Does your house have low water pressure? A house water boost pump could help!
Here’s what you should know about installing this device in your home.
1. What is a house water booster pump?
A house water booster pump is a device designed to increase low water pressure and flow.
It boosts the water pressure to your desired level while providing pressure to move water from the storage tank or throughout the whole house or commercial facility.
2. What causes low water pressure?
Low water pressure is the primary reason that homeowners find that they need a pressure boosting pump.
That said, many people don’t understand why they have low water pressure in the first place.
Is it something they did?
Is it just because of the house’s location?
Here are the top 5 reasons.
Gravity
Gravity can either drive or slow water flow.
When the elevation is higher where the water must be delivered, the water pressure will be lower.
Water is heavy, and therefore, if it must travel uphill (or up floors), then gravity will want to pull it back down.
Gravity may not be an issue for buildings that are lower than their water source.
That said, skyscrapers, apartment buildings, homes, and businesses with multiple stories require a large booster pump to move water up many stories.
Distance from the water source
If you’re far from your water source or your home sits at the end of the water supply line, then the flow rate could be low by the time the water reaches you.
Additionally, if you have small pipes, then a smaller amount of water will run through your fixtures.
Low city water pressure
What happens if your house is below the water supply line and your plumbing pipes are clear, but you still have low water pressure?
Low water flow can result from low pressure at your local water plant.
Additional water systems
If you have other water treatment systems or fixtures in place, then they could be causing a decrease in water pressure.
If you add a booster pump, then this can help to restore your water pressure.
Plumbing problems
Plumbing issues can be the cause of your low water pressure.
Before you purchase a house water booster pump, check your plumbing for any clogs or valve adjustments.
3. How does a house booster pump work?
A house water booster pump helps to improve the flow rate of the water coming into your house.
The pump itself works like a fan with blades spinning around it to transfer energy to the water flowing through.
A booster pump has an impeller inside of it that increases water flow as well as pressure.
The motor in the pump spins the impeller(s).
As water moves through the impeller it picks up energy, which transforms into increased pressure within the confines of the pump.
4. What are the parts of a booster pump?
A house water booster pump will have the same parts regardless of the manufacturer.
Motor
Impellers
Inlet
Outlet
Pressure or flow sensing device
5. Will house water booster pumps enhance pressure and flow rate?
A water booster pump is designed to maintain a steady flow rate and water pressure level.
This means that the pump will adjust the flow rate as needed.
However, there’s a pump curve that you should consider.
When the pressure needed to move water increases, the flow rate decreases.
You can think of this like you’re putting your thumb over the garden house.
Water comes out at a higher pressure, but you’ve restricted the flow rate.
A booster pump works in a very similar fashion.
You’ll install your pump into the plumbing of the house where the water must travel uphill around the pipe bind.
When the flow rate is slower, you’ll experience higher water pressure.
6. How are house water booster pumps used?
House water boost pumps are most often used to increase the water flow or water pressure in a house or commercial building that sources its water from a lake, pond, or storage tank.
However, there are some households that may not receive enough pressure from the city water supply, and they would need a pump to increase low water pressure.
Additionally, hotels sometimes need large commercial booster pumps to ensure decent water pressure makes it to the top story of the building.
Another way that booster pumps can be used is to re-pressurize water from a storage tank.
The pump will send water to the drinking water faucet or throughout the home from the tank.
For instance, if you collected water in a storage tank in a rain harvesting system, then this could be an instance where you’d need to use a pump.
Similarly, pumps are often used to move water to flush toilets or wash laundry if you have a storage tank holding your water.
To understand a little bit more about how a house water booster pump will be used in your home, you should distinguish between whether you need a home booster pump or a booster pump and expansion tank.
A home booster pump
Installing a single home booster pump will allow you to boost water pressure throughout an entire house.
This can be useful for well water users because they want to increase the flow from a low recovery well to their home.
Low-recover wells don’t always produce enough water for their household demand.
This is where the pump comes in.
The booster will pull water from the well’s storage tank to pressurize it in the house.
A booster pump with an expansion tank
If you have a booster pump in place, then you may need an expansion or hydropneumatic storage tank.
This tank will store pressurized water in order to take some of the demand off of the pump.
It will also prevent the booster pump from cycling on and off every time you flip the faucet on.
This helps increase the life span of the booster pump.
7. Does my home need a house water booster pump?
A house water booster pump may be recommended if you have low water pressure.
You should first check to make sure your low water pressure isn’t caused by a leak.
Additionally, if you need to increase water pressure for a certain application, then a booster pump can be a great start.
Here are some questions that can be helpful when you’re starting to shop for a booster pump.
What is my water flow rate?
Find your water flow rate by calculating the gallons of water you get per minute.
To get an accurate rate, you must consider all the fixtures.
The flow rate is expressed in gallons per minute (GPM).
The service flow rate is found by adding the flow rates for fixtures and appliances that may run longer than 10 minutes.
The peak flow rate is found by adding the flow rates for the maximum number of fixtures and appliances that may run at the same time.
You should choose a water filter or treatment system that can manage both flow rates.
An easy test is the bucket test.
All you need is a 5-gallon bucket and garden house.
Time how long it takes you to fill the bucket with water, and this will give you the flow rate in GPM.
