Water Pressure Booster Pump Sizing Considerations

9 March 2020
 Categories: , Blog


When residents occupy a new storey building and open their taps, they expect water to flow with the right pressure. If occupants are welcomed with low-pressure fixtures, then chances are that there will be complaints to the facility manager. Therefore, plumbers must ensure that water gets to the top floors of any high-rise building with the right amount of pressure. This is only possible with water pressure booster pump systems. However, for a water booster pump to function efficiently, it must first be sized accordingly. This article highlights key considerations when sizing a water pressure pump.

Flow Rate — How much water flows out of the fixtures in the top floors of a high-rise building per minute? This is the first question that a plumber must ask when determining the flow rate. Since there are numerous water fixtures in any home on top floors, the only way to calculate the flow rate accurately is to base your calculations on the assumption that all fixture units will be used at the same time. The reason is that water usage varies throughout during day; therefore, calculating the flow rates of each fixture unit can be cumbersome. Using the flow rate figures when all water outlets are open will give you a good idea of how much power a water pressure booster pump should pack.

Piping System Friction — As water gashes from the water pump to the upper floors, it creates friction on the inner walls of the piping system. The amount of friction created depends not only on the type of piping used but also on the number of turns water has to flow through to get to the upper floors. Therefore, the rougher the inner walls of the piping system and the higher the number of turns, the higher the friction, thereby leading to pressure loss. Therefore, you need a booster with a higher pumping capacity to get water to the topmost floors. On the other hand, smoother pipes and few turns mean less friction; hence, no significant pressure loss.

Age of City Mains — The condition of the city mains dictates, to a significant extent, water pressure in a high-rise building. As a city's mains age, it becomes much more difficult to deliver water to residential high-rise buildings at high pressure. Therefore, plumbers have to use water pressure booster pumps of a bigger size to offset the limitations of the aging city lines. Newer city mains, on the other hand, can deliver water with the right pressure and do not need a high capacity booster. Plumbers should assess the condition of the city mains before deciding on the right size of the water pressure booster required.


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