Combining fire and water is a perfect way to bring a sense of peace and serenity to your outdoor living space. The calming sound of the cascading water works hand in hand with the hissing flames for a truly unique experience. With options ranging from simple fountains and candles to fire pits with full sized water features, you’ll have a ton to choose from.
Our favorite is the impressive Sunnydaze 3-Tier Burning Bowls Outdoor Waterfall Fountain. It’s got the looks, build quality and size to make it a wonderful patio centerpiece.
Best Fire Fountain – Sunnydaze 3-Tier Burning Bowls Outdoor Waterfall Fountain
- UNIQUE WATERFALL FEATURE TO LIGHT UP THE YARD: Make a statement in your landscape with this beautiful outdoor fountain, which combines calm flowing water & attractive flames; Measures 16 inches deep x...
- DURABLE RESIN THAT'S BUILT TO LAST: Made of sturdy polyresin, the burning bowls garden fountain is designed to be long lasting while still resembling the gorgeous appeal of a stone patio water...
Stunning, reliable and built to last are the best ways to describe the Sunnydaze 3-Tier Burning Bowls Outdoor Waterfall Fountain. It’s designed with three independent torches that provide flickering firelight on each tier of the fountain. The integrated pump creates calming sounds using the fire fountains three gallon water reservoir. When the pump is on and the torches lit, the firelight reflecting off tumbling water is truly a sight to behold. You’ll also find the polyresin material is extremely weather resistant and won’t fade or degrade in the sun. If you want a great conversation starter that won’t break the bank, this would make for a perfect choice.
Fire Fountain Buyers Guide
Fire fountains come in all sorts of shapes, sizes and designs. Each have their own advantages and disadvantages. From material selection to fuel types there are actually quite a few small details that you’ll need to choose. In this section we’ll aim to cover the basics so you can make a well informed buying decision.
Do fire fountains require electricity?
Yes, pretty much any modern day fire fountain requires a standard 110V household outlet. Most fountains are equipped with a small water pump. This pump drives water from the reservoir up to the top so it can then cascade back down. You’ll find that the small submersible water pumps don’t require much electricity and are very energy efficient. However, they do need a bit of maintenance every now and again.
How do I clean the water pump?
To clean a fire fountain water pump you’ll first need to take it out of the unit. Typically they are just set in place at the bottom of the water reservoir and are easily removed. Make sure you unplug the unit before this step. Next go ahead and rinse it off under a hose, making sure to pay special attention to the small mesh screen which can get easily clogged. Afterwards you can check the tubes for buildup and if necessary clean them with a thin scrub brush.
If you don’t have one handy you can use a single chopstick and wrap some paper towels around the end. Finally you can reassemble everything and plug the system back in. Now you’ll have a clean and happy pump that’ll run for another season.
What kind of fuel do they require?
Most medium sized fire fountains rely on regular torch fuel. It’s cheap, works well and if you get the citronella scented variety, helps to repel bugs and mosquitos. Simply fill up the fuel reservoir for each individual flame element and light the wick. You’ll find you can get around 3-6 hours of burn time with a single fill. If you don’t want to lug around a propane tank, this is usually the most convenient choice.
If you’ve opted for a smaller tabletop model, they tend to rely on tealight candles. These small candles are super cheap and once used, you can just throw them out. A standard sized tea candle is designed to burn for 6 hours. As such, they are perfect for outdoor events. You can buy a big bag of them for next to nothing. Once you’ve got them you’ll find a ton of uses for them all around the house.
Larger fire fountain with bigger flame features almost universally run off propane. The standard 20 gallon tank you use for your grill will work perfectly. However some models requires specialized disposable 1 gallon bottles. Because you’ll have a much larger supply of propane these can run for 10-12 hours on a single tank. If you tend to host larger gatherings that start in the early afternoon and run all night long, this type of system will be much easier to maintain.
Which materials are best for a fire and water fountain?
Fire water fountains require materials that are both tolerant of heat and resistant to Mother Nature. Most low and mid-priced options are made from durable polyresin. This material is extremely strong and can be shaped into a ton of small details. It’s also very resistant to UV rays and will last for season after season with minimal upkeep.
Higher end flame fountains will instead be crafted from GFRC. Glass fiber reinforced concrete is even stronger than resin and weight quite a bit more as well. The fiber reinforcement provides enhanced crack resistance and ensures your concrete fire bowl fountain won’t break if it’s cold outside, then suddenly warms up quickly.
Best Fire Fountain Detailed Reviews
Okay, so we’ve covered the basic about fire fountain design, materials, fuel and maintenance. Now we can move onto the actual reviews. We’ve selected products that are in various price ranges, have different sizes and unique looks. This will let you find something that fits in with your existing decor and is in your desired budget. Whether you want a stunning patio centerpiece or a just a bit of extra visual appeal, we’ve got you covered.
#1 Sunnydaze 3-Tier Burning Bowls Outdoor Waterfall Fountain
- UNIQUE WATERFALL FEATURE TO LIGHT UP THE YARD: Make a statement in your landscape with this beautiful outdoor fountain, which combines calm flowing water & attractive flames; Measures 16 inches deep x...
- DURABLE RESIN THAT'S BUILT TO LAST: Made of sturdy polyresin, the burning bowls garden fountain is designed to be long lasting while still resembling the gorgeous appeal of a stone patio water...
Standing at 34.5” tall, the Sunnydaze Outdoor Fire Fountain is a thing of beauty. With three independent tiers and a stunning design it’s perfectly designed to be a patio centerpiece. The small flames provide a wonderfully high end feel and look amazing when reflected off the moving water. Not only that, but the bowls are turned such that the cascading water adds visual interest and soothing ambient noise to your outdoor entertainment area. The darker coloring provides excellent contrast to brighter environments. To us, there is nothing more calming and relaxing than hearing the trickle of water and watching small flames dance in the early evening.
This fountain portion of this system is powered by a small, quiet submersible pump. It needs to be connected to a standard 110V household outlet in order to start. Once running, you’ll find the trickling water to be far louder than the pump. If you do start to hear some loud pump sucking noises, it’s time to put some extra water in the fountain. You’ll also want to pick up some torch fuel as none is provided with the fountain itself.
Related Link: Grab an outdoor artificial palm tree for a tropical touch with your fire fountain.
We were also pleased to note the Sunnydaze Outdoor Fire Fountain is made from weather resistant polyresin. This material won’t become brittle or fade in harsh UV light. It also isn’t affected by cold and can stay out year round with zero issues. Overall, this is an amazing fire fountain that performs incredibly well and is built to last.
#2 Aquascape 78201 Fire Fountain Water Feature
- Self-contained feature is a simple plug-and-play water feature with a fire feature in the center making it an ideal focal point or centerpiece to any outdoor setting
- Made from durable GFRC
The Aquascape 78201 Fire Fountain Water Feature is half fire pit, half water fountain. When the water is flowing, the sound of it trickling down the bowl is very pleasant and not overpowering. We were also pleased to find this model was available in three different sizes ranging from 24” all the way up to 32” in diameter. This makes it great for both small and large patios alike. You’ll want to make sure you grab some river stones and torch fuel to really finish off the look. It unfortunately doesn’t come with either. We are pretty big fans of the more modern look and this concrete fire fountain is perfect for attracting birds and other animals.
We were happy to report how sturdy this unit is. The designers opted to craft it from glass fiber reinforced concrete for added outdoor resistance. It won’t crack, break, rust or fall apart in even the harshest of weather conditions. Meanwhile, the sandstone finish gives it a refined, high end look that’ll put your neighbors’ yards to shame.
A little bit of assembly is required, but it’ll only take a few minutes. Just pop the pump in the water reservoir and add some torch fuel in. After that, this is more or less a plug and play unit. Connect it up to a standard 110V outlet and you’ll be good to go. With a 1 year warranty and stunning looks, you can go wrong with the Aquascape 78201 Fire Fountain Water Feature
#3 Alpine Corporation Pouring Tiers Tabletop Fountain with 3 Candles
- INDOOR ZEN FOUNTAIN: 3-tier water fountain transforms your space into a restful oasis. Interior pump keeps the water flowing - just plug it in!
- RELAXING WATER FLOW: Water trickles from each tier to mimic the sounds of a small waterfall, adding ambiance to your living room, office, bedroom, or anywhere you need to add a relaxing touch
This lovely little tabletop fire fountain is a mix of natural beauty and refined style. As the water cascades gently down the three pillars, small tealight candles create a warm fuzzy glow. Included river rocks really help to give this fountain a finished, high quality feel. The rough texture of the resin pillars reminds us of natural stone caverns. Meanwhile the weathered stone base accents the lighter colored pillars perfectly. If you’re looking for something small that’ll really spruce up your outdoor (or indoor) living area, this would make for an amazing choice.
When you first get the Alpine Corporation Pouring Tiers Tabletop Fountain, you’ll need to pour the included river stone in the base and place the three included tealight candles on their pillars. After that, fill it about a ½” below the lip of the bowl and you’ll be ready for action. The whisper quiet pump plugs into a standard 110V outlet and hardly makes a peep. If it does, you’ll need to add some more water. We recommend distilled water for small units like this. It keeps the pump free of minerals and allows it to last much longer.
