We love nothing more than the sound and sight of running water – so to be able to experience that in the comfort of your own garden is sheer perfection! Whether you enjoy gardening and want that background ambience of a flowing waterfall, or you simply want to relax in your garden and enjoy watching water flowing down a water feature, there will be a self-contained water feature for you.
Self-contained water features give you so much more flexibility and ease when adding a water feature to your garden. A self-contained water feature is essentially a water feature that comes with its own basin, pump and the actual “feature” part that the water flows down. This is all “self-contained” in one so that you are not having to worry about fitting and building. You will be saved from the hassle and potential issues caused by digging out holes and ponds in your garden, plus you won’t have to worry about all the additional cost! Not only this, but they often come with the pump and motor already installed so that you literally have to position them and switch them on – surely you would rather have that ease than trying to create your own water feature? We also love that self-contained water features are going to be much easier to move around your garden depending on the time of year or how you are using your garden at a particular time!
No matter your size and style of garden, there will be a water feature for you. So keep reading to find out about some of the best self-contained water features and the main considerations you need to make before you buy!
Best Self-Contained Water Features – Blagdon Affinity View Corner Living Water Feature Pool
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In A Hurry?
If the summer months are upon you and you are wanting to spend more time in the garden, or maybe you have spent months working on turning your garden into the perfect haven and now need the finishing touches? If you are in a hurry to find a self-contained water feature that both you and your garden are going to love, then look no further…
Power
The first thing you need to look at is how your self-contained water feature is going to be powered. Most models are going to be powered by mains electricity so you are going to need to consider where your nearest power point is going to be and whether you are going to have to get an external plug fitted! There are now more and more models that are solar powered but these are obviously going to be less reliable thanks to the Great British weather and only tend to come with smaller, less powerful water features.
If you choose an electric powered self-contained water feature then make sure to consider the length of cable that comes with your water feature as this is going to determine where abouts in your garden it will be able to be positioned. We found that cable lengths tend to range between 10m and 20m. Also make sure to look for good quality, strong cables as if they are going to be hidden under soil and stones they are going to need to be able to withstand this environment without becoming worn.
Style and Build Material
The style of self-contained water feature that you choose really depends on what you are looking for in your garden and the space that you have available!
We split the two main styles into natural self-contained water features that are designed to look as though they are real and effective features and additions to your garden, then more modern self-contained water features that are made to do the opposite…stand out.
Natural self-contained water features are usually designed to replicate small waterfalls, rivers or use urns, buckets or faucets to create the water feature effect. These will blend in perfectly with more natural style gardens and will fit in perfectly in courtyard corners or as part of bedding areas! You will usually find that these models are made out of wood and metal, so will have a more rustic look. These materials will need to be treated and maintained to ensure that they last, but you do also find that they tend to actually add to the effect once they have developed a little “wear”. You do often find that, because of the materials used, these models tend to be heavier comparatively for size so will be harder to move around your garden.
Modern self-contained water features are designed in such a way to attract attention and your eye, so are perfect for a patio area or anywhere in your garden where they will stand out more! They will usually be made out of metals and glass to help create more of an effect with the water and the sunlight shining on them! These are often going to be sleeker and therefore not show the same wear as more natural models! We love the abstract shapes and designs that these can form from flowing down steps, to spherical fountains and glass balls! They are also going to require less maintenance but don’t look quite as effective as they start to wear!
We found that some self-contained water features are also made out of heavy-duty plastics or polyresin. These materials are going to be much lighter and cheaper. The lightness means that they will be much easier to move around your garden – however you will also need to consider whether they are in an area of your garden that is going to be protected from wind and rain! These materials will be moderately durable, but aren’t going to be as long lasting as wood, metal and glass.
TOP TIP: It is always worth considering the number of falls and the height that your water is going to drop. A water feature with more falls or a greater height is going to be louder and more dramatic than a smaller water feature with just one fall. This obviously comes down to personal preference but is well worth considering.
Size and Weight
Once you have decided on the style of self-contained water feature that is going to be right for you, you can start looking at the size of water feature that you are wanting to purchase. To a certain extent, this is going to depend on the style that you go for, however there is such a variety of water features to choose from, you will be able to find one that is going to be right for you!
