Many are familiar with the weak pressure of water in the domestic water supply. With low pressure, you can not use household appliances, gas water heaters and even take a shower. And what to do in the complete absence of water? The reasons for low pressure are varied, but the problem is solved by installing a pump that increases pressure.
Causes of Low Pressure
In accordance with the norms of water supply, the water pressure in the main is 4 kgf / m 2 , but in fact in this system there is half the pressure that is enough to supply five to six floors. At rush hour with the massive use of water, the column pressure drops even lower, the upper floors remain without pressure. The private sector suffers during the watering season.
There are many causes for this problem. The simplest one is clogging metal water pipes. Old wiring is overgrown with iron oxides, and the water flow becomes minimal or even stops. A clogged filter in the water meter assembly also reduces the pressure in the system.
In fact, most often the problem arises due to utility structures that supply drinking water, artificially lowering the pressure in the mains. If such a problem is not solved by the whole house in the management of public utilities, a local installation of a pressure-boosting pump will help get rid of it.
Types and principle of operation of pumps
Pumps for pumping water are divided into circulation and self-priming, differing in the principle of operation. The simplest are circulation electric pumps, which are a casing with an impeller placed on the shaft of the electric motor. The impeller blades capture the flow of water, increasing its speed and pressure at the outlet of the booster pump. For its operation, the constant presence of water in the pipeline is necessary.
Self-priming pumps operate on a different principle, differing in design. The equipment is sold in the form of a pumping station, consisting of a hydraulic accumulator in the form of a tank and the pump itself. By suction, the device raises water even if it is partially absent in the main, closing to the storage tank that regulates the pressure in the apartment wiring.
Where to install the pump
The booster pump is installed in a specific place on the house wiring. A local problem in a certain section of the pipeline (for example, only in the bathroom) is solved by installing a circulation electric pump that increases the pressure by 2-3 kgf / m 2 . In the case of solving the problem for the entire apartment or cottage system as a whole, the installation of a self-priming pump station with a hydraulic accumulator will be required.
Since the pumps are designed for water temperatures up to 60 ° C, they are installed before boilers, boilers and columns.
Electric Pump Specification
According to the type of control, household boosting pumps are divided into automatic and manual. The first ones turn on independently when water is consumed and turn off when they are not using it, and the second ones work constantly, starting manually. By the type of electric motor cooling, household stations are divided into “wet” and “dry”, that is, cooled by water or air.
The performance of the device depends on its power, which is in the range of 0.25–1 kW for domestic use. Pumps of higher power are used in industry. The height of the pressure column and the height of suction are objective indicators necessary for installing the device on the upper floors of the building. For the private sector, these characteristics are not so valuable, but they are always indicated in the technical passport of the booster pump.
Choosing a pressure boosting system
Different conditions of water supply and consumption in the private sector and apartment require the selection of the pumping unit that will work most efficiently.
Power is the first parameter to consider when choosing a boost pump. For a one and two bedroom apartment, a 0.25 kW installation will be sufficient. In the country, when you need to use household appliances and do watering, the power of the device can reach 1 kW, and sometimes exceed this figure. Excessive power of the equipment will entail the installation of additional devices, such as a pressure reducer, pressure gauges, control valves.
The pump is selected with the same cross-section as the diameter of the water pipes, otherwise the installation will work with overloads or not develop full capacity.
Noise level is an important indicator. For installation in an apartment, you should choose a device with "wet" cooling of the electric motor, since such installations are not only compact, but also produce less noise compared to conventional "dry" electric motors. In other cases, the equipment is taken out to the basement or outbuilding at the summer cottage.
The price of a booster pump for water depends on power, type of control, cooling and cross-section. Approximately it is from 2.5 thousand rubles, but with an increase in digital indicators of characteristics, the cost of equipment increases.