Pumps for Pressure Boosting and Maintenance

Pumps for pressure boosting and maintenance, also known as booster stations, are devices that enhance the comfort of water usage in areas with fluctuating or low pressure in the water supply system. Their operating principle is similar to domestic waterworks, but these systems are usually equipped with a more powerful pump. Our range includes solutions not only for family homes but also for residential or office buildings.

The system typically combines a pump, pressure tank, pressure gauge, and pressure switch. Thanks to sensors that are part of the booster station system, the system automatically manages the switching on and off of the pump and the constant supply of water at the desired pressure. 

When to Purchase a Pressure Boosting Pump?

In many locations, the pressure in the water supply connection is insufficient. Simply put, in such cases, only a very small stream of water flows from the tap. For example, filling a bathtub or washing hands becomes very uncomfortable. Insufficient pressure can also cause improper functioning and, in extreme cases, damage to household appliances. The solution is to purchase a system for boosting and maintaining water pressure. However, its purchase should be preceded by approval from the water supply manager. In case of disagreement, it is necessary to use a separate non-pressure tank. 

How Does a Water Pressure Boosting Station Work?

The operating principle is similar to domestic waterworks. Instead of drawing water from a well, it draws water from the water supply system. The pump fills the pressure tank, which then maintains constant pressure in the domestic distribution. 

Unlike domestic waterworks, more advanced and efficiently controlled pumps with a motor equipped with a frequency converter are more commonly used in this case. For large buildings, the system is also equipped with a pre-installed atmospheric tank, which prevents pressure drop in the water network in case of a new connection to the system. You don't have to worry about reducing the water pressure in neighboring buildings with your consumption. 

Classic Control

The system consists of a pump connected to the municipal water supply, a pressure tank, and a pressure or flow switch. 

When water consumption begins, the pressure drops, the switching unit detects the change, and the pump is activated. The pump always runs at full power, and the pressure tank smooths out pressure surges to ensure that the water pressure in the distribution remains constant while also reducing the number of pump activations. 

When water consumption ends, the pump continues to run until the pressure in the tank reaches the desired value again. In practice, pumping is usually controlled in thirds of the pressure tank's volume. Before consumption begins, the pressure tank is ⅔ full, and the pump is off. When the tap is opened, water starts to flow, but the pump only restarts when the switching unit detects a drop below ⅓ of the volume. The pump runs until it refills to ⅔ of the volume.

System with Frequency Converter

Another option suitable for larger buildings is a booster station equipped with a pump with a frequency converter, which can constantly maintain a predetermined pressure and requires a smaller pressure tank. It relies on an integrated pressure sensor at the output, which, upon starting consumption, instructs 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's speed for the desired water pressure. 

Thanks to intelligent control, the system can respond without delay even to situations where multiple consumptions start simultaneously (for example, in addition to the tap, the shower is also turned on), without causing unpleasant fluctuations in the water flow when opening or closing another tap.  

How to Choose a System for Pressure Boosting and Maintenance?

When installing boosting for an entire residential building, a powerful pump is needed. Typically, such large stations are used. For a family home, a smaller waterworks like Grundfos Scala2 or Grundfos  Scala1, or possibly a station with a pressure tank is sufficient.

When selecting a specific product, it is essential to consider the following parameters:

• Size of the pressure tank: usually ranges from 100 liters. Choosing the right size can prevent unnecessarily frequent pump activations.
• Pump head,
• Pump flow rate,
• Material of the pressure tank,
• Type of pressure tank - bladder / membrane.