Hydraulics experts? (boosting home WP)

928ram · 10-11-2005, 06:34 AM

Water pressure in the house is "OK" except in the kitchen where it's just a bit weak. I can't do much about the changing the plumbing to the kitchen (in-slab) and I think it's only a bit weaker there due to distance from the main.

So I did a little shovel exploring this weekend because I suspected the water softener might be the culprit, here's what I found: From the main at the front of the house, the plumbing to the softener had about 100' total piping ( ~50' each way), plus a total of 10 ninety degree elbows including the brass bypass/valve unit atop the softener. Everything from the meter and including the softener plumbing is 3/4" sch 40 PVC.

Here's the question: Will I actually gain any notable pressure by eliminating all the softener plumbing and returning the main to a straight-thru, or am I just yanking my yud for a psi or two?

FWIW; the water tower is about 1/4 mile or so away, maybe 100' tall and maybe another 100' higher ground, no idea how large the service main might be.

RickM · RickM's Garage

You may want to place a water pressure gauge on the feed pipe after the meter. It's good to know what pressure you're starting with.

Have you checked the WS filters (if any)? A friend of mine had dismal pressure for years. I aked the filter question and the reply was "what filter?". Next time a service guy showed up he checked and replaced a very corroded element. Pressure was fine after that.

Also, can you plumb in a temp work around? Perhaps using removable connections for ease of (re)configuration.

John Rogers · 10-11-2005, 07:14 AM

Is it possible to get a drawing of the house that shows all the pipes that were installed? I agree that a few pressure gauges would be very beneficial, one at the feed into the house, one at the inlet to the softener, one at the outlet, one at the kitchen and maybe one in the bathroom. See what pressures are with no flow and then flow full with various valves open. I had to replace the valves under the sink a few years ago as they have nearly closed off from crud in the water and it sounds like one branch of your system is getting plugged.