Struggling with sub-par water pressure and sluggish flow rates? These are problems that are difficult to miss and oddly infuriating. Showers are lacklustre, taps rarely exceed a trickle and toilet tanks take an age to refill. But, we firmly believe that power showers shouldn’t be a luxury only experienced on holiday, so let’s discuss the solution.
Booster pumps
What is a booster pump?
Booster pumps give private water supplies a customisable water pressure, tailored to your preference, with the added bonus of improving flow rate at the same time.
There’s a delicate balance to strike between water pressure and flow rate, as a very high water pressure coupled with a high flow rate can not only be abrasive to plumbed appliances and fittings, but produce loud water flow noises and vibrations throughout the system. In some instances, too high a water pressure can even end up reducing flow rate.
But finding the solution that works best for you is where we come in, especially when there’s a few more things to consider.
Water pressure refers to the force with which the water moves through the system, whereas flow rate refers to how quickly the water moves through the system.
Source location, distribution structure and usage requirements will all impact the make and model of booster pump recommended for your supply. Additionally, while the booster pump aims to meet customer preferences, getting the right water pressure is also crucial for the efficiency of any water filtration treatment, as each piece of equipment has a water pressure range in which it works best.
How do booster pumps work?
While pumps can use different technologies, most booster pumps employ impellers that compress the water in order to increase the pressure. Depending on the model, these pumps have one or multiple impeller blades that rotate at high speed. Similar to how fans work, the rotation of the impellers imparts energy into the water and forces the incoming water through the outlet with a boosted pressure.
Modern booster pumps integrate pressure maintaining capabilities, utilising inverter technology to sustain a set pressure consistently within the system. This means there is no compromise on water pressure when more than one outlet is being used at the same time, as well as no abrupt starting and stopping for the pump when outlets are opened and closed. These advancements in the newer models are beneficial to both the overall health and longevity of the pump itself, whilst being more energy efficient and cost saving for the consumer.
What are the main causes of low pressure and/or flow rate?
Height difference
The height difference between your water source and your outlets (e.g., your taps, shower head or washing machine inlet) dictates system pressure. Put simply, the higher the water source is above the outlet, the better the pressure and flow rate of the water. This is because a larger vertical drop builds more atmospheric pressure (from gravitational pull) within the system, increasing the power and speed of your output. For context, you could expect to achieve a similar pressure and flow rate as mains water when the height difference between source and endpoint is 30-40 metres. In cases where the water source exists below the outlets, the system simply will not work without the assistance of a pump.
Size, shape and condition of the pipework
Pipework has the power to significantly hinder your water flow. Specifically, pipework that is too narrow, too long or home to blockages can create high surface friction with the water, building resistance in the system that actively opposes the water flow. Basically, your water has to work harder to journey from source to tap. The energy spent pushing against obstacles and through restricted spaces results in a diminished flow rate.
For many people, replacing existing pipework isn’t an option, so taking care of the condition of your pipes is the next best thing. Often, blockages are a result of poor water quality. Aside from deep-cleaning and flushing your pipework, installing a water filtration system to improve water quality and remove problematic impurities can help to prevent further buildup and blockages.
Source yield
When peak demand can’t be matched by the supply, a water storage tank is usually introduced to the system to act as a buffer. For those with sources such as boreholes, this can take the strain off of the supply pump whilst also reducing the stress on the borehole. Depending on the tank location (going back to the importance of the height difference between source and outlet), a booster pump may be required to propel the water from storage to its endpoint. A storage tank/booster pump combination will re-energise your supply, delivering a water pressure tailored to your preference that doesn’t leave you high and dry during periods of increased demand.
More often than not, it’s a combination of these factors that influence your overall water pressure and flow rate. Every supply comes with a unique set of characteristics and requirements, which means that there isn’t a one-size fits all solution when choosing a booster pump. It’s important that the booster pump has the right specifications to provide you with optimal results. There are a lot of options available to choose from, and with a fair few aspects to consider, we’d always recommend talking things through with a professional before making any big purchases.
Fancy a chat about which booster pump would work best for you?
