A booster water pump supplies the necessary pressure to move water through the plumbing or from a storage tank. It connects to the main water line right after the main shutoff valve and can typically raise the home's water pressure by as much as 70 pounds.
A booster pump boosts water pressure and, in many cases, improves the flow rate. A booster pump works just like a fan. A fan has blades that spin around to increase air movement, and a booster pump has an impeller inside that increases water flow and pressure in the same fashion.
A booster system is a piece of equipment used to increase or amplify the air pressure coming from an existing compression system by passing it through additional compression stages. Booster air compressors can raise existing air pressures between 80 – 150 psig to as much as 2000 psig.
If you have issues with low pressure at faucets, showerheads, or other fixtures in your home or building, booster pumps are an easy and efficient long-term solution.
In individual units and buildings, household pumps are used to improve the water pressure, and in large buildings and complexes and many units, water supply pump boosters are used to solve the water pressure problem, especially on the upper floors. Each booster pump consists of several water pumps with a chassis.
Booster pumps are additions to a system used to increase fluid pressure in that system. A pressure tank stores the water and maintains the pressure within a certain range so that the booster pump is not constantly turning on and off every time you flip your sink handle or flush a toilet.
Measure the Current Water PressureWhile sizing a water booster pump, measure the current water pressure against the amount of pressure provided by a given booster pump. If you are looking to boost water pressure from 25 PSI to 40 PSI, then you will require a booster pump capable of producing 15 PSI.
A quick and easy way to increase water pressure is to adjust the pressure-reducing valve, which can be found in your home, usually close to your water meter.
Open your main water valve.
Your house has a main water valve, usually located near the meter; the valve controls the flow of water into your home's pipes. Find the valve and check to see if it's completely open. Opening a half-shut valve is one of the quickest ways for increasing home water pressure.
How Much Water Pressure Should a House Have? Most often homeowners complain about low pressure; however, having high pressure can result in expensive damage. The pressure level can vary, but 60 PSI (pounds per square inch) is recommended for most residential homes. Water pressure should not be higher than 80 PSI.
Slightly overinflated tires (3 to 5 psi over placard) is sometimes a good thing. It promotes tire wear, fuel economy, steering responsiveness, hydroplaning resistance, snow traction, but the ride quality suffers. But don't do more than 3 to 5 psi (assuming the tire size is as listed.)
The idea is that the pump (not oversized for the attempt) will pull a greater g.p.m. through the pump and increase the p.s.i. too. Having said that, there are limits and parameters. 1) Size of the meter and supply line; 2) size of the pump; 3) size of your lines after the pump.
When sizing a domestic booster pump, you need to measure the current water pressure against the amount of pressure that the booster pump can provide. For instance, a building looking to boost water pressure from 20 to 40 psi will require a booster pump capable of producing 20 psi.
Advantages of Booster Pumps
Booster pumps increase pressure inside the system to accelerate the flow of fluids. They are particularly effective in delivering pressurized water to high-rise buildings, manufacturing complexes and other large facilities.
Normal psi for a home pipe system is between 30 and 80 psi. While you don't want the psi to be too low, it violates code to be above 80. Instead, you should aim for a psi that's between 60 and 70.
Most residential plumbing systems are designed to handle 40 to 60 PSI of pressure, with 80 PSI being the typical maximum and anything over 100 PSI being possibly detrimental to plumbing components.
Summary. When you increase the size of your pipes and fittings, it can increase the water pressure and decreases the velocity, through water flow will be increased. This means that the amount of force that water can exert on a pipe or fitting is decreased.
A booster pump takes the water that comes in and uses an electric pump and pressure tank to increase the psi. You can set your pressure to your liking by using the top dial on the device. Booster pumps can be expensive, but they help with water flow in addition to pressure.
If you're experiencing low pressure in a specific area, check for clogging or corrosion that could be slowing water flow. Issues with seals and connections can impact the water pressure coming out of the faucet, so it is important to not only inspect the faucet and fixture themselves but the connections as well.
If you're suddenly getting low water pressure in one area of the house… ...the supply pipes to that area may either be corroded, leaking or blocked. If all the fixtures in an entire bathroom or the entire kitchen are suddenly getting low water pressure, you can trace the issue to the plumbing pipes.
Pumps should last through the initially installed motor and perhaps as many as two or three replacement motors, usually 10-12 years. Modern pumps are made of hard plastic and will over time warp.
Most of these are centrifugal pumps that take water from a source, move it through an impeller (single-stage) or multiple impellers (multi-stage) to increase water pressure. The high-pressure water then flows through an outlet.
On average these water pump systems can last between around 8-15 years, so although it may be costly to repair or replace you can have the peace of mind that it will pay for itself over the years.