How to normalize the water pressure in the water supply

Methods for taking readings

Theoretical knowledge of the normative values ​​\u200b\u200brelated to water pressure allows us to move on to practice that gives an answer to the question of how to measure water pressure at a tap or other water points in an apartment at home.

Method # 1 - the use of stationary pressure gauges

The main device for measuring pressure in plumbing communications is a manometer.There are several types of devices for this purpose, differing in design and principle of operation.

The most common type of water pressure reading device is the mechanical pressure gauge. It is reliable in operation, has an easy-to-read scale of values ​​and an information dial.

Often, the control of water pressure in an apartment is limited to the readings of a device installed at the border of the one that cuts off the intra-apartment and central pipelines. However, in reality, the readings of such a pressure gauge will not be entirely correct and accepted with some errors.

This is due to the fact that all pressure losses on the elements of the internal wiring of the apartment (filters, tees, shut-off and control valves) are not taken into account. In addition, the free pressure of water is affected by turns and sections with changes in the sections of pipelines.

Therefore, the best option is to equip all water consumption points in the apartment with pressure gauges. This is quite affordable at the stages of housing construction or during repair work to replace water supply pipelines.

The absence of permanently installed devices does not deprive the consumer of the opportunity to measure the water pressure at any draw-off point in other ways.

Method #2 - Using a Portable Pressure Gauge

A feature of the portable measuring device is its versatility and the possibility of simple installation on pipelines and the same simple dismantling.

The use of this method allows you to measure the water pressure directly at the inlet of each plumbing fixture, which affects its pressure.

You can assemble a mobile pressure gauge with your own hands by improving the purchased factory device.To do this, you need: 1 - a conventional water pressure gauge with a scale of up to 6 bar; 2 - threaded extension; 3 - adapter from 3/8 inch gauge thread to half inch extension thread

Fum tape is used to seal threaded connections.

The most convenient connection point for measuring water pressure is a shower.

The measurement algorithm is as follows:

1. The shower head unscrews from the hose.
2. A manometer is mounted on the hose.
3. The shower faucet opens.
4. The pressure is measured.

To take correct readings of the device, it is necessary to get rid of the air lock during the measurement process. It is eliminated by switching the mixer several times from the faucet to the shower or by opening and closing another faucet in the plumbing system.

If there is no corresponding adapter, then instead of it you can choose a hose with a diameter that allows you to connect it to a pressure gauge. The connection to the shower hose in this case is made through a fitting with a ½ inch thread.

The water pressure during the day may fluctuate, therefore, for the reliability of the readings taken, it is recommended to take measurements several times, including during the period of peak water analysis.

Method # 3 - instrumentless pressure detection

This method allows, with a certain degree of error, to measure the water pressure at the point of connection to plumbing fixtures without the use of special measuring devices.

To carry out measurements, it is necessary to purchase a transparent PVC hose / tube with a length of about two meters and with a diameter that allows you to connect it to a water tap

An experiment using a transparent PVC hose is carried out according to the following method:

1. The hose is connected at one end to the point of analysis, exposed and, preferably, fixed in a vertical position.
2. The faucet opens and the tube is filled with water up to the mark corresponding to the bottom of the faucet (zero level).
3. The top opening is hermetically sealed.
4. The faucet opens to maximum pressure.
5. The height of the water column is measured from the zero level to the lower boundary of the air lock (H).
6. The height of the air lock (h) is fixed.

Distance measurements should not be carried out immediately, but after 1-2 minutes, after an air lock forms in the hose under the pressure of water from an open tap.

The formula for calculating the approximate value of water pressure from an open tap, when using a transparent hose as a pressure gauge, will be as follows. P=Ratm × (H + h) / h

The value of Ratm is taken as the value of the atmospheric pressure in the tube before the start of the experiment, 1 atm.

Options for placing pumps and pumping stations in the apartment

Often the apartment does not have enough space to allocate a small technical area where the boiler can be located, as well as pumping equipment to increase the water pressure. In this regard, it is required to find a place where it is possible to install the pump. Usually it is placed under the bathroom behind a retractable screen. Since there is little space there, and it is not very convenient to work during installation, only a pump without a hydraulic accumulator is installed.

It is most convenient to operate and maintain these systems when they are located in a cabinet under the sink. Depending on where the riser is located, it can be a kitchen or a bathroom. If there is no space at all, then you can put a miniature pump only directly in front of an important consumer.It can be a washing machine or instantaneous water heater. The pumps used for this are very small in size, and hardly exceed the size of a water meter.

Why know water pressure standards

1. Preventing the increase in water pressure helps prevent the failure of water supply devices, household appliances;
2. Identification of the reasons due to which the devices stopped working. As a rule, such a breakdown is associated with a low level of water pressure in the system;
3. Ability to connect new appliances that require increased water consumption.

