A: Good question. There’s a lot of different things you can look at. What you have to look at first is, how much pressure are you trying to add to your system? You’re trying to boost this pressure so, you need to look at what the volume is and how much more pressure you need.
You also need to look at your power available. Depending on what you have, that may or may not limit what you’re able to put in your system or add to it.
You also need to look at the local regulations in your area. I know for Harris County, we do a lot of pressure boosting for irrigation systems. But, we are not allowed to pull off the city main. Obviously, if you’re pulling pressure off of one main, it’s going to take away pressure from another building down the way.
So, for instance, when we did the zoo—we had to have an air gap, which is where the city main pours into a holding tank. Then, we boost off that holding tank—that’s connected to the city main in any way.
So, there’s a lot of different ways you can choose a pressure booster pump. But, the first two things you need to look at is what exactly are you trying to boost pressure-wise and what is your power available?
What Is A Pressure Booster Pump?
A pressure booster pump is a piece of machinery that increases the native pressure of a fluid or a gas. The pump design will vary depending on what type of fluid is involved. However, regarding this question, which we’re often asked—it’s related to boosting water pressure.
In both residential and commercial plumbing systems, a pressure booster pump helps raise the water pressure and volume. Low water pressure can range from being a nuisance to being a liability. For example, it could be as minor as a trickling shower head or sink faucets. However, in an agricultural setting such as a farm, low pressure can result in an irrigation system that fails. That results in loss of crops and thousands in income.
What Causes Low Pressure?
There are a lot of reasons why your plumbing system can experience low pressure the most common culprits are:
Gravity
Gravity will drive water flow or inhibit it—it’s that simple. The higher up in elevation water has to travel, the more that pressure will decrease. Also, the weight of water is a factor—a single gallon weighs a little over 8lbs. When water has to go uphill or up a few floors, gravity will always want to bring it back down.
However, a building lower than the water source doesn’t experience the same issue. But, apartments, high-rise buildings, and multi-story homes usually need a pressure booster pump.
Distance From Water Source
How far the water source is from the home or business makes a huge difference as does the size of the pipes. When a home is at the end of the supply line, flow may be very low by the time it reaches you. Additionally, pipes that are too small will restrict what flow there is.
Low Source Pressure
Sometimes your home is lower than the supply line but you still have low pressure. This can often be a result of your local water plant having low output pressure.
System Overload
If you have additional treatment systems such as purifiers or have extra fixtures, it can lower your pressure as well. However, a pressure booster pump can restore that pressure.
Plumbing Issues
Sometimes low water pressure isn’t due to elevation issues, pipe size, or treatment systems. It could be plumbing issues like a clog, corroded pipe, or other issues. In cases like these, a pressure booster pump won’t help. Once you correct the issues, your pressure should be restored.
How Does The Pump Work?
The pump boosts pressure and often flow rate by operating similarly to a fan. The difference is, where a fan moves air with blades—the pump moves water with an impeller.
The Components
Pressure booster pumps despite who makes them, all have the same core parts that work together to boost pressure:
- Motor
- Impellers
- Inlet and outlet
- Pressure Sensor
A pressure booster pump has an impeller that takes water through the inlet and outputs through the outlet. The motor is responsible for making the impellers spin. Now, booster pumps do differ from one to another in the way they take in water and push it out. Some pumps employ a spinning impeller, while some use an oscillating diaphragm.
How Are They Used?
These types of pumps are used to boost low water pressure in residential and industrial water systems. Often, in agricultural applications, they are used to move water from a pond, a lake, or a tank for irrigation.
In a home or business that doesn’t get enough pressure from the city main, a pressure booster pump corrects that. The size of the application will dictate the size and power of the pump. For example, a single-story home may need a small pump with relatively low power. However, a high-rise hotel would need an exceptionally large commercial booster pump or an array of pumps.
In green living applications, the pump may be used to re-pressurize water from something like a rainwater tank to distribute through the system.
Enhancing With An Expansion Tank
An expansion or hydropneumatic water storage tank can enhance the operation of a pressure boosted system. What the tank does is provide extra space for water to expand. This prevents the pump from continually turning on and off when pressure is needed. Also, with flow switch enabled pumps the tank prevents startup hesitation.
A larger tank holds a reserve of water that is called a drawdown. This water is drawn out of the tank before the pump cycles back on. This is often the setup in a home with a private well to reduce how often the pump cycles.
How To Know If You Need A Booster Pump
If you have low water pressure and have ruled out plumbing problems or you just need increased pressure then a booster pump is the answer.
Things to consider when choosing a pressure booster pump:
- What is your flow rate? You need to determine how many gallons of water you’re receiving per minute while considering all the fixtures in the home. Toilets, sinks, tubs, etc. A simple way to do this is to take a bucket and a garden hose and clock how long it takes for the bucket to fill up. This will give you your gallon per minute (GPM) flow rate.
- How much water do you need? Determine your water needs and give a bit of a buffer.
- Is the water source above or below you? This will determine the power needed to give you the pressure you need. The higher above the water source you are, the stronger pump you’ll need.
- How much pressure do I need? Most households have a pressure reduction valve where the water line comes in to maintain pressure. It is possible to add too much pressure to your home as anything above 60 psi will ruin the system quickly.
Let Gulf Coast Help You Choose
Which pressure booster pump you ultimately need will depend on several factors:
- How much water your household uses
- Your desired pressure level
- The location of the water source in relation to the home
- Amount of fixtures and treatment systems in the home
The best way to make sure you get the right pump to serve your needs is just to contact us. We’ll do the legwork for you and make sure you get the pump you need. Contact us today!