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Low water pressure is one of the problems that consistently bedevils residences and businesses alike. Water pressure, not to be confused with water flow at the tap, is simply the force that propels water through the piping system to reach fixtures in the building unit. People desire high water pressure for many different reasons and there are as many different ways to try to achieve it. One way is using a water pressure booster pump.

Water pressure results from several variables, including the height of the water reservoir, the elevation of the property or premise, the number of people occupying the premise that consume water as well as their consumption rates and the number of water fixtures (sink, toilet, etc.) within the premise.

If you are experiencing low water pressure, perhaps you have tried one of these methods. You might have tried to clean or adjust the aerators in the faucet heads. You have tried retrofitting your pipes to a larger size to increase the volume. You even may have resorted to calling in an inspector from a municipal water service. All to no avail.

Each method has its pros and cons, but if you are looking for a relatively straightforward solution, consider buying a water pressure booster pump. Booster pumps are additions to a system used to increase fluid pressure in that system. A pressure tank stores the water and maintains the pressure within a certain range so that the booster pump is not constantly turning on and off every time you flip your sink handle or flush a toilet. A pressure switch with preset maximum/minimum PSI settings is used to regulate the pump’s activity level.

Booster pumps can be found in both residential and commercial properties, in large homes and small homes, in corner stores and big factories, in farms and in car washes. Some use boosters simply for comfort, while others rely on them to run a business or even for drinking water. Some of the top manufacturers of booster pumps are Goulds, Sta-Rite, Berkeley and Grundfos. Discussed below are some of the most common applications in which booster pumps play a vital role.

Water Pressure Booster Pump: Residential Uses

Increased pressure at the fixtures Obviously, people like to have consistent pressure when taking a shower. We won’t diagnose why that is, but let’s take it as an assumption. Insufficient water pressure could conceivably make it harder to wash your dishes or hose down your driveway.

A frequent cause of low water pressure in residences include hard water build up which produces calcium deposits. Older systems with galvanized steel piping can produce rust or other particulates, although this is less common with modern PVC or copper piping. Changing water usage patterns over time, caused by more bodies or more water fixtures in the household can contribute to decreased pressure.

“What we’re seeing a lot is that people are redoing their bathrooms to add something like an additional shower head or body sprayer” says a Pump Products technician. “That counts as an extra water fixture in your home that people forget to factor into their calculations.”

Well Water Circulation For people who rely on well systems for their potable water, booster pumps could be absolutely critical additions in concert with a well pump. The well pump may have enough power to transport water to the dwelling, but it may not have enough to actually circulate the water throughout the system to the fixtures. An improperly sized well pump might not be able to reach the water table. 

Lawn Sprinklers If you have an inbuilt lawn sprinkler system you probably need a lot of pressure to reach every part of your lawn. Booster pumps for the sprinkler system can help ensure that every area is well-nourished without sapping your household fixtures of pressure.

Water Pressure Booster Pump: Commercial Uses

Multistory buildings Let’s say that you are a landlord or building manager for a five-story apartment building. The first two floors get great pressure, the third and fourth floors get neutral pressure and on the fifth floor the water is barely dripping out of the faucet. As with the well water example, height can dissipate the pressure. 

Irrigation is the lifeblood of any kind of farming, whether family owned or industrial. A lack of sufficient water pressure is not just a minor inconvenience, it is a real prohibitive loss in terms of money, time and overall efficiency. Many farms have dedicated booster pumps to maintain consistent crop watering and reduce gaps.

Booster pumps could absolutely be the right choice for you and your application, but it is important to keep in mind issues of cost, space and installation. Naturally, a water pressure booster pump will add to electrical costs and must be plugged into a socket directly or run on a dedicated circuit. Do not forget to factor in the pressure tank when considering where to actually place the booster pump.

Whether you are planning to tackle the installation yourself or hire an experienced plumber, factor in the cost of replacement parts and accessories, such as pipe fittings, nuts, valves, pressure gauges, etc. Consider buying an “all-in-one” booster system package that includes the pump, motor, check valve, pressure switch and pressure tank in one convenient unit.