If the flow is stopped the pressure at the end of the pipe will be the same as the house. When water starts flowing, the pressure drops due to friction. Ten gpm is a nice flow, 5 gpm normally adequate and 3 gpm has a flow reducer on the shower. If the 3/4 pipe were in good shape it should deliver 5 gpm no problem, maybe more depending on elbows etc. If you replace it with a 1 inch pic you should get lots of flow, 10 gpm easy. I would not fuss with an added pump unless you had no choice, or had one laying around.
Compensating for low flow/pressure water supply to outbuilding?
- Thread starter IHDiesel73L
- Start date
Sberry
Platinum Member
If you have it behind it inch will deliver easy to a dwelling at 200 ft.
Valveman
Platinum Member
That Drummond pump has got to be the worst in existence. It is the only pump I know of that says "Not for continuous duty". This means it is very cheaply built and not made to run very much. Adding additional pressure tanks at the end of lines is not good, as friction loss causes them to fill at different rates and times. Plus a 50 gallon size pressure tank only holds about 15 gallons of water. After that 15 gallons is gone you are down to the low pressure that is coming in.
The suggestion to increase the pressure of the well pump is a good idea. If you are using a 40/60 pressure switch, turning it up to 50/70 or even 60/80 will push more water through that old rusty pipe. Although when the pump is cycling on and off between 50 and 70 much of the time you are at the low end of the pressure. Adding additional pressure tanks just keeps the pressure lower for longer.
Adding a Cycle Stop Valve to maintain 60 PSI constant is much stronger pressure than when the pump is cycling on/off between 50 and 70. Even with small and rusty pipe, the CSV will maintain strong constant pressure and make the shower feel like a pressure washer. With new pipe and a CSV, which is the best fix, you would have to turn the pressure back down or it would peel your skin off in the shower.
The suggestion to increase the pressