With the situation, when the low pressure of the liquid in the water supply does not allow you to use the washing machine and dishwasher and take a shower, face many of those, who live in apartment buildings. One of the most popular and affordable ways to solve this problem is to install a pump to increase the water pressure in the apartment's water supply system.. However, such a measure does not always solve the problem completely, and in some cases does not solve at all. In order not to be in a situation, when a pump to increase the water pressure in the apartment will be a futile purchase, to solve the problem of low water pressure should be used not superficial, and a deeper systemic approach.
Installation of pumps to increase water pressure in the apartment
What can cause low water pressure in the apartment
Before you find out, why the pressure in the water supply decreased, should be understood, in what units it is measured and what value of this parameter is considered normal for household water supply systems.
In the information tables, as well as on the scales of control devices, the value of fluid pressure can be expressed by four basic units of measurement: there is, technical atmosphere (at), meter of water column (m of water. Art.), kilo - and megapascal (kPa and MPa). When measuring pressure in domestic water supply systems, where too high accuracy of accounting parameters is not required, you can use the following relationships between different units:
1 bar = 1 at = 10 m of water. Art. = 100 kPa = 0,1 MPa
What is the normal water pressure in the water supply of the apartment? According to current standards, the value of this parameter should be about four bar. This water pressure is enough for that, so that all plumbing fixtures and appliances can work in the apartment without interruption, connected to the water supply system (cranes, drain tanks, shower cabins, washing machines and dishwashers, etc.). However, this regulatory requirement is strictly met in very rare cases. Usually in water pipes of apartment houses constant jumps of pressure are observed, which may occur in the direction of its increase, and reduction.
One of the reasons for low water pressure may be clogging of the mixer divider or fine filter
If the issue of high pressure in the domestic water supply is solved quite simply (by installing at the entrance to the water reducer system, equalizing the water pressure in the entire internal piping), then to eliminate the problem of lowering the pressure it is necessary to determine, for what reason it happens.
To find out, where there is a decrease in pressure in the water supply system of your apartment only, throughout the house or apartments, in which water comes from one riser, it is necessary to interview neighbors, living in the upper, lower and side apartments. If it turns out, that your neighbors need to increase the water pressure, it is necessary to address this question to public service, which serves your home. If this problem is local and occurs only in your apartment, then you personally must look for ways to solve it.
The manometer installed in a water supply system allows to control pressure in system
First of all, it is necessary to locate the area of the apartment water supply, which requires an increase in water pressure. An ordinary manometer is used to solve this problem, by means of which water pressure is measured at various points of the water supply system. Data, obtained as a result of measurements, will draw conclusions about the negative factor, the impact of which leads to low water pressure, flowing from the taps in your apartment.
- Clogging of pipes helps to detect different values of pressure in certain parts of the water supply system of the apartment. Most often this situation occurs when using old steel pipes, whose inner walls are highly rough. The only way to effectively solve this problem is to replace old pipes with new ones.
- It is also possible to clog the mud (coarse filter), which is installed, usually, in front of water meters. If the cause of poor water pressure lies in this filter, in all sections of the water supply system, located after such a device, equally low pressure will be recorded. The problem of clogging the coarse filter is solved quite simply: it is opened and the accumulated garbage is selected from it.
- The least critical and easiest problem to solve, which caused a weak water pressure, there is clogging of the aerator - filter mesh, which are equipped with geese cranes. Identify, that is the reason for this, a manometer will also help, which in such cases will show, that the fluid pressure in all sections of the water supply is normal, but only a weak trickle flows from the tap. To fix the problem, the filter mesh is unscrewed from the crane goose, thoroughly cleaned and installed back.
If you have water pipes in your apartment, the filter and aerators are not clogged, and the water first enters the water supply under low pressure of the central riser, then to increase the pressure, you can install a household pumping pump in the apartment.
In many cases, the installation of a compact pump for pumping water from the central water supply system leads to an increase in pressure in the water pipes of the apartment to the normative values.
Varieties and design features of domestic pumps
Pumps to increase the water pressure in the apartment by design can be divided into two major groups:
- devices with a "wet" rotor;
- water pumps with a "dry" rotor.
Pumps for increase of water pressure, belonging to the class of devices with a "wet" rotor, differing in the compact sizes, make less noise at work and do not require special maintenance, since the lubrication of their internal parts is provided by the fluid pumped by them. The scheme of connecting such devices to the water supply is quite simple: they just crash into the pipe and work as a flow pump. Such booster pumps are installed directly in front of the water collection point or in front of household appliances, in which water must enter under a certain pressure.
Pump design with "wet" rotor
If we talk about the disadvantages of booster pumps of this type, then this should include:
- low productivity;
- not too high rates of additional water pressure;
- possibility of installation only in this way, so that the axis of the rotor of the electric drive of the pump is located in a horizontal plane.
Water pumps for home plumbing, belonging to the class of devices with a "dry" rotor, have higher power and performance, if you compare them with models with a "wet" rotor. Such booster pump at the correct choice and installation can be used for simultaneous service of several water intake points.. The power unit of the electric pump-pump of this type is taken away from the main case of the device and is equipped with own system of air cooling. Due to this, the booster pump with a "dry" rotor must be additionally cantilevered to the wall surface.
Pump device with "dry" rotor
The booster pump with a "dry" rotor requires regular lubrication of internal components, subject to friction. in addition, this high-pressure water pump creates a noticeable noise during operation, that must be taken into account, choosing a place to install it.
The booster pump must only be started at those times, when the fluid pressure decreases. This requirement is met by pump control systems, which can operate in manual or automatic mode.
Water pressure pump, equipped with a manual control system, included by the user, when the need arises. In accordance, for serviceability of pumps for increase of water pressure in those cases, example, when it will run dry, without water, the user of such device answers.
Automatic pump with relay, that maintains the set pressure in the water supply system
Automatic pressure pump, for the operation of which the water flow sensor is responsible, switches itself on, when liquid appears in the pipeline, and turns itself off, when the pipeline is empty. Equipping the pump with such an automatic sensor prevents the equipment from idling, which inevitably leads to overheating of the device and, in accordance, to its rapid breakdown. Choosing a pump, increases pressure, you can immediately buy a model, equipped with a water flow sensor, or purchase such a sensor separately, if it is not provided in the factory complete set of the pump device. If the flow sensor is purchased separately, it should be placed after the pump, increases water pressure.
Scheme of installation of pumps for pressure increase
For installation in household water supply systems, in which the fluid pressure may periodically be as normal, and reduced, it is better to use an automatic booster pump, additionally equipped with a water pressure sensor. The task of such a device, which also works in automatic mode, - switch on the discharge pump in those cases, when the water pressure drops below normal, and turn it off, if the fluid pressure meets the required parameters. In this case, the discharge pump will not turn on even when it receives a control signal from the flow sensor, if the water pressure will meet the required parameters.
In those cases, when living space allows, increase the pressure of the liquid in the water supply can be provided by a pumping station for the apartment. Such a pumping station, whose design, in addition to the pump itself, consist of a membrane-type hydraulic accumulator and a pressure sensor, not just raises the pressure to the required level - she creates it herself.
The problem of low water pressure in one apartment can be solved by an automatic pumping station with an expansion tank on 20 liters
Recommendations for choosing pumps to increase water pressure
Pump efficiency, which are used to increase the pressure in the water supply, largely determined by the correct choice of such equipment.
Buying a booster pump for water, it is necessary to pay attention to the following parameters.
- Device power is a parameter, which determines the number of water intake points, which will be able to service the booster pump for water supply. Choosing a pump on this basis, it is necessary to be defined first of all, to what number of taps and household appliances in the apartment he will have to supply water under the required pressure.
- Noise level, which gives the pump, when pumping water into the system, you should also find out before purchasing.
- Some models of pumps to increase water pressure are installed on pipelines of only a certain diameter. Otherwise, such a device will not only not increase the water pressure, but will also start working with congestion, which will lead to its rapid failure.
- Water level rise height, which can be provided by the pump, Is a parameter, relevant in those cases, when non-ordinary apartment boosters are chosen, and pumping stations, which are used to increase the water pressure in the pipelines of several consumers.
- Device performance is a parameter, on which the amount of fluid depends, pumped by a pump to increase the pressure in the water supply per unit time. Choosing a high pressure water pump, should be considered, that the value of this parameter must be higher than the average water consumption, consumed by the water supply system or water intake point, in which it is planned to install such a device.
- It is also important to consider the maximum allowable water temperature, pumped. The type of pipeline depends on the value of this parameter (cold or hot water supply), on which the pump can be established.
- The size of the device determines the choice of the section of water supply to connect the pump.
- Manufacturer, its popularity and authority in the market are no less important, than all the above parameters. Choosing high pressure water pumps, it is better to prefer models from well-known manufacturers, producing high quality products, which provide reliable guarantees and provide its maintenance and repair.
How to ensure high water pressure throughout the apartment building
The problem of low water pressure, feature of the inhabitants of apartment buildings, can be solved in a more radical way - by installing a pumping station to increase water pressure, which will serve the whole house. Such pumping stations for water supply to the apartment house, operating in automatic mode, are equipped with the weighed pump of centrifugal type, hydraulic accumulator and pressure switch. Pumping stations of this type are also used in autonomous water supply systems for a private house or cottage.
Another way to increase the water pressure on the apartment pipeline is to install a storage tank, in which the fluid will accumulate and then, when the pressure in the pipeline drops, give back to the system. Of course, given the small area of typical apartments, to install such a container inside the house will be quite problematic. However, many of them, who is constantly faced with problems, associated not only with low water pressure in the pipeline, but also with its regular absence in it, install small storage tanks (200-500 liters) in their apartments.
Multipump station allows you to "remove" the effect of the upper and lower floors in terms of water supply
It is possible to place the accumulative capacity of much bigger volume and on a roof of the apartment house or its attic parts.. To install such a container, the volume of which can be very significant, it is better to cooperate with other residents of the house, to share future financial costs on all, who wants to use water at any time, coming to taps or household appliances under the required pressure.
Water pressure boosting station, equipped not only with a hydraulic accumulator and elements of the automation system, but also a large storage tank, - this is another way to effectively address the issue of low fluid pressure in the water supply systems of apartment buildings. This installation of pressure will provide all apartments in the house with water, not only in those cases, when the fluid pressure in the central water supply system will need to be increased, but even then, when water does not enter the pipes at all.
Naturally, that to purchase all the equipment of such a serious installation, as well as for the implementation of its qualified installation, the residents of the apartment building will have to agree and bear the common costs.