four hours, and the fountain comes with an energy-efficient ring light to keep it illuminated when the sun goes down.
Sunnydazes one-year manufacturers warranty covers the entire fountain.
What we like:
- The look This fountain looks like a series of granite bowls, but is nowhere near as cumbersome or heavy.
- The warranty Having at least a one-year warranty is always a must for an outdoor electrical product.
What we dont like:
- The battery life Even on a full charge, the fountain will only run for four hours when the run goes down.
What Are The Significant Factors That Need To Be Kept In Mind Before Buying A Solar Fountain
Some significant factors are necessary to keep in mind if you want to choose the perfect solar fountain for your garden:
Pump efficiency
The efficiency of the pump means the ability to convert solar energy into electrical energy. It may vary from one machine to another. You need to confirm whether the pump efficiency is enough for your use or not.
Water requirement
It is important to consider the amount of water you regularly need as the battery voltage depends on the water requirement. If you need a fountain for 24 hours working, you need a high voltage battery with high efficiency to work during the day.
Flow rate
Flow rate means the volume of water supplied by the pump in a limited time. So, consider it as per your needs and requirements.
Pump controllers
Sometimes, pumps need a controller that helps them work properly, even in dim light. But this is not compulsory with every pump. Because if the battery is already provided with a solar fountain, then there is no need to buy controllers separately.
Price ranges
Always try to purchase a product that is affordable and durable. Always choose the eco-friendly solar panel that is made with the best material. Some companies provide the best durable pumps at a very reasonable price.
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Ankway 14w Solar Fountain Considered For Best Overall
Ankways version of the solar fountain caught our attention because it has 8 different kinds of spraying styles available. Talk about versatility! The shortcomings lie in some of the nozzles, themselves, which have a relatively weak spray. It might be a great fountain for a very small birdbath.
The OKMEE Solar Fountain has 7 water styles in comparison and its patented 4-in-1 water nozzle executes better.
How Many Types Of Solar Fountains Are Available Based On The Technology Used In Pumps
Surface pumps
If the groundwater level is not more than ten meters, you can use the solar surface pumps. You can place it beside lakes, ponds, fish tanks, and grounds to make the water level enough to reach the maximum level so that birds can enjoy bathing.
Alternative current pumps
These pumps require an inverter to convert the direct current and save electricity. These may work slower and are not efficient enough when it comes to operating for extended hours.
Direct current pump
These pumps directly work with or without a battery. These can be operated easily. These are faster than AC pumps and are more energy-efficient. These are a little costly as these directly use current and consume more power.
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Integrated Or Separate Solar Panel
Of the 5 solar water fountains above, three integrate the solar panel and pump into a single unit, while the other two separate the solar panel and pump into two parts connected via a wire.
The integrated solar+pump fountains, like Solatec Solar Fountain, are the easiest to setup. In fact, there is no setup. Just take them out of the box and place them in the water. It doesnt get easier than that. Theyre cheap, durable, and easy to use, but they do have a major downside. Since the solar panel is integrated with the pump, these products wont work in ponds or bird baths in shaded areas.
If your pond is under a tree or a neighbors playhouse shades your pond for most of the day, youll need to find another solution. Thankfully there is one!
Some solar water fountains, like the AISITIN 5W Solar Fountain, separate the solar panel from the pump, allowing you to install the pump wherever you like, as long as the wire can reach the pump. This gives you much more versatility, but takes a little longer to setup than those single-unit fountains.
Overall, wed recommend going with the integrated solar+pump fountain if your pond sees bright sunshine most of the day, as theyre easy to install and cheap to buy. However, if your pond suffers from pleasant shade, its best to go with a kit that includes a separate panel and pump.
Budding Dahlia Solar Bird Bath
Give birds a place to drink and wash with this bird bath solar water feature. Not only can you enjoy the gentle trickle and soft lighting of this water feature, but birds can too. Whats more, the constant motion of the water means it doesnt need replacing, keeping birds clean and hygienic.
Price: £199.33
Buy Budding Dahlia Solar Bird Bath at
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How Easy Is It To Install Use And Maintain
How easy the solar birdbath is to install, use, and maintain are 3 essential questions to ask about any tech-oriented product. Despite that being true, that doesnt mean it has to be a complicated process.
The easier it is to install, the faster youll be up and running with less frustration. However, the trade-off might be in long-term longevity or capability. For instance, the fastest fountains simply drop in the water and run in full sun, with the trade-off that they wont run under a tree or when a cloud drifts over.