Smaller models can be as little as 20-30cm in both height and diameter. These models will make a perfect addition to a table or wall in your garden but aren’t really going to be suitable for lower areas in your garden. We have found them to be particularly effective in raised bedding areas.
Large self-contained water features can be considerably bigger – we found some models that are over a metre in width and height so are going to take up much more space in your garden. These are going to create a much more dramatic effect in your garden and will also be considerably louder, so are perfect for gardens that back onto a road or a park if you are wanting to reduce that external noise.
When looking at the size of water feature that is going to be best for you remember that larger models are usually going to require more water to function correctly. They will often have larger basins that need to be filled to a certain level for the pump to be able to cycle the water around the feature. This does mean that they are going to be harder to fill, clean and move around your garden if necessary over winter months for example! In our opinion, they are well worth the extra work if you have the space but it is worth considering before purchasing!
Best Budget – GEEZY Garden Water Feature
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What To Know Before You Buy a Self-Contained Water Feature
We have looked at some of the most important factors that you need to consider before purchasing a self-contained water feature, but there are SO many more features to consider if you are really wanting the best model and the best value for money! We have broken this down into different sections to make it easier to choose!
Design
- Lighting – We love self-contained water features that come with lighting as this really adds another dimension to your water feature and helps it to stand out in the garden during those summer evenings! Look out for models that come with LED lights in varying colours as then you will be able to select what colour is going to go well in your garden! Bright coloured lights such as green and blue will change the colour of your water to make it stand out whereas more natural coloured yellow or white lighting will just add shadows and dimensions to the feature.
- Assembly – Look how easy it is going to be to assemble your water feature. The point of purchasing a self-contained water feature is that it is going to be easier to assemble and fit in your garden, so make sure that this is the case. Models where the pump is already secured in place and the pipework is connected will make your life a lot easier!
- UV Protection – We would definitely recommend looking out for materials that have been UV protected. Your water feature is going to be outside for most of the year and therefore exposed to a considerable amount of sunlight. Water features that have been powder or paint coated in UV protection will be much less likely to fade!
- Indoor or Outdoor Use – We would definitely recommend looking to see whether your self-contained water feature is going to be able to work indoors as well as outdoors (if you have the space obviously!). This will allow you to enjoy your water feature all year round as it could be moved into a sunroom or conservatory over winter months!
Function
- Pump – You definitely need to check for the quality of the pump that comes with your self-contained water feature. Check whether this is easy to remove ready for when you are wanting to clean/replace filters or complete any repairs or maintenance. You also need to check whether a quality motor comes with the pump as this is going to determine the effectiveness of your pump.
- Adjustable flow rate – We particularly like water features that come with an adjustable flow rate. This will allow you to change the amount of water that is flowing through your water feature. This is perfect for if you have guests round and are wanting a more dramatic effect, or to be turned down when you are just relaxing in the garden on your own.
- Noise reduction technology – Chances are one of the reasons you are purchasing a water feature is because you like the sound of running water. Why have this ruined by the sound of your pump and motor whirring away? Some self-contained water features will have noise reduction technology to reduce the sound of the motor and pump so you can just enjoy the relaxing sound of running water!
- Remote controlled – If you are wanting the ultimate in relaxation and luxury then look out for water features that are remote controlled. This will allow you to adjust your water no matter where you are in your garden. Some even have a powerful enough remote control to be controlled from inside.
Best of the Rest
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Frequently Asked Questions
What guarantee comes with a self-contained water feature?
We found that most self-contained water features will come with a guarantee of between 1 and 3 years. Some will actually have much longer guarantees for the basin and main build of the water feature, but just a limited warranty on the pump and mechanical aspects of the water feature.
Do I need to maintain my self-contained water feature?
Yes! Even though your water feature is self-contained you are still going to need to complete regular maintenance. The main things that you are going to need to do is clean and replace your filter every few months. When you are doing this it is worth adding a cleaning solution to your water system at the same time to clean the parts of the water feature that aren’t accessible. We would also recommend cleaning the basin and outer parts of your water feature regularly to remove any algae or dirt that develops.
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