Can I Use a Shallow Well Pump to Boost My House Pressure?

Shallow Well Pump

• A shallow well pump is typically designed to pump water into a pressure tank until a certain amount of pressure is achieved. At that point the pump should switch off. Such a pump can be installed between the main line and the house to boost the water pressure, but it's best if a pressure tank is also added. Otherwise there is a risk that the pump will cycle on and off too many times, eventually damaging the pump. This is also a problem if a water leak develops, since the pump may run continuously as it senses the drop in pressure caused by the leak.

Pressure Tank

• The use of a pressure tank helps to stabilize water pressure levels and to minimize the number of times the pump must cycle on and off to maintain pressure in the house. When using a shallow well pump and a pressure tank, the main water supply flows into the pump and the pump forces it into the pressure tank until a selected level of pressure is reached. The pump then shuts off and any water used in the house comes from the pressure tank until it reaches the low pressure setting, which causes the pump to switch on again and recharge the tank. This typically provides improved pressure to a house, but there will be some variation in the pressure.

Booster Pumps

• A special type of pump, called a water pressure booster pump, is made for the specific purpose of boosting household water pressure. These pumps are relatively easy to install and usually don't require the use of a pressure tank for proper operation. An electronic switch insures that the pump only comes on when a certain level of demand is met and the pressure drops below the minimum level. Booster pumps have built-in monitoring devices that stop the pump immediately if there is no water.

Considerations

• The water pressure coming into a booster pump must be controlled, to avoid damage to the pump and to the house’s pipes and fixtures. A pressure-reducing valve is typically required, and in most cases the input pressure shouldn't be more than 30 pounds per square inch (psi). The pump will boost that to an output of 70 or 80 psi. Before installing a pump, it's also important to check the entire system for anything that could be reducing the water pressure, such as water conditioning systems, cracked or clogged pipes, or valves that may be restricting the overall flow of the water. Correcting these problems may eliminate the need to install a pump.