If two taps are opened at the same time on the main floor, or if one is opened on the main floor and one on the lower floor, the water pressure seems to be insufficient for both taps. The house is a bungalow with finished basement.
I was told that one way to fix that is to install a water pressure booster. I am a little bit unclear on how this will affect my plumbing. I am actually not sure if the above is a volume issue or a pressure issue (I know they are correlated).
Since I have ½" pipes (copper) and the city connects the house with ½" main pipe, I guess it could be both.
So here are my two related questions:
- Does the booster put additional strain on my plumbing? Can I expect weaker connections to crack and leak?
- What is the way to calculate the correct size of the tank for this booster?
Best Answer
You indicated you're on city water. Even assuming it's only a 1/2" supply line into the house your pressure on entry almost certainly is over 100 psi. Most water companies deliver at 125 to 150 psi. Recommended pressure in homes is 65 to 70 psi. You almost certainly have a pressure regulator on your system. I think it's required on all city supplied water systems. If it's too old or corroded to adjust you may have to replace it. You can also buy a pressure gauge at your local home center and measure the actual pressure at a spigot so you'll know what it is.
Also, your water company should be able to tell you what the approximate curb pressure is. It does vary depending on your distance from the water company.