Booster Pumps

A booster pump increases low water pressure and low flow either from a storage tank or on mains pressure throughout the whole property. If you have low water pressure or low flow, the booster pump will bring the water pressure up to the desired level to make your plumbing system work efficiently.

Water pressure is the force water is pushed through your pipes into your property. It effects the flow of water out of your taps, shower heads and into your appliances such as washing machines and dishwashers.

Water pressure is measured in bar or psi (pounds per square inch). One bar of water pressure is needed to raise water 10 metres high so the higher the water must travel, the lower the water pressure will be.

If the water pressure in your house is low to all your plumbed appliances and fixtures, it is most likely the issue is that the water pressure coming into your house is low. If it is just to one of some of the appliances or fixtures, it could be an issue with that fixture, or a pipe run in your property. The amount of water pressure in your home may vary depending on the time of the day and the ground level of your property. Check that the water meter valve and the main shutoff valve are fully opened.

However, while these factors play a part, your water authority is required to supply a minimum of 0.7 bar of pressure. If the mains pressure into your property is consistently low, you may need to fit a booster pump to your plumbing system.

To see our full range of booster pump sets please click - Booster Pump Sets

A booster pump set usually contains a single, twin or triple booster pump, a pressure vessel and a pressure gauge. Most booster pumps also have dry run protection which means the pump will not run if there is no water flowing through it, preventing the pump from burning out. You can also get booster sets that include a water storage tank or break tank.

To improve your mains water pressure and flow, a mains booster pump can be fitted to the mains cold water supply. In compliance with water fitting regulations, this is up to 12 litres per minute. Generally, a mains booster pump can improve the performance of all the water appliances and fixtures in your home.

Yes, the WRAS state that you can pump from the mains so long as there are safeguards in place so that 12l/min is not exceeded. Check that your booster pump is fully WRAS approved and suitable for potable or drinking water. If you require more than 12’/min you will need to install a break tank.

To choose the correct booster pump set you will need to know the head height that the pump needs to pump to, the flow rate you require, the pressure you require and the system type you need. You will also need to understand if you require on larger pump or multiple smaller pumps.

If you need help in choosing the correct booster pump set please call us or email us and we will be happy to help you.

Please see our full range of booster pump sets at - Water Booster Pump Sets

A pressure or break water tank can enhance a boosted system. The tank allows water extra space to go when it expands and prevents the booster pump from cycling on and off every time you turn the fixtures or appliances on. A larger break tank holds a volume of water referred to as drawdown and means there is a larger amount of water available before the booster pump turns on again reducing the use of the pump.

Although a booster pump boosts water pressure, it also in many cases improves the flow rate. A booster pump is an impeller pump that that increases water flow and pressure in the same principle as a fan.

A booster pump is generally a type of centrifugal pump used to increase the pressure of water flowing through pipe lines.

The booster pump draws water into the pump through the mains supply or break tank. When the water enters the chamber of the pump, the pump activates the impellers. The impellers then spin at a high rate boosting the pressure of the water before exiting through the outlet.

By adding a booster pump set to you can improve your mains water pressure. These booster sets make having multiple uses on your plumbing system at the same time possible such as showers and washing up.

The booster pump is controlled by pressure. When pressure is released by turning on a tap or appliance, the booster pump turns on to push the water through at a faster rate. When the appliance is turned off and the pressure builds up, the pressure switch turns the pump off until it is needed again.

There are differences between water pressure and water flow. Water flow is the volume of water delivered and is measured in litres per minute. Water pressure is the force or speed the water is delivered. Both are affected by the size and condition of the pipe work the water is flowing through.

The single pump constant pressure cold water booster set, is designed to increase the pressure of water services within a building where the existing incoming main is not sufficient. If the supply of water fails during operation the pump automatically shuts down to prevent damage and re-starts again once water is restored. The pressure boosters are suitable for private water supply applications, particularly where constant pressure is required or where there are large fluctuations in demand.

 

Yes, your booster pump will need to be serviced and maintained regularly to keep it in good working order. This will prevent unnecessary costly repairs or replacements at a later date.

Due to regulation, you cannot pump directly onto a mains water line for the whole property, without storing water and creating an overflow. To achieve this we supply the boosters systems with break tanks, as they are commonly known, to compliantly store the water to act as a reservoir and which the pump draws from.

Pump and Tank Booster Sets

If you use lots of appliances at the same time you water pressure will reduce, such as dishwashers and washing machines. If you have an older property, you may find your water pipe is smaller than those used in modern houses. Smaller pipes supply less water and can reduce pressure and flow.

When water pressure in your house is low, it is most likely the water pressure coming into your house is lower than the property requires. However, if you notice that the low pressure is only to just one or a few appliances then it could be an issue with that fixture, or a pipe that runs into your property.

The amount of water pressure in your home may vary depending on the time of the day and the ground level of your property. Check that the water meter valve and the main shut off valve are fully opened.

However, while these factors play a part, your water authority is required to supply a minimum of 0.7 bar of pressure. If the mains pressure into your property is consistently low, you may need to fit a booster pump to your plumbing system.

To see our full range of booster pump sets, please click - Booster Pump Sets

For this, we would require a breakdown of the cold water outlet for the whole property, i.e. 2 W/C’s, 4 Wash hand basins and a shower. Once we have calculated the building water demand, we can then specify the right storage tank, this is an industry standard of a capacity to cope with a 10-minute run time at full demand, most 3-4 bedroom properties for example work out at around 250L.

For most single property installation, pressure isn’t a huge concern, as low head booster systems that run up to 3 bar will produce more than sufficient pressure for a 2-story property.

This depends on a couple of factors, the demand of the building if you want it sharing across 2 pumps, but also the importance of the water supply, for example, manufacturing facilities who need wash down cannot afford the downtime of a single pump etc. With a twin pump system, you can share the duty across 2 pumps, which both pumps would run at 50% of total duty, or on duty standby, where each pump would be capable of 100% of total duty.