Booster Pumps: An Overview of How They Work

If you’re working on a home or commercial property with annoyingly low water pressure and flow, you may want to consider adding a booster pump to the system. A water booster pump is a motorized device that increases the water pressure in the system for improved convenience and comfort.

How does it achieve that goal, though? Read 24hr Supply’s quick overview of how booster pumps work to get a better idea of how they fit into a plumbing system.

Components of a Booster Pump

To understand how booster pumps work, you’ve got to know what’s going on inside. Most booster pumps are comprised of the following parts:

• Motor
• Impeller(s)
• Inlet and outlet valves
• Pressure and/or flow sensors

Some booster pumps, called single-stage pumps, only have one impeller to move and pressurize water. Multi-stage booster pumps, as the name implies, have two or more impellers to increase pressure.

How It Works

A booster pump works as a middleman between the water source and the various faucets in the house. Water moves through the pipes and is sucked into the booster pump through the inlet valve.

One or more impellers, powered by the motor, start to move with plates that either rotate or oscillate. One plate uses cups, while the other uses indentations. This movement increases the water pressure when water is forced out through the outlet, improving comfort and convenience.

Booster Pump Applications

Single-stage booster pumps are ideal for single-family homes and other buildings in which there’s only a moderate need for high water pressure. A Grundfos residential booster pump works well for these applications and is easy to install!

However, if you’re working on a larger building or a residence that’s at the top of a hill, you may benefit from the extra power of a multi-stage pump. Multi-stage booster pumps are ideal for moving water uphill or delivering it to a larger service area.

If you’re working with booster pumps on your next plumbing project, you’ll want to understand how they work before installing one. 24hr Supply makes booster pump selection and installation easy with their diverse selection of high-quality, long-lasting pumps.