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14 March, 2021

Do You Have Low Water Pressure?

If the water supply pressure is insufficient to meet the required pressure and flow values for plumbing fixtures, a water pressure booster system must be installed.

Keep in mind that the need for a water booster pump is partly determined by building characteristics; since the minimum pressure and flow rate values are specified at fixture outlets, the likelihood of needing a booster pump increases for taller buildings.

All booster pumps be equipped with a low-pressure cutoff switch, which prevents the creation of a vacuum when the pressure on the suction side reaches values of 10 psi or less. When negative pressure isn’t accounted for, a phenomenon called cavitation occurs, where small bubbles rapidly form and collapse in the flowing water. Cavitation can cause localized shockwaves, damaging the booster pump impeller and inducing mechanical vibrations, which affect the motor driving the pump as well

Checklist Before You Install a Water Booster Pump

• Clogged water pipes can cause a drastic pressure drop between the service entrance and the point of consumption, which is a common issue in older installations.
• Undersized pipes, a common result of poor plumbing design, can have the same effect as clogged water pipes.

Keep in mind that low pressure and flow rates at fixture outlets have many possible causes, and you should not immediately assume that low water supply pressure is to blame. Before you install a water booster pump, make sure your problem is not due to one of the following causes

In any of these scenarios, installing a water booster pump represents a waste of money, and the excessive pressure may actually damage your installation. Even if there is no damage, you will be wasting electric power to run the booster pump, and the excessive pressure will raise flowrates, increasing your water bill as well. Before you proceed, make sure you don’t have a partially closed valve, and get a professional assessment of your installation to verify that you don’t have piping issues.

Increasing the Efficiency of Water Booster Pumps

As with all pieces of equipment driven by an electric motor, it is possible to save energy if a booster pump is equipped with a variable frequency drive (VFD) for speed control. For fractional horsepower motors, such as those used in small residential applications, electronically commutated motors (ECMs) are more cost-effective option than VFDs.

Reducing the Cost of the Installation

Both pumps and electric motors have prices that are highly sensitive to nameplate capacity, and their efficiency is reduced when they operate below their rated horsepower. Oversized installations are both expensive and inefficient, so hiring a qualified engineering firm for design and specification is highly recommended.The upfront cost of the water booster system can also be reduced if the motor uses a higher voltage rating. For example, a 460-volt motor draws only half the current required by a 230-volt motor, assuming both have the same nameplate horsepower. Since electrical circuits are sized based on current and not voltage, the circuit for the higher voltage motor is the least expensive.

Water booster pumps are required when the pressure and flow rate delivered at individual plumbing fixtures fail to meet code requirements. However, before installing the system it is important to confirm if low pressure is not due to other factors, such as clogged or undersized piping. A water booster pump offers maximum performance when it is properly sized, and equipped with a high-efficiency motor and speed control.