Optimum tap pressure
One of the systems that create comfortable living conditions is water supply. The performance of some household appliances depends on how it functions, as well as whether we will be able to accept water procedures normally. We will talk about what the water pressure in the water supply should be and how to increase or decrease it.
Normal water pressure in the water supply system guarantees the performance of any equipment
The content of the article
Water pressure: standards and reality
In order for plumbing and household appliances to function normally, water supply with a certain pressure is required. This head is called water pressure. I must say that different types of equipment require different pressures. So the washing machine, dishwasher, shower, taps and taps work normally at 2 atmospheres. For jacuzzi operation or shower cabinsWith hydromassage, at least 4 atm is required. So the optimal water pressure in the water supply system is 4 atm or so.
For household appliances and plumbing equipment, there is also such an indicator as the maximum allowable pressure. This is the limit that this equipment can withstand. If we talk about a private house, then you can ignore this parameter: your personal equipment works here and above 4 atm, well, a maximum of 5-6 atm. There is simply no pressure higher in such systems.
Pressure units - conversion and ratio
For centralized water supply networks, the standards set the working water pressure in the water supply system of an apartment building - 4-6 atm. In reality, it ranges from 2 atm to 7-8 atm, sometimes there are jumps up to 10 atm. It rises very strongly after or during repair work, and this is done on purpose. A so-called pressure test is in progress - checking the reliability and tightness of the system by high pressure. With the help of such a check, all weak points are identified - leaks appear and they are eliminated. The unpleasant moment is that some devices may have a lower tensile strength, as a result, they also turn out to be a "weak point", and their repair usually costs a lot.
The opposite situation happens in high-rise buildings - the water pressure in the water supply system is too low. In such a situation, household appliances simply do not turn on, and a thin stream of water flows from the tap. This situation can arise at times of peak loads - in the morning and in the evening, when most of the residents use the water supply. Roughly the same situation can occur in summer cottages or in private houses connected to a centralized water supply. There is a solution to this problem, and more than one.
Ways to increase the pressure in the water supply
Low tap pressure, although not as dangerous as excessively high, is very unpleasant - washing under a thin stream of water is very inconvenient. In addition, household appliances do not work, which also does not bring joy. There are two ways to increase the water pressure:
If the installation of a boost pump can still be considered in an apartment, then you can hardly put a pumping station. Embedding it in the water supply is a dubious undertaking, and there is often simply nowhere to put a storage tank for a couple of cubes. True, if necessary, there is a place for everything - if only the water flows with normal pressure.
If only your apartment has low pressure, most likely you have a clogged inlet filter and it needs to be cleaned. There is a second option - the pipes are clogged. Then you have to change them.
There are two ways to increase the water pressure in the water supply
If the pressure is low on the entire riser or even in the house, it is worth contacting the management company. If calls and verbal applications do not help, you can write a collective letter. It is signed by all tenants, taken to the Criminal Code and registered. The letter must be in duplicate. One remains in the Criminal Code, the second - with a seal and the entered number and date of admission - with one of the tenants. In theory, you should be given an answer within a month or take measures to eliminate the malfunction. If there is no action, you can contact the Consumer Protection Committee with this letter.
Pump for increasing water pressure
This equipment raises the pressure existing in the network by 1-3 atm. Placed in a pipeline break. It usually cuts in right after the meter, ensuring the stable operation of water taps. If you also need to ensure the normal functioning of household appliances (washing machine and dishwasher), then the pressure boosting pump is placed directly on the outlet leading to the appliance.
How does he work? It turns on when there is a flow (the tap is opened or the machine has started to draw water). It turns off if the water flow stops. This is how automatic models work. But there are also manual or combined ones - which can work both in manual and automatic mode. Manual ones are not very convenient and economical, although they are cheaper. But the combined ones can come in handy if there is a need to raise the pressure, and it is above the pump response limit. Then you can turn it on forcibly - manually.
Read about the selection of a pump to increase the pressure in the water supply system here.
Pumping station
The pumping station is a whole complex of equipment. This is a pump, a hydraulic accumulator, a pressure switch, a pressure gauge and an overpressure relief valve. With the help of this installation, the water supply of a private house is usually organized. Water is pumped from a well or from a well. But you can pumping station also use to increase the pressure of water in the water supply.
To do this, put a storage tank for 1-2 cubes. From it, the pump pumps water if the pressure in the system is weak. This installation is connected so that in the presence of normal pressure, the pump simply does not work.
This is a complete pump station
The disadvantage of such a solution is a rather substantial amount that must be spent, the second point is the noise from the pump. Therefore, in an apartment such installations are set only as a last resort, if it simply does not work out in another way. For example, if the water is supplied by the hour. In this case, the installation of a storage tank and a pumping station solves this problem.
Read more about connecting a pumping station here.
How to lower the pressure in the water supply
In order to provide all equipment with normal operation and stable pressure, it is advisable to install a reducer. This is a small device that is placed after a coarse filter (with a large mesh), but before a fine filter (with a fine mesh). It neutralizes pressure surges in the water supply system, "cutting off" the excess of a certain threshold.
Water pressure reducer - a device for reducing and stabilizing the pressure in the system
There are many different pressure reducers, they must be chosen depending on the existing situation. Selection criteria:
- The maximum pressure in the system must not exceed the pressure rating of the reducer.
- So that the device can work in the range you need.
- The minimum pressure at which the reducer starts to operate must be taken into account (0.1 bar to 0.7 bar).
- The temperature of the environment with which the device can work. For installation in a hot water system, a temperature of at least 80 ° C is required.
- How can it be located in space. There are models that are installed vertically, there are - horizontally, there are universal ones, but they are more expensive.
More expensive models of water pressure reducers may have built-in pressure gauges or filters.If you don't have these devices, it may make sense to purchase such a combination device. But, according to operating experience, it is easier to maintain individual devices (the exception is a pressure gauge, it can be built-in).
