FAQ’s
- WHAT ARE BOOSTER PUMPS AND HOW DO THEY WORK?
- HOW DOES A BOOSTER PUMP WORK?
- WHEN IS A BOOSTER PUMP NEEDED?
- WHAT CAUSES LOW WATER PRESSURE?
- WILL A BOOSTER PUMP HELP WITH FLOW RATE AND/OR ENHANCE PRESSURE?
- HOW TO SELECT A BOOSTER PUMP
- HOW TO CHOOSE WHAT TYPE OF PUMP
- WHAT TYPES OF PUMPS DOES GRANSA SUPPLY?
- HOW TO INSTALL A BOOSTER PUMP
- TOP TIPS
- PROBLEM SOLVING CHART
- PUMP WARRANTY
Water pressure pumps or booster pumps as they are also known are designed to help increase volume and pressure of water flow from various water sources, to a water outlet.
One of the biggest reasons to install a booster pump is to assist with the correction of low water pressure which can be a very frustrating problem to have, especially when it comes to activities like showering under a trickle of water or waiting very long to fill a glass of water.
A booster pump is basically a motorised fan. The blades of the impeller spin around to increase water movement creating increased pressure and water volume.
All booster pumps have an inlet and an outlet, and sensing devices, usually a pressure switch (CPV) – the CPV basically tells the pump to switch on to provide pressure and switch off when pressure is reached, this helps with maintaining the correct amount of pressure in the system.
There is a multitude of household water pressure problems a booster pump can help alleviate. Basically, a booster pump can be used in any instance where a higher flow rate or increased water pressure is required, or to get water from point A to point B.
Typical applications include:
- Bringing water out of a water/rain harvesting tank
- Increasing a home’s household pressure if it is too low
- Increasing water pressure for irrigation systems for small Farms
- Pumping water from an alternative water source such as a river, pond or stream (Filter screen required)
- Feeding water to an apparatus that might require high volumes of water at a higher pressure for an industrial application.
- Boost water pressure as a result of low supply from the municipality.
Push water from ground levels up multiple levels.
- Gravity – pumping uphill or to a house with multiple levels
- Distance from the water source – the further the distance, the lower the pressure due to friction losses in the pipe.
- Size of water pipes – if water pipes are too small, lower volumes of water will run through and more pressure will be lost due to the friction of the water moving through the pipeline.
- Low municipal pressure.
- Overuse of your water system by adding additional systems such as tap, toilets, showers and or irrigation systems.
- Plumbing problems such as clogged pipes, faulty pressure valves, small pipes, leaks etc. These issues cannot be solved with a booster pump.
Flow rate refers to the amount of water running through a hose, pipe or tap in a certain amount of time. Water Pressure is the force that is needed to make water move from one place to another or can also refer to the force the water exerts once released from a pipe or tap.
Booster pumps boost water pressure, and can also, improve flow rate. The function of a Booster pump is to push water at a faster rate and a higher pressure. But these two states influence each other, and this is why it is important to understand and refer to pump curves / chart. As the flow rate goes up, the pressure comes down.
To visualise the relationship between pressure and flow rate, image a running garden hose that you put your thumb over. By restricting flow rate with your thumb, the water comes out of the hose at a higher pressure. A booster pump works in a similar way. The pump provides increased water flow/a high flow rate at very low pressure. The plumbing of the house, with multi-story’s, elbows in the piping and taps create restrictions (like the thumb on the hose) which means the flow rate for the home is going to be lower.
The first step to selecting the correct booster pump is to know what it is going to be used for;
- Over what distance will the water be moved?
- What is the size of the pipe through which the water will be pumped?
- Is the water source above or below the pump?
- Know the extent to which the booster pump needs to work – Is the house a multiple-story unit, with one or two bathrooms?
- How much water do you need to move or how many outlets (taps, toilets, showers etc) must the pump be able to supply at one time?
- How much pressure is needed?
These are important questions and factors that will influence the type and quality pump that need to be purchased. The further the water needs to travel, the more robust the pump needs to be. Water weighs a lot and the longer the distance & the steeper the height the water needs to travel, the more pressure is put on the pump.
