Optimum water pressure

One of the systems that create comfortable living conditions is plumbing. On how it functions, depends on the performance of some household appliances, and whether we can normally take water procedures. About what should be the water pressure in the water pipe and how to increase or decrease it, and we will talk.

Water pressure: norms and reality

To properly function plumbing and household appliances, water supply with a certain pressure is required. This pressure is commonly referred to as water pressure. It should be said that different types of appliances require different pressures. So washing machine, dishwasher, shower, faucets and mixers work normally at 2 atmospheres. A Jacuzzi or shower cabin with hydromassage requires at least 4 atm.

For household appliances and plumbing equipment there is also such an indicator as the maximum allowable pressure. This is the limit that this equipment can withstand. If we talk about a private house, then this parameter can be ignored: here works your personal equipment and above 4 atm, well, maximum 5-6 atm. Higher in such systems the pressure simply does not happen.

For centralized water supply networks, the norms set the working pressure of water in the water supply system of an apartment building – 4-6 atm. In reality, it varies from 2 atm. to 7-8 atm., sometimes there are jumps up to 10 atm. It rises very strongly after or during repair works, and they do it on purpose. There is a so-called pressure test – checking the reliability and tightness of the system with increased pressure. With the help of such a test all weak points are revealed – leaks appear, and they are eliminated. The unpleasant point is that some devices may have a lower limit of strength, as a result, they too will be a “weak point”, and their repair usually costs a lot.

It happens in high-rise buildings and the opposite situation – the water pressure in the water supply is too low. In this situation, household appliances simply do not turn on, and a thin trickle of water flows from the faucet. This situation can occur at times of peak loads – in the morning and evening, when most of the residents use the water supply. Approximately the same situation can occur in dachas or private houses connected to the centralized water supply. There is a solution to this problem, and not one.

Ways to increase the pressure in the water supply system

Low water pressure is not as dangerous as excessively high water pressure, but it is very unpleasant – it is very uncomfortable to wash under a thin stream of water. In addition, household appliances do not work, which is also not a joy. There are two ways to increase the water pressure:

If in the apartment installation of a booster pump can still be considered, then the pumping station is unlikely to put. To cut it into the water supply is a dubious idea, and to put a storage tank for a couple of cubes is often just nowhere. However, if necessary, there is room for everything – only if the water would go with a normal pressure.

If the low pressure is only in your apartment, most likely you have a clogged filter standing at the inlet and it should be cleaned. There is a second option – clogged pipes. Then you will have to change them.

If the pressure is low on the entire riser or even in the house, it is worth contacting the management company. If calls and verbal requests do not help, you can write a collective letter. It is signed by all residents, taken to the management company and registered. The letter should be in two copies. One remains in the MC, the second – with a stamp and stamped incoming number and date of receipt – at someone from the residents. Ideally, you should give you an answer within a month or take measures to eliminate the fault. If no action is taken, you can take this letter to the Consumer Protection Committee.

Water pressure booster pump

This equipment raises the existing pressure in the network by 1-3 atm. It is placed in the break in the pipeline. It is usually cut in immediately after the meter, ensuring the stable operation of water taps. If you also need to ensure the normal functioning of household appliances (washing machine and dishwasher), then the pressure booster pump is placed directly on the branch leading to the appliances.

How does it work? It is switched on when there is a flow (the tap is opened or the machine starts to draw water). It switches off when the water flow stops. This is how automatic models work. But there are also manual or combined – which can work in both manual and automatic mode. Manual ones are not too convenient and economical, although they cost less. But the combined ones can come in handy if there is a need to raise the pressure, and it is above the limit of operation of the pump. Then you can turn it on forcibly – manually.

About the selection of a pump to increase the pressure in the water pipe read here.

Pumping station

The pumping station is a whole complex of equipment. It is a pump, hydroaccumulator, pressure switch, pressure gauge and overpressure relief valve. With the help of this installation, the water supply of a private house is usually organized. Water is pumped from a well or from a well. But you can use the pumping station to increase the water pressure in the water supply.

To do this, put a storage tank for 1-2 cubic meters. From it, the pump pumps water if the pressure in the system is weak. This installation is connected so that in the presence of normal pressure, the pump simply does not work.

The disadvantage of such a solution – a fairly substantial amount to spend, the second point is the noise from the pump. Therefore, in the apartment such installations are put only in extreme cases, if otherwise it is simply not possible. For example, if water is supplied by the hour. In this case, the installation of a storage tank and pumping station solves this problem.

Read more about connecting the pumping station here.

How to lower the pressure in the water supply

To ensure that all the equipment normal operation and stable pressure, it is desirable to put a reducer. This is a small device that is placed after the coarse filter (with a coarse mesh), but before the fine filter (with a fine mesh). It levels out pressure surges in the water supply, “cutting off” the exceeding of a certain threshold.

There are many different pressure reducers, and they should be chosen depending on the situation at hand. Selection criteria:

• The maximum pressure in the system should not exceed the reducer’s nameplate specifications.
• So that the device can operate in the range you need.
• It is necessary to take into account the minimum pressure at which the reducer starts to work (from 0.1 bar to 0.7 bar).
• The temperature of the medium with which the device can work. For installation in a hot water supply system, a temperature of at least 80°C is required.
• How it can be positioned in space. There are models that are installed vertically, there are models that are installed horizontally, there are universal models, but they cost more.

More expensive models of reducers may have built-in pressure gauges or filters. If you do not have these devices, it may make sense to purchase such a combined device. But, from experience, it is easier to maintain separate devices (exception – pressure gauge, it can be built-in).