You’ll also find this unit has no on/off switch so you’ll just need to unplug it when you’re done. For reference, the tealight candles will typically burn out after about 6 hours. They simply pop out and are very easy to replace. Overall, this is an incredibly well designed small scale fire fountain. It’s cozy, easy to operate and comes with everything you need right in the box.
#4 Sunnydaze Outdoor Water Fountain Cube Column Tower with Torch Top
- NATURE-INSPIRED DESIGN: Make a statement in your garden, patio, lawn, or deck with this unique rock garden fountain. Measures 17" length x 25" width x 6.5" height and weighs 11.8 pounds.
- DURABLE MATERIAL THAT'S BUILT TO LAST: Made of durable polyresin material, this backyard water fountain will provide you many years of beauty while resembling the appearance of a natural rock.
The Sunnydaze Outdoor Column Fire Fountain is a stunning unit made from natural slate and resin with copper accents. At nearly three feet tall it’s more of a patio centerpiece rather than something to stuff in a corner. The single tiki torch really helps to bring out the natural slate coloring. You’ll also find the single flickering flame isn’t too distracting and gives off a high end feel. And of course, as with all our selection, it’s purposely designed to withstand outdoor temperatures and rain. We’ve also found that the large fuel canister only needs to be filled once for an entire evening of enjoyment.
If you’re planning to use the fountain feature (and you should) the 6 foot long power cord gives you some added flexibility. It depends on a standard 110V patio outlet though, so anything farther away will require an extension cord. As this is a high end unit it’s built from natural slate with a resin coating. You’ll find it both stunning to look at an extremely durable.
The electric submersible pump is also very robust and able to last for season after season, with a little care of course. The extra-large 0.5” diameter hose help to reduce plugging and enable higher water flow. This in turn, means it has a wonderful cascading water sound that is both soothing and relaxing. Overall, the Sunnydaze Outdoor Column Fire Fountain makes for a great fire fountain that’ll be an amazing focal point for your patio. It’s got the looks, performance and outdoor resistance to make it a seriously great choice.
#5 Sunnydaze Flaming Pillar Outdoor Water Fountain Propane Gas Fire Feature
- ADD UNIQUE STYLE TO YOUR YARD: Make a stunning statement in your landscape with this gorgeous outdoor water fountain. Measures 18.75" square x 31" height and weighs a heavy duty 74.6 lbs. to ensure it...
- DURABLE DESIGN THAT'S BUILT TO LAST: Made of quality fiberglass-reinforced concrete, this waterfall outdoor fountain will give you many years of beauty and performance.
The Sunnydaze Flaming Pillar Outdoor Water Fountain is a stylish water feature with a built in propane burner. You’ll find it’s able to put out 8,000 BTU’s of heat for an impressive flame. Compared to our other options, it is far more powerful and even provide some extra ambient lighting. Not only does it look good, but this fire fountain comes with everything you need right in the box. From propane hoses, regulators, lava rocks and more, it’s fully loaded. The only downside with such a high end unit is the elevated cost. However, for what you’re getting and the 1 year warranty provided by Sunnydaze it’s worth every penny.
At 31” tall the Sunnydaze Fire Water feature is an impressive patio centerpiece. The base measures in at 18.5” x 18.5” to truly make a statement. We were pleased to note that this system also has a very silent submersible pump and a large 3.5 gallon capacity water reservoir. Once you fill it up and turn it on, you can run for about a week without worrying about the water level too much.
The powerful pump is able to seriously move some water as well. You’ll find the 0.6” diameter hose is great for the large volume of water is and perfect for reducing plugging and sediment build up. Meanwhile, the 5’ power cord provides a ton of flexibility on placement so you’re not tied to only one spot. Overall, the Sunnydaze Flaming Pillar Outdoor Water Fountain is an amazing product that is built to last and is made from fiber reinforced concrete for added weather resistance. If you want something that will really make your patio stand out, this’ll be the fire fountain to get.
Summary
A well-made fire fountain provide a luxury, yet calming feel to any outdoor entertainment space. Whether you opt for a large or a small unit, all of the choice we pick will last for season after season with a bit of maintenance. Our top pick is the Sunnydaze 3-Tier Burning Bowls Outdoor Waterfall Fountain due to its reliability, performance and overall visual appeal. However, you can’t go wrong with anything on our list.
If you want some added seclusion in your backyard so you can enjoy your fire fountain, consider adding a patio privacy screen. Alternatively (or in addition), grab a whole patio sunroom kit for a truly bug free outdoor experience.
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