Domestic Waterworks

Domestic waterworks are suitable for automatic water pumping from your own well, as well as for stabilizing water pressure in the system. We offer traditional products with a pump and pressure tank, as well as modern solutions equipped with a frequency converter, capable of maintaining constant water pressure and saving energy. 

Domestic waterworks are an ideal solution if you live in a house with your own well or need to stabilize water pressure in a building connected to the water supply network. It is a device combining a self-priming pump, pressure tank, manometer, and pressure switch, primarily designed for pumping water from a well and subsequently maintaining constant pressure in the pipelines. For this reason, it is also suitable for places where there is pressure fluctuation in the water supply network or for multi-storey buildings where it is necessary to further boost water pressure. 

Thanks to the sensors that are part of the domestic waterworks, the system automatically takes care of turning the pump on and off and providing a constant water supply at the desired pressure.

How does a domestic waterworks work?

Classic domestic waterworks

The domestic waterworks system consists of a self-priming pump usually located in the well, a pressure tank, and a pressure or flow switch. 

When water is drawn, the pressure drops, the switching unit detects the change and turns on the pump. The pump always runs at full power, and the pressure tank balances the pressure surges so that the water pressure in the pipelines remains constant and the number of pump starts is limited. 

When water drawing is finished, the pump runs until the pressure in the tank reaches the desired value again. In practice, pumping control is usually used in thirds of the pressure tank volume. Before starting the draw, the pressure tank is ⅔ full and the pump is off. When the tap is opened, water starts to flow, but the pump will only restart when the switching unit detects a drop below ⅓ of the volume. The pump runs until it is refilled to ⅔ of the volume.

Domestic waterworks with a frequency converter

Another option is a domestic waterworks equipped with a pump with a frequency converter, which can constantly maintain a predetermined pressure and requires only a small pressure tank. This is also the case with the modern waterworks Grundfos SCALA2. It relies on an integrated pressure sensor at the outlet, which, when the draw starts, gives a command to the pump and then compares the measured pressure with the set pressure. Based on this, it sends a signal to the frequency converter, which immediately adjusts the pump speed for the desired water pressure. 

Thanks to intelligent control, the system can respond without delay even to situations where a second draw starts (for example, besides the tap, the shower is also turned on), without causing unpleasant fluctuations in the water flow when another tap is opened or closed.  Thanks to advanced design and control, the pump is also significantly quieter than a classic domestic waterworks.

How to choose a domestic waterworks?

When choosing, it is crucial to consider that the suction height of the self-priming pump cannot exceed 8 meters of pressure loss due to physical principles.

Furthermore, it is necessary to consider:

• Size of the pressure tank: usually ranges from 20 liters. The right choice of size can prevent unnecessarily frequent pump starts. 
• Delivery height of the pump,
• Flow rate of the pump,
• Material of the pressure tank: in our offer, you will find domestic waterworks with both steel and stainless steel tanks. Stainless steel is particularly suitable if the waterworks will be placed outside the building.
• Type of pressure tank - bladder / membrane. As the name suggests, a bladder tank contains a bladder into which the water is filled. The main advantage is that there is no contact between the water and the tank. The only factor affecting the corrosion of the tank is external moisture. The tanks are always treated with anti-corrosion paint. The advantage of the membrane tank is that it does not suffer from bladder cracking. The water is in direct contact with the tank, and only the membrane stretches. 

What piping is suitable for connecting a domestic waterworks?

The piping for a domestic waterworks can be any, we recommend it to be the same as that used for the rest of the distribution within the building – currently, PPR (polypropylene) is usually used for connection. Special attention should only be paid to the material used for the suction pipe, which must not shrink. If you use a standard garden hose, the waterworks will create a vacuum during suction, the hose will collapse and clog. Usually, nothing gets damaged, as the waterworks are equipped with dry-run protection, but the water will not flow.  

Are domestic waterworks equipped with a filter? Where to place it?

No, domestic waterworks do not include any filtration. However, we definitely recommend it. It is absolutely essential for proper functionality to install the filter on the DISCHARGE pipe, i.e., between the waterworks and the first draw-off point in the building. A common mistake by customers is placing the filter on the suction pipe. The intention is to protect the pump, but this is wrong. The pressure loss of the filter creates such resistance that the pump may not be able to draw water at all. 

For coarser water cleaning from larger impurities (such as leaves or stones), we recommend suction baskets, which are placed at the end of the suction hose directly into the well. Small impurities pass through the pump without any problem and are removed by the filter behind it. 

Where to place a domestic waterworks?

We recommend installing the domestic waterworks in a technical room inside the building, or outside under a shelter. Keep in mind that the pump must be protected from frost. Either store it away before the onset of lower temperatures or equip it with a heating cable with a thermostat from our offer.

For the Grundfos SCALA2 product, which is one of the quietest products on the market, it is also possible to place it directly indoors, for example under the sink. Thanks to a number of measures, the product is no louder than a running dishwasher.

Domestic waterworks on the e-shop