Maintenance is important because if the pump becomes clogged the unit will have to be opened for cleaning or replaced. Choose a pump with some type of filter, and keep the filter clean as often as possible.
Here are a few detailed explanations on how to install and clean your birdbath.
Looking for more ways to maintain your solar devices? Check out our guide on Cleaning Solar Panels.
The Best Solar Powered Fountains
Solar fountains are an excellent, low effort, low maintenance, environmentally friendly solution to having an active water feature in your garden.
Installing a solar fountain is as simple as putting it where it gets good sunlight, filling it with water, and sitting back to enjoy it. We found the Smart Solar Mahayana 2-Tier Solar on Demand Fountain to be the best solar powered fountain of all the products we reviewed and the ASC Cascade Ceramic Solar Water Fountain came in as a close second place.
Both fountains have a pleasant design, are easy to use, and have a reasonable price point. However, all of the fountains on our list deserve their spot so its very much a point of personal preference which one you choose.
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Batteries Or No Batteries
Most of our solar water fountains above, like the AISITIN 5W Solar Fountain or Cocofit Solar Powered Fountain Pump include a small battery so the fountain can run even when the solar panel is shaded. Most solar fountain batteries are either 800mAh or 1000mAh, enough to keep the fountain going for an hour or two without sunlight. Batteries are a nice feature for those cloudy days or if you like to enjoy your backyard oasis during the evening.
Other fountains however, axe the battery and instead rely 100% on solar power to run the pump. Of course, this limits your pump only to times when the sun is out and smiling. On cloudy days, or in shade, or during the evening, your solar fountain simply wont work.
Whether to buy a solar fountain with or without a battery is up to personal taste. Batteries allow you to enjoy your solar fountain more often, but they are also more expensive than battery-less kits and will eventually wear out faster than the other components, like the pump and solar panel.
Best Overall: Vorosy Solar Fountain
Product Ratings
Sizes: 6.3 | Material: Plastic | Brand: VOROSY | Weight: 9.6 Ounces | Backup Battery: No
What We Liked
- Fixer prevents it from moving randomly
- 4 nozzles for different water fountain patterns
- Submerging it in water allows for easy installation
- Made of PET material, allowing it for long-lasting use in harsh environments
What We DidntLike
- Some spray patterns may be a little too aggressive for smaller birds
- It needs full sunshine to work
The Solar Fountain can turn any yard into a bird pool party. With a max spray height of 20-27.5 inches, its quite a spectacle to see. With the water rising so high, you have to monitor the water levels more often.
The more-aggressive sprays might be too much for some of the birds, as well, so switching it up might be a wise decision if you want to see different kinds of birds throughout the year.
This particular fountain is better for larger baths as more surface area allows more water to be caught. Its not ideal for smaller capacity fountains because the high splash rate will make the water levels decrease quickly.
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Budget Pick Sunlitec Solar Fountain With Panel Water Pump
If you happen to have a water feature already, and just want to add fountain functionality to it, then the Sunlitec Solar Fountain will give you just that. This is the best solar powered fountain out these for those on a tight budget!
Very much at the budget end of the solar fountain spectrum, the Sunlitec Solar Fountain kit is simply a solar panel, a pump, and four types of sprinkler heads.
This feature means it can be applied to just about any area of standing water short of a puddle, and turn it into a functioning fountain. Its great for adding more interest to your pond, making other water features solar-powered, or solving stagnant water issues in birdbaths.
What we like:
- Its basic Theres nothing complicated about this fountain, its a panel, wire and a fountain, which is really all you need in some cases.
- The price You can pick this kit up and have a solar panel fountain in your garden for less than the price of a large latte and a muffin.
What we dont like:
- How basic it is Dont expect a battery, lights, different modes, or a dusk/dawn system. This is the most basic expression of a solar fountain.
Cheap, simple, and does what it says it will, the Sunlitec Solar Fountain might just be all that you need.
Biling Solar Birdbath Fountain Pump Considered For Overall
The Biling Fountain Pump senses when to stop pumping in certain situations, like when the water level is too low or the pump is clogged, to protect itself from damage. The little solar panels continue to work even when the clouds start to cover the sun.
It seems like it has all the tools to make it on this list but requires a lot of attention with its many parts which we found finicky to maintain. We prefer the VOROSY Solar Fountain for the sheer ease of setup and maintenance.
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