Homeowners and businesses alike often have issues with their water systems. It can be frustrating, time-consuming, and in the case of business, can impact operations and cost money when the water isn’t there when you need it – and at the pressure you want.
We’ll take a look at the causes of low water pressure, and one of the most effective ways you can address your water pressure issues in your home or place of business – with water pressure boosters. We’ll also touch on city water quality issues in general, and what you can do to address conditions such as hard water in your taps.
What are the Causes of Low Water Pressure
Low water pressure issues in your home or place of business can have a number of causes. One of the foremost issues is just Mother Nature herself – the force of gravity. Gravity, coupled with friction along your water pipes, will slow the flow of water in your plumbing system. The longer distance the water has to travel to get to the tap, and if it has to flow upwards – against gravity – you can be assured there will be lower pressure at the tap. It’s simple physics.
Other contributing factors to low water pressure include:
- Pipes whose diameter is too small
- Having too many water fixtures in use
- Age of the pipes in the plumbing system
- The type of piping
- Sediment buildup within the pipes
- Leaks in the plumbing system due to aged or deteriorated components
Any one of these, or some combination of them, could be causing water pressure to decrease, and of course, the problem is amplified at the furthest points on the house, particularly in the case of higher floors.
What a Water Pressure Booster Is
A water pressure booster is a pump system you attach to your piping, at the source of water entry, in order to increase water pressure. As the name implies, the booster will increase the water flow, so that it comes out of taps at a higher volume, even at the farthest reaches of the building. Both the pressure and the flow rate of your water can be improved through this relatively simple solution. The much more expensive approach to address some of the issues we mentioned previously would be a complete overhaul to your plumbing system, including replacement to large parts of your piping, and your fixtures. You start to see how utilizing a pressure booster could be a much more affordable alternative.
How a Water Pressure Booster Works
A typical water booster pump functions just like a fan you use to circulate air. The blades of the pump, called the impeller, spin which in turn cranks up the water flow, and the water pressure, just as a fan increases air flow and pressure. All water booster pumps will have similar components – a motor, impellers, plumbing connections – inlet, outlet, along with a device which senses the pressure/flow of water through the system.
As mentioned, the impeller, powered by the motor, spins which moves water from the inlet to the outlet which is connected to your piping. An alternate type of booster uses an oscillating diaphragm in place of the impeller – the net result, however, is exactly the same – water emerges from the outlet to your piping at a greater pressure and flow rate. The sensor ensures that the pressure created by the pump is maintained at a constant rate.
Other Water Optimization Issues and Solutions
We mentioned earlier that some water issues, including pressure and flow rate, can be attributed to sediment buildup within the system. This is usually an indicator of hard water issues, which are not uncommon with many municipal water sources.
What is hard water – the presence of significant amounts of calcium and magnesium in a water source is not fully removed during the purification process. It ends up coming out of your taps. Hard water can be responsible for the pressure issues you experience out of your taps, but it can also cause numerous other problems, including:
- Poor quality of your finished laundry
- Dishes not looking thoroughly clean, with a filmy residue
- Personal hygiene such as hair washing issues
Many municipalities recommend the use of water softening systems which employ chemicals to counter the calcium and magnesium from the source water. But better technologies have come along, which you should consider.
Flow-tech Water Systems – Hard Water Solution
One of the most effective water treatment systems for your home or business is Flow-tech, a proprietary technology that gets rid of impurities found in hard water. Using a low-frequency signal on your source water, it reverses the charge of the unwanted particles, and dissolves them, where they are ultimately flushed away. The process is continuous, and the hardware is installed in a convenient location above your water heater. Your plumber will explain the whole setup to you. Upon installation, your hard water issues will be addressed, giving you the following benefits – improvements you will notice:
- No use of any additional chemicals
- No wasted water
- Less use of soap and detergents
- No buildup of residue on fixtures
- No more film or slimy feel on dishes and glassware
Once installed, the Flow-tech system requires no maintenance. The system has worked for thousands of homes and businesses, and is 100% guaranteed.
We’d be happy to help you with any of your water quality issues, including the Flow-tech system, which we are expert at installing. Contact us.