Any ideas on how to boost water pressure without using booster pumps?

Question

I have been told that the water pressure in a water line can be increased by installing a 20 - 30 ft section of a larger diameter pipe in the existing water line. I can see where it could be like installing a 'pressure tank' inline, but does it really work? I ask because my son brought a place where the well house is 1/4 mile from the house. The line to the house is 1 inch pvc. To make matters worse, water line goes down and back up a hill (approx. 60 ft fall, 70 ft rise). At the well house, the pump kicks off at 60 psi. At the house, water pressure is about 44 psi at the faucets. He doesn't want to put in a 1 1/2" water line. He was told about putting in a secton of larger pipe by a 'old timer' who installed water lines all of his adult life. The gentleman swears that it will work because he has done it before on numerous occassions.

Answer 1

might work but i think the effect would be much better if the larger pipe was installed along the downhill section leading to the house. installing it before that might make matters worse since the pump is pushing against a larger mass of water inside the larger pipe.

water will flow faster in a narrow space but lower volume while slower in a bigger space but volume is increased. But if that volume slams into a bottleneck(narrower pipe) the speed shoots up(increase pressure). if you pair that with gravity assist(install larger pipe downhill) the mass of that water pressing in to a smaller pipe would be like pressing the plunger of a hypodermic syringe. but thats just what i think

Answer 2

You'd be better off just putting in a larger water line... Replacing a section of the water line with a larger pipe simply just reduces pressure required to push water through a 1 inch line over that section of the line. If you're going to try the large pipe idea, I'd put it down at the lowest point as I think you probably get a lot of minerals settling there - reducing your total flow area. As far as acting like a P-tank. I can see where that would work. It's an interesting idea... but how bout another P-tank then?

I would look at installing a secondary booster and P-tank near the house.

A cystern or storage tank in the attic will only give you what you are already getting in water pressure.

Answer 3

The older gentleman was correct, putting in a section of larger pipe will get the job done. Normal water pressures of 30 psi seem to work fine, but your case of very long distance from the well pump is kind of unusual.

As I see it, you have two basic options. First is the one already mentioned. Add a section of two inch pipe about 200 - 300 feet long. Tee it into the existing line using street elbows and not 90 degree elbows.

or

Try installing a large storage tank in the attic. Given your friend's normal water pressure I would think that a sturdy fiberglass tank of about 200 gallons would be more than satisfactory.

Hint: Modern faucets have little restrictor "o rings" mounted within them. Open up the faucets and remove those restrictors for better water flow.

Answer 4

The old guy is right it doess work and it has the benifit ot being maintenance free. Levelling the pipe so that it does not rise will only help if the well dries and you get airlocked otherwise it will simply siphon

Answer 5

Use the D&W formula for head loss due to friction.
head loss due to friction
= FRICTION FACTOR*length*velocity^2/2.gravitational constant*diameter of pipe.
Pressure is resistance to flow.
So,it is evident that by incresing the cross-sectional area of a pipe pressure drop certainly be decreased.

Answer 6

shorten lengh of your incoming pipe, or decries the high of your house which is not possible, than you need to build a tank above of your well like 90 feet fall,