How to Increase Water Pressure

Pressure booster pump diagram.

Many municipalities have residential water pressure restrictions. This has been done to decrease the city's water consumption. Unfortunately, along with decreasing the volume of water used, this also limits the water pressure available in your house. The result is very low flow at your faucets. If you have a second story, the situation can become critical. Every time someone flushes the toilet downstairs or uses the washing machine, the shower pressure dwindles to a trickle. This article will show you how to get around this low water pressure problem, without consuming any more water than your legal allotment.

Things You'll Need

• 1- pressure booster pump
• 20 ft. of 3/4" copper pipe
• 2- 3/4" ball valves
• 1- 3/4" check valve
• 1- pressure reducing valve with gauge
• plumbing tools

Instructions

1. Before you consider major repairs, do a little sleuthing to rule out the more common low water pressure problems. Find out the condition of the pipes in your house. Many old iron pipes have a build-up of lime and rust inside. This can limit water pressure in a big way. Check for kinks in copper and plastic pipes. Look at the before and after water meter shut-off valves; make sure they are both open all the way. If there is a screen strainer before the water meter or anywhere else in the house, check to make sure that it's not clogged and restricting the flow. If none of these things are restricting your water pressure then you may want to install a water pressure booster pump system.

2. Submit a plan of what you want to do, so you can get a plumbing building permit from City Hall.

3. Measure your current water pressure. Get a gauge and screw it into your garden hose bib. Booster pumps will add about 40 psi. to whatever pressure you currently have. They need to have an input pressure of not more than about 50 psi. Use a pressure regulator before the pump.

4. Some cities will require you to use a water reservoir tank. You will need to have this between the city water and your booster pump. All municipalities will require you use a one-way check valve to prevent back flow into the city water lines.

5. Once you have ordered all the parts you need, connect them according to the diagram in this article and you will always have the pressure that you have been missing. If you follow the diagram, you will have the option of shutting out the pump, and using city water pressure as if the pump was not there. Limit your household pressure to no more than 80 psi. to prevent excessive wear to your faucets.

6. It is best to get a booster pump that has an automatic pressure sensing switch. When you open the faucet, the booster pump goes on; when the faucets are off, the booster pump is also off. Also consider getting one that has dry run protection.

7. Great water pressure at your faucets, steady hot water showers, gushing garden hose pressure to the end of your yard, are all just an booster pump away. Three pump manufacturers to consider are: Grundfos, Walrus, and Davey.

Resources

• Davey Pumps
• Grundfos Pumps
• Walrus Pumps