Running booster pump 24/7 Questions before I make an order
- Thread starter Zeebest001
- Start date
Zeebest001
New Member
A much better picture of my new setup.
Yea that white thing is the cistern? If it's more than 1 meter of water tall it should have enough pressure to open an easy to open check valve.. assuming the outlet is still at the bottom there
Zeebest001
New Member
yeah that is the cistern and yeah the outlet is at the bottom. I didn't know when the power went out my booster pump wouldn't allow water to pass through, ideally I would like if the water could just keep running through the booster pump when the power goes out but just not get the "boost" I would rather have crappy but ok water pressure during a power outage vs non at all. So I am just looking for the easiest solution to keep the water flowing to the house.
When you get a check valve, try finding one with extremely low pressure required to open it. There are some that only take like 1 psi to open which would only need ~1ft of water in your cistern to push it open thus it'd allow water to flow.
Then when the pump is on, it'll close the check valve and that won't let water go backwards
Then when the pump is on, it'll close the check valve and that won't let water go backwards
Zeebest001
New Member
ok, to be honest, I am not even familiar with check valves and where I have them on my install. I had my girlfriends brother install this unit and I am trying to learn as much as possible. So it sounds like I just need to replace a check valve and then the water will run through the booster pump even without power, is that right?
watch that video it's pretty easy to understand them
You can have him help you install it again? should only take like 15 mins
Zeebest001
New Member
thanks, no, I would be doing it by myself. Which I feel fine with. We live in different states and he won't be back to Puerto Rico anytime soon, or else I would hire a plumber if I can't do it.... How would I tell how many check valves I have right now? I will watch the videos now, thank you
sunshine_eggo
Happy Breffast!
That looks like a centrifugal pump with a check valve (brass piece connected to the inlet). It also looks like it has a pressure switch on the outlet. That could possibly restrict flow.
Gravity will only flow above a trickle if there is not too much resistance and if the water lines remain below the water level in the tank, or if you can get the flow started with a siphoning effect.
Your old setup looks like it had an integral pressure tank, which could explain why you could get some water even when there was an outage.
I agree that a bypass would be worth trying.
Gravity will only flow above a trickle if there is not too much resistance and if the water lines remain below the water level in the tank, or if you can get the flow started with a siphoning effect.
Your old setup looks like it had an integral pressure tank, which could explain why you could get some water even when there was an outage.
I agree that a bypass would be worth trying.
Zeebest001
New Member
is it possible that my booster pump has a check valve installed inside of it that I can't replace? Or are my check valves visable in that picture and I just need to replace them with a lower PSI one?
You maybe don't have any.. however one piece might be one
In your picture
that could be one
Yea but that's fine, and as we just said I think that first part is also one
but you can ignore that, the bypass will ignore your pump entirely
the main goal we have now is to get some check valve that has a super low opening pressure so it'll allow your water to creep out of your no pressure tank
sunshine_eggo
Happy Breffast!
with 99.9% certainty it is... looks exactly like the one I have on my pressure pump and in the same location.
Zeebest001
New Member
So 
Your current check valve on the pump could be too hard for the water to get through thus it can't get through it.
I would guess majority of check valves won't get through your cistern because it doesn't have enough pressure.
I know there ARE lower pressure ones that exist. I have used them before for lab equipment.
I would guess majority of check valves won't get through your cistern because it doesn't have enough pressure.
I know there ARE lower pressure ones that exist. I have used them before for lab equipment.
Zeebest001
New Member
So the thing I circled is the check valve and I just need to simply replace that with a lower PSI one and my problem will be solved? If I am understanding correctly?
yea
now if you were able to test your pump and just spray water in the inlet / outlet without any plumbing you can see if it lets water through
and then you could just replace that check valve and you wouldn't have to to have a bypass. However a bypass won't really hurt anything... so You can just do that and not worry
You really do need a very easy to open check valve though
I can't find any that are like 1-2psi at least not on amazon
no idea what else ships to puerto rico
if you find something in the states I guess your family can ship to you