How much water do I need?
Consider how much water your household or business uses.
Your water bill can be a good place to look for this information.
Is the water source above or below the pump?
Think about where your water is traveling.
Is it going uphill or up several stories?
This can impact whether you need a booster pump.
How much pressure do I need?
High water pressure is generally regarded as a good thing.
Taking a shower with super low water pressure isn’t any fun, but high water pressure isn’t always the best for your plumbing, fittings, or appliances.
In fact, if the water pressure is too high, then it can destroy those features.
To ensure this doesn’t happen, most homes have a pressure-reducing valve.
The water line enters the house to maintain the water pressure.
Pressure over 60 psi will start to damage the household plumbing system.
Your answers to the questions above will determine whether you need a house water booster pump and which pump you require.
A larger house, for instance, will need a booster pump that can supply pressure to the second or third floors.
8. What size do you pick for your house water booster pump?
You’ll need to answer another series of questions before selecting your house water booster pump.
Do you have a two-story, four-bedroom, one-bathroom house?
Are you moving water a significant distance?
How far away from your water source are you?
Depending on your answers to these questions, you may need a pump with more than one impeller.
Single impeller pumps are not good at drawing water from a distance.
This means if you’re a significant distance from the water source, or you want to use water from a pond for irrigation, then you’ll need something with more horsepower to pump the water a long way.
Keep in mind that water is HEAVY! A gallon of water weighs 8 pounds.
Just a single gallon of water traveling up a one-inch pipe that climbs several feet requires a lot of force.
9. What are tips for installing a house water booster pump?
The best tips for installing a house water booster include where to install it and how to keep a booster pump quiet.
You should install the pump right where you need to move water from.
So, if you’re struggling with low water pressure in your household, you should install the pump on the main line where water enters the house.
For best results, make sure you have a bypass in case the pump malfunctions.
This will allow you to isolate the issue and work to resolve it while still getting water into the house.
You should also test the booster pump before connecting it to the house.
A leak may cause the pump to cycle — starting and stopping in rapid succession — due to the low flow rate.
These pumps can be activated by either flow rate or pressure (or both).
If you find a leak, then you should isolate the pump and test it to see what the issue is.
Then you can find the cause and fix the leak.
If you’re having trouble keeping your booster pump quiet, then you’ll need to evaluate the type of pump you’ve used and the materials around where the pump is installed.
Consider the pump vibration during installation and the method of installation.
The method you use can enhance the noise it makes if you’re not careful.
Here are a few tips for optimal installation to reduce noise.
Don’t install the pump directly to copper lines
- The vibration of the pump will transfer to the copper and sound like an airplane coming through your house
Use a flex connector for the inlet and the outlet
- This will help to minimize the vibration sound
10. What are the best house water booster pumps on the market?
Are you in the market for a water booster pump?
Here are a few ideas that can help get you started in your search.
The Davey BT14-45
This is a great pump for small homes (small two-story or long one-story).
The pump delivers a nominal flow of 14 GPM and a maximum boost of 60 PSI.
It operates at around 55 decibels.
It’s not as quiet as some of the other pumps on this list, but it’s still a decently quiet and efficient pump.
Visit here to learn more.
The Davey BT30-30
This model has just a single impeller booster system.
It’s a compact and quiet solution if you’re having low water pressure in your household.
You’ll get a maximum boost of 50 PSI and a nominal flow of 30 GPM.
Visit here to learn more.
The Grundfos Scala2 3-45-1
If you’re seeking a water pump for water supply, irrigation, and domestic uses, this is a great pick.
It operates at a quiet 47 decibels — about the level of light rainfall.
It’s regarded as the best booster pump for irrigation, and it comes with a built-in screen and intelligent pump control that ensures water pressure is ideal for every situation.
If water isn’t available to run through the pump, it’ll shut off, so the pump isn’t at risk of overheating or damaging the motor.
Visit here to learn more.
The Grundfos Scala1 3-45-1
This pump is recommended for domestic applications.
It’s known as one of the best technological pumps, and it’s a fully integrated, self-priming pump that’s awesome for both indoor and outdoor applications.
It runs at a noise level of about 55 decibels.
It comes with a user-friendly design and intuitive app control.
Visit here to learn more.
Final Thoughts
If you’re having issues with your flow rate or water pressure, consider getting a house water booster pump.
For less than $1,000, you can see a big improvement in your home and how you operate daily!
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Disclaimer: we are not lawyers, accountants, or financial advisors and the information in this article is for informational purposes only. This article is based on our own research and experience and we do our best to keep it accurate and up-to-date, but it may contain errors. Please be sure to consult a legal or financial professional before making any investment decisions.
Prior to starting Gokce Capital, Erika received a Bachelor of Architecture from the University of Southern California and a graduate degree in Urban Policy from Columbia University. She worked as both an architectural designer and engineer in New York before joining the New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development.
Erika currently lives in the New York Metropolitan area with her spouse, daughter and cat. She is originally from Chicago and still considers herself a midwesterner at heart.
Erika also loves to read, write and travel (fun fact, she has visited all 50 states and more than 30 countries!). Her new book, Land Investing Mistakes: 11 True Stories You Need To Know Before Buying Land, is now available on Amazon.