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Norms for an apartment building

For a standard five-story building, the calculation is made according to the following formula:

10 + (4*5) = 30 meters.

10 meters is the standard standard for water pressure, which is supplied to the first floor. 4 meters is the standard height of each floor. 5 is the total number of floors in the house. Accordingly, in order to provide all residents of this five-story building with water with normal pressure, it is necessary to comply with the norm of 30 meters (3 atmospheres).

Norm for a private house

Attention! If this 10-meter mark is exceeded, then the minimum pressure standard for a private house is set to 2 atmospheres

How to relieve pressure

The problem of high pressure is usually faced by residents of the lower floors of high-rise buildings, where to provide the desired range of 0.3 - 6 atm. at the top you have to supply water with increased pressure from below. Excessive pressure in the circuit leads to accelerated wear of pipeline fittings, inconvenience when using mixing appliances and sanitary equipment (increased noise in taps).

The problem in the MKD is solved quite simply - in order to reduce the pressure, the valves at the entrance to the apartment from the cold water or hot water risers reduce the cross section of the passage channel.

If there are sudden pressure drops in the system, a reducer can be used to reduce or stabilize it. The device has a regulator that allows you to lower the pressure by setting the maximum allowable pressure at the entrance to the apartment (for example, readings of 2 or 3 atm.), The threshold value of which cannot be exceeded.

In autonomous water supply of country houses, the problem of too high pressure is solved at the installation stage - an adjusting screw is tightened on the hydraulic relay, which lowers upper threshold of its operation.

Rice. 10 Booster pumps that increase the pressure of water in the water supply and their use

How to understand who is to blame for poor pressure?

The following causes of insufficient pressure in the plumbing system are possible:

• blockage inside the faucets, as well as in water filters;
• failure of mixers;
• fouling of pipes from the inside with plaque;
• breakage of the filter element inside the geyser, if it is used in an apartment.

In these cases, the tenant himself is responsible for the poor pressure in the pipeline, since the pressure drop was caused by a breakdown or clogging of devices that are located within his own apartment.

This property will be considered personal. The tenant will have to independently clean the filters and faucets or completely replace them.

It is recommended to pre-check all faucets with filters in the home. If necessary, you can gently tap the pipes with a hammer to get rid of excess lime inside them. Also, if there is a geyser, it is recommended to check the filter element inside it.

If the cause is not faucets with filters, as well as the pipeline inside the apartment, then it is necessary to check the connection of pipes in the entire plumbing system.

It is recommended to check the condition of the riser and all equipment installed in the basement of the house. To do this, you need to contact the CC. The pumping station may also need to be checked.

Artificial increase in pressure in the plumbing system

If, after the revision of the pipeline system, no malfunctions were found, you can try to increase the pressure in the network by installing additional water pumps.

There are several ways to artificially increase the pressure in the water circuit:

• Installing an additional network pump in the water supply system.
• Installation of a water pumping station and a storage tank.
• Installation in a pumping station complete with a hydraulic accumulator tank.

Inclusion in the circuit of an additional pump

Installing additional water pressure equipment in the water circuit allows you to increase the volume of water supplied to the water distribution points. Installing an additional network pump allows you to increase the pressure by 1-2 atm.

If the pressure indicators in the network are too low, and it is not possible to increase the water supply to the network, it is recommended to install an individual pumping station with a storage tank. Too low pressure makes it impossible to work most plumbing fixtures and household equipment associated with water supply. During the time when the residents do not use the water supply, a sufficient amount of water accumulates in the storage tank.

If necessary, water is supplied from the storage tank to the system using a pumping station, which creates the required pressure indicator for the smooth operation of household appliances. The disadvantage of this method is that when the storage tank is empty, you will have to take a break and wait for it to fill up again.

What to look for when choosing a pump

When choosing pumping equipment, you should pay attention to its operating parameters:

• The performance of the equipment is characterized by the supply of a certain volume of water in liters per minute.
• Head height, in meters.
• Output power, in watts.

When choosing a pump, you need to take into account the average water consumption in the house. It depends on the number of residents, the number of water distribution points and the number of storeys of the building.

A pump that is too weak will not be able to solve problems with low pressure, and too powerful can lead to premature failure of plumbing equipment - rupture of pipe joints, extrusion of gaskets, etc.

If you are not sure about the correctness of your calculations, it is recommended to contact plumbing engineers with this question.

Partial alteration of the water supply system

Sometimes the cause of insufficient pressure is an incorrectly assembled piping network. Most often this happens if the system is assembled independently by non-professional tenants, without consulting a specialist. At the same time, it is possible to underestimate the necessary parameters of the pipes, when, due to the small diameter, the throughput of the water supply system is insufficient for the normal supply of water to the entire house. Replacing pipes that are too thin will increase the pressure in the water supply network to acceptable levels.

