At the end of a long day, there’s nothing more relaxing than sitting outside and enjoying the sounds of moving over your waterfall feature. It creates a calming environment and takes your landscaping to another level entirely! What type of waterfall feature do you want, though? And what’s the difference?
Today, we’re exploring the two types of waterfall features available to help you learn the difference between a pondless waterfall vs regular waterfall. See what each offers (and requires) then get moving on your water feature installation!
Pondless Waterfall vs Regular Waterfall: What’s The Difference?
When you’re looking at outdoor residential water feature options, you’ll see choices like backyard fountains and pond installation designs that are certainly eye-catching. What about waterfalls, though? The zen sounds of natural running water that waterfall features provide can transport you from your backyard in the city to your own private oasis.
There are two different types of waterfall features to decide between: a pondless waterfall vs regular waterfall. What’s the difference, you wonder? We’ve got you covered there:
Pondless Waterfall Features
Starting our examination of the difference between a pondless waterfall vs regular waterfall is the pondless variety. As the name suggests, a pondless waterfall is…well…pondless! Instead of being part of larger water features, pondless waterfalls flow continuously, recirculating water to give your water feature the look of a never-ending waterfall without needing a visible water source.
When you’re learning how water features work as a pondless waterfall, you’ll see that each setup empties into a hidden reservoir. This water reservoir is most often covered in rocks or other materials to make it seem like your pondless waterfall is simply magically endless. The best part is, as long as you’ve got the right size water feature pump, your pondless waterfall will recirculate its own water. This means it doesn’t need to be connected to a constant water source, drastically cutting down on operating costs and making them ideal for any homeowner.
Additionally, pondless waterfalls require much less room than a regular waterfall. Because it doesn’t need to be combined with a pond, these designs make perfect backyard waterfall ideas for small spaces. This smaller footprint doesn’t mean they’re any less of a showpiece, however. Whether you’re interested in rock water features or modern design aesthetics, our water feature installation professionals can give you the design of your dreams.
Regular Waterfall Features
Moving sides in the debate between a pondless waterfall vs regular waterfall, let’s talk about what makes a regular waterfall different from their pondless counterparts. Where pondless waterfalls have their own hidden reservoirs, regular waterfall features aren’t standalone elements.
Instead, regular waterfalls are attached to ponds, elevating the look of both features to create a grand design. The pond serves as the water source for a regular waterfall, as the pump and tubing recirculates water from the basin to the top of the waterfall for continuous operation. Similar to how pondless waterfalls operate, this keeps operation costs to a minimum, making water features an attractive feature for really turning your yard into a wow factor.
Choosing Between a Pondless Waterfall vs Regular Waterfall
Now that you’ve got an understanding of the difference between a pondless waterfall vs regular waterfall, which should you choose? The truth is, neither is necessarily better than the other. That said, there are a variety of factors that may influence your decision based on budget, size, and desired upkeep.
As you’re deciding on your water feature design plans, budget is probably the first thing that comes to mind. Even though today’s water features come in a wide variety of sizes and shapes to fit almost any budget, a regular waterfall is likely to be a more expensive project simply because it requires a pond, as well.
In terms of space, the winner in a comparison on a pondless waterfall vs regular waterfall is clear. Pondless waterfalls are often the better choice for those looking to fill a smaller space. That being said, it doesn’t mean there aren’t options for a pond and regular waterfall in almost any space, as well. Working with our water feature installation professionals, you’ll see there are lots of small pond ideas for backyard entertaining spaces that look incredible without requiring a massive yard.
Lastly, your debate between choosing a pondless waterfall vs regular waterfall should include considerations for maintenance. Learning how to keep a backyard pond clean or a pondless waterfall running smoothly all season isn’t difficult as long as you stay on top of it. A few minutes each week is most likely all you need for a pondless waterfall. With a pond and regular waterfall, there is a bit more upkeep necessary, but not so much that it becomes a major burder.
We hope this guide has given you great insight into the difference between a pondless waterfall vs regular waterfall. The truth is, you can’t go wrong with either! Adding a water feature to your yard will give you an incredible oasis to enjoy solo as well as a show-stopping backyard for entertaining friends, family, and neighbors. When you’re ready to get started, contact NVS Waterscapes and let’s get started to give you the most beautiful water feature installation in Albany, Saratoga, Colonie, Schenectady, and the Capital Region!
Looking for more ideas for your water feature installation? Check out these resources and be inspired:
