Water pressure booster pump?

[Cujet]

My new home in TN is up at 2100 feet elevation and the water pressure is about 40-45psi static and 20psi during use. Down to nil pressure if faucet is running and washing machine filling. Recently air in the lines and the resulting high flow rates highlighted how restrictive the system is.

Before spending big bucks on a booster pump, I wonder if one can overcome the restrictions. Or will it simply be unable to boost pressure/flow due to the restrictions?

Also, any suggestions on a pump? I have an outdoor location with power, near the water line. It is 1000 feet from the water meter.

Note: Pressure/flow is much better at 2AM, when neighbors are not consuming water.

I suppose I could purchase a Harbor Freight pump like this and try it. Cheap enough. Then move to a quality variable speed pump if I get good results. But I really hate doing things twice... Or make my own setup with small jet pump (like a shallow well pump) a check valve

and a well tank.

 

[Rand]

1000ft. How long is your run and what size?

 

[BrendanC]

My new home in TN is up at 2100 feet elevation and the water pressure is about 40-45psi static and 20psi during use. Down to nil pressure if faucet is running and washing machine filling. Recently air in the lines and the resulting high flow rates highlighted how restrictive the system is.

Before spending big bucks on a booster pump, I wonder if one can overcome the restrictions. Or will it simply be unable to boost pressure/flow due to the restrictions?

Also, any suggestions on a pump? I have an outdoor location with power, near the water line. It is 1000 feet from the water meter.

what material is your home plumbing and then the drop from the meter to the house? have you called the municipality to come verify flow through their meter? could have junk caught in it. water pressure booster should be the absolute last resort.

 

[Passport1]

I've been researching a booster pump for my beach house. The kitchen is on the top deck. In this picture it is ~30' high. The problem is in the summer when all the tourons (tourists and morons, local term) leave the beach at about 16/1700 and immediately take a shower. The water pressure drops to nill. Can't cook, wash anything, flush a toilet. Very annoying. Have talked to the county water service and they suggested a booster. My plumber says he gets dozens of calls about this but has never installed a pump.

I have skipped most of the summer at the beach and will return after the tourons leave.

 

[repairman54]

2x on calling the water Co. also, especially if your at the end of the line. Does it have pressure regulator near the meter ? They do go bad also. Water Co. could have a leak in the main that they don't know about either.

 

[Cujet]

The meter tap flows better, so the long run is part of the problem. Meter is 3/4 inch ID, I think. The 1000 foot 3/4 Pex run is small for sure. Difficult to replace, but possible. No regulator. House is Pex and I don't think the house is the issue, as it is much better at 2AM.

All of the neighbors have complained. For their complaints they got a new $30 monthly charge, for 'improvements' which never materialized.

Also of note, my last bill was $45, used 300 gallons. I am not there much. That's absurd.

There is a spring/seep fed pond nearby. Might be time to utilize that water source by drilling into the seep, it is easy to see where it lives. Unfortunately it is nearly dry at times. That or a 1000 foot deep well...

 

[BrendanC]

The meter tap flows better, so the long run is part of the problem. Meter is 3/4 inch ID, I think. The 1000 foot 3/4 Pex run is small for sure. Difficult to replace, but possible. No regulator. House is Pex and I don't think the house is the issue, as it is much better at 2AM.

All of the neighbors have complained. For their complaints they got a new $30 monthly charge, for 'improvements' which never materialized.

Also of note, my last bill was $45, used 300 gallons. I am not there much. That's absurd.

There is a spring/seep fed pond nearby. Might be time to utilize that water source by drilling into the seep, it is easy to see where it lives. Unfortunately it is nearly dry at times. That or a 1000 foot deep well...

1000’ of 3/4” is your issue. likely should be 1 1/4” to account for pressure drop. have the municipality verify their meter and a booster pump sounds like the only real option.

 

[Cujet]

1000’ of 3/4” is your issue. likely should be 1 1/4” to account for pressure drop. have the municipality verify their meter and a booster pump sounds like the only real option.

No question about that. But that's not the entirety of the issue. Daytime pressure and flow is much lower than the wee hours of the morning. I purchased 3 pressure gauges to monitor meter, house inlet and faucet. I'm pretty sure the municipality is unable or unwilling to provide adequate daytime flow. 40PSI just ain't nuff to overcome the restrictions.

 

[BrendanC]

40psi would be plenty if you didn’t have the restriction of 1000’ of 3/4 pex. likely type B

 

[Rand]

A buddy has one inch for a 50 ft run from a submerse well pump.

Are you positive it's not one inch PEX
3/4-in pex is only about .67 ID

Aprox 7/8" OD

That would be beyond tiny for a thousand foot run

 

[BrendanC]

A buddy has one inch for a 50 ft run from a submerse well pump.

Are you positive it's not one inch PEX
3/4-in pex is only about .67 ID

i had to re pull my main trucks to 1” to support both showers going at the same time. my master shower is 4.5GPM upstairs is the normal 2.5 GPM. you need 1 size up of Pex to equal normal rigid piping size ID.

 

[Cujet]

40psi would be plenty if you didn’t have the restriction of 1000’ of 3/4 pex. likely type B

Plenty for typical use and the average guy, maybe. However my FL house has a 3 stage Goulds waterpump set at 100PSI and only drops to 90 during full use of all 6 showerheads. The well tank accommodates any intermittent use so flushing is fine with no change. I enjoy the water pressure in the showers and the ability to wash the cars/trucks with adequate flow. 40 ain't great for that.