Installing a hydraulic accumulator

A good alternative to an open storage tank with a pumping station can be the installation of a hydraulic accumulator in the house, also known as a hydraulic tank. Its functions are approximately the same - the accumulation and supply of water to the network. However, the pressure in it is not created due to the network pump, but due to the elastic force of the internal diaphragm and the air compressed by it. Its principle of operation is as follows:

1. The device displays the lower and upper pressure values. At the lower pressure indicator, the automation turns on the borehole pump, and the tank is filled with water. In this case, the membrane is stretched, the pressure in the accumulator increases.
2. When the pressure reaches a certain upper level, the pump automatically turns off, and water is supplied under pressure to the network.
3. As the water is consumed, the pressure in the network drops, and when it reaches the lower set value, the hydraulic accumulator automation again turns on the borehole pump.

How to determine the pressure

With a manometer

There are special devices that allow you to measure the pressure in the water supply network. They are called manometers. With their help, you can fine-tune gearboxes and pumps in order to normalize the parameters of water pressure. Measurements should be taken 3-4 times a day. These time spans should cover the extreme drawdown periods: lowest at night and highest in the morning and evening. It is at this time that almost all apartments consume water.

The performed measurements allow us to compare the spread with the normative indicators.Based on the direction in which the actual water pressure is shifted, the method of its correction is selected: in the direction of increasing or decreasing. To carry out measurements using a pressure gauge, it is necessary to perform a rather complicated operation by inserting it into the water supply system. Moreover, you need to install two devices: one each in hot and cold water supply.

"Folk" method

There is an easier way to do the calculations. It consists in the following: an ordinary jar of a known volume is taken and placed under a tap with water. After that, the water opens and the time of its filling is detected. If, for example, a 3-liter jar is filled in 10 seconds, then the pressure is normal. If the filling lasted 14 seconds, then the pressure is 2 times lower than the standard. A time of 7 seconds or less indicates that the pressure exceeds the norm by 2 times and you need to think about installing a gearbox. Plumbing equipment under such operating conditions will quickly fail.

It is clear that the correctness of the calculations depends not only on the volume of the can, but also on the diameter of the pipe, the degree of opening of the tap, the material of the pipeline, etc. But, since most apartments are equipped with the same type of plumbing equipment, and water pipes are installed at the construction stage according to certain standards, these factors can be neglected.

Causes of low water pressure

The norm of pressure in the apartment water supply ranges from 2 to 6 atmospheres. The actual figure is largely dependent on local government and the condition of highways. As a rule, this indicator = 2 atm or 0.03-0.6 MPa. If there is a weak pressure of water in the apartment - you need to figure out what to do.You will need to bypass the neighbors in the pipeline on the next floors, and ask how they are doing.

If they have the same problem, this is a breakdown to your apartment: a malfunction of the riser or main. You will need to contact the service company to eliminate the cause. If the problem is only in one apartment, then the malfunction should be sought in the internal wiring, at the place of its connection to the riser. We list the most common reasons:

• Clogging of pipelines occurs due to their clogging with rust, dirt and other substances. Most often this applies to old pipelines, which are assembled from steel or cast iron components. The service life expires, they must be dismantled and new ones installed using modern technologies. Do-it-yourself cleaning of water pipes.
• The next malfunction is the contamination of the central filter installed between the connection to the riser and the water meter. Its mesh is clogged with fine grains of sand and elements of rust. It must be cleaned regularly.
• A decrease in pressure in a single tap can occur due to contamination of the mesh located on the edge of the gander. You will need to unscrew its mount, rinse the mesh thoroughly and install it back.

If the pressure of your neighbors has also decreased, it means that the riser, the main line is clogged, or another type of breakdown has occurred. The capacity of the main pump may have decreased.

Where to address the problem of incorrect water pressure

When establishing the fact that the problem of low pressure in the water supply system is outside the residential premises, transfer the solution to the issue to the management company or HOA.

Write a complaint that:

• indicate that the water supply service is of poor quality;
• demand a recalculation for the days of the provision of a service that does not meet the requirements of SNiP;
• demand to eliminate the discrepancy and establish a quality provision of public services.

The application must be considered within 30 calendar days.

If the requirements specified in the application are not met, the owner has the right to notify the supervisory authority. In most cases, it is better to report this to the administration of the locality for housing and communal services.

Where can I complain about the management company?

Support the appeal to a higher authority with a copy of the application submitted to the management company. It is desirable that it has a mark of acceptance.

The water pressure in the water supply system affects the quality and safety of life in an apartment or individual house. The serviceability and proper operation of plumbing equipment and household appliances installed in the room depends on it.

In case of violation of the norms and rules for the water supply of the apartment, the owner has the right to demand from the management company or the HOA to eliminate them and recalculate the service fee.

ATTENTION! Look at the completed sample complaint to the Criminal Code for low water pressure in the apartment:

Adjustment

In private homes, only a flow pump is not enough to regulate the level of pressure. A pumping station or hydraulic accumulator is required. In these devices, the water pressure switch is adjusted.

At the pumping station

Here, the relay is responsible for the adjustment, which turns off or turns on the device as described above.

Its main elements are contacts fixed on a metal base.

Most often, two springs of different sizes and a membrane are used to operate the device.

Relays are often already set to factory settings.

To turn on, this is an indicator of 1.5-1.8 atmospheres, and to turn it off - a level of 2.5-3 atmospheres. And there is a maximum limit of 5 atmospheres, but in practice not every relay can withstand it. In most cases, the factory settings provide normal operation. If not, you need to set them manually.

First, check the operation of the system and the level of air pressure in the accumulator. After starting the station, the pressure is restored, it is measured and recorded, the power to the equipment is turned off, and water is drained from the system. Sometimes you need to reduce the pressure.

Remove the plastic housing from the relay, tighten the large spring nut by turning it clockwise until the spring is compressed to the appropriate level.

Turning the small nut in the same direction widens the gap between the settings for on and off. The position is fixed, the body is returned to its place.

In a hydraulic accumulator

The tank that is used in the pumping station is called a hydraulic accumulator. Among other things, it provides a certain supply of water. Its operation is regulated by a relay. A float sensor monitors the water level in the accumulator.

The relay here is arranged in the same way as in the pumping station. And set it up the same way. That is, first they check the operation of the system, measure the pressure using a pressure gauge, then drain the water, remove the case from the device, adjust the indicators with the help of nuts.

All adjustment information is here.

How to measure water pressure

Usually, the water pressure is measured using an already installed pressure gauge. It should be located in front of the entrance to the system and fix the flow of water entering it. If not, then there is one proven way to find out the pressure. For this you will need:

• manometer (with scale up to 6 bar); • thread extension; • special adapter from 1 to 2 inches; • plumbing tape.

First you need to fasten the pressure gauge with a thread extension and a special adapter. You need to do this with the help of plumbing tape. Next, you need to check the tightness of all connections. Nothing should move, the structure should be solid. After, in the bathroom, unscrew the nozzle from the shower hose. Fix its end in the device. When everything is connected, turn on the water, and switch shower/tub positions several times. This will remove excess air from the system. Now you can freeze. If water begins to ooze out of the structure when air leaves the structure, it must be strengthened more reliably by tying it several more times with plumbing tape. To get the result, you need to turn on the full pressure from the mixer. The pressure gauge should immediately show the water pressure.

Many people wonder why there is little pressure in the water pipe faucet. There are several reasons for this:

1. The most common reason is that the pipe is clogged with something. If the water is of poor quality, it can leave various sediments in the course of its movement. This is especially true for turns, bends and forks. When the pipes are metal, it can be accumulated rust or lime.
2. Leak. It can be caused by frequently changing pressure, poor-quality pipe connections, defective material from which they were made.
3. If a private house is connected to a central water supply system, the pressure can be reduced artificially. This happens due to arrears on bills or repairs on pipeline sections.

When the house is connected to an autonomous water supply (well or well), a decrease in pressure can be the result of two reasons:

1. Not enough water in the well. As a result, the pumps cannot supply the requested amount of fluid.
2. There is a lot of water in the well, and the pumps are set incorrectly. Because of this, they pump water overloading the entire system. Under critical loads, the connecting nodes will not withstand and leakage will occur.

Tips on how to determine the pressure in the water supply

Water pressure can be measured using an instrument called a water pressure gauge. There is a household version for home use with an adapter for connecting to equipment, such as a kitchen faucet.

There is a method for measuring pressure without using a pressure gauge. To do this, you need a 3-liter jar and a stopwatch (or a watch with a second hand). It is necessary to open the tap at full capacity, substitute the jar and note the time. After filling, you need to note the time for which the jar was filled. It will become a key indicator for determining pressure. Empirically and by calculation, a correspondence was established between the filling time of the jar and the pressure in the water supply system.

Let's look at this ratio in more detail in the table:

These indicators are very approximate, and therefore can only become the basis for calling representatives of the management company to conduct official measurements using special equipment.

Conclusions and useful video on the topic

Roller #1. How to choose a power station. In the video you can learn about the features of choosing a power station with a hydraulic accumulator:

Roller #2. The video describes the main points when installing a pressure pump:

As you can see, it is not difficult to raise the pressure in the water supply. To solve the problem, a pressure pump or a special pumping station is used. If it is possible to carry out the installation of the pump on your own, then the installation of the station should be entrusted to professionals.

Do you have personal experience with improving water pressure? Want to share actionable methods or ask questions about a topic? Please leave comments - the feedback form is located below.