Please refer to the table below when selecting the correct pump for your application.
Secondly, you need to consider the following when purchasing a booster pump:
- Flow rate: How much water can the booster pump produce?
- Pressure boost: How much pressure can the pump add to the existing water pressure?
- Power: How much power does the pump require to operate?
Booster pumps are typically centrifugal pumps with impellers that pushes the water out at increased pressure. The impeller works like a vane that rotates on an axis that pulls water in. The impellers have curved vanes, which cause the water to be pushed outwards with centrifugal force as the flow enters the pump.
The pumps in the Gransa range cover a wide variety of flow rates and pressures, depending on the application that the pump is needed for. There are three main categories in the Gransa range.
- Peripheral pumps; these pumps are usually low power pumps that are used where relatively low volumes of water need to be moved at a higher pressure
- Self-priming Jet pumps; due to the added feature of a venturi within the pump, these units can draw water at a lower level to which the pump is installed, also referred to as negative suction. These pumps are usually low power pumps that are used where relatively higher volumes of water need to be moved at a higher pressure. The suction height must not exceed 3 meters below the level of the pump.
- Centrifugal pumps; these pumps are very similar to self-priming pumps but without the venturi, so the water level must be above the level of the pump, otherwise known as a positive suction. These pumps are highly effective at delivering high volumes of water at medium to high pressure.
Installing a booster pump is straightforward. Booster pumps need to be installed at the source of the water i.e. close to the water tank or well point or pipeline, or from where you will need to move the water from. These areas could be the main water line of the house, at the water tank etc.
There an inlet and an outlet to the pump, the inlet of the pump must be connected to the water source and the outlet needs to be connected into the plumbing supply to the house / system.
This is a DIY products, should you require assistance, a certified tradesman should be engaged. The use of informal contractors is not advised as this will affect any Warranty Claims should they arise.
- Using the Warthog connector kit to connect your pump to the tank – all in one box.
- Always ensure that your pump is protected from the elements, rain and heat will damage the pump – Warthog Pump covers are available in green & beige.
- Always ensure that the piping used to connect the pump to the water source is equal to or one size bigger than the pumps suction / inlet.
- Always have a bypass in place, in case of power loss, so you can still get water into the house.
- Find a way to test the pump in isolation without having to run water through the house. This is to help identify if problems are coming from plumbing, like leaks or the pump.
- Plumbing problems such as clogged pipes, faulty pressure valves, small pipes, leaks etc. These issues cannot be solved with a booster pump.
Check out these YouTube videos we have created to assist you with your pump selection, assembly and installation.
User-friendly and designed as such that not much can go wrong under normal operating conditions. In the unlikely event that your unit does malfunction, the below chart should help you to identify and rectify most problems on the spot
Electronic Pressure Control Pumps Problem Solving Chart |
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Fault |
Cause |
Remedies |
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Pump does not start / switch on |
Power supply failure |
Check main power supply. |
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Fuses blown |
Check fuse/replace. |
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Motor protection has tripped out |
Verify the reason then press (RESET). (Dry run protection) |
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Cable connection is loose or defective |
Switch off power supply, check cable/replace. |
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Failure in the electric circuit |
Switch off power supply, wait a few seconds and turn it on again. If the pump doesn't start immediately then replace the circuit. |
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Not enough pump pressure |
Check that the pump pressure is 0.8 bar higher than the starting pressure of the pressure control. |
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Airlock in the pump |
Release the air locked and prime the pump. |
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Pump starts and stops repeatedly |
Small leakage in some point of installation |
Verify tap / tank leakages and rectify. |
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Pump does not stop / switch off |
The pump cannot generate the required discharge pressure |
Check that the pump pressure is o.8 bar higher than the starting pressure of the system. |
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Water leakage higher than 1.2/min at some point |
Check the connection and rectify. |
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Manual start switch (RESET) is blocked |
Press it (RESET) several times. |
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Incorrect electric connection on electronic board |
Provide proper electrical connection. |
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Not all outlets are closed |
Check that all outlets are closed, confirm with pressure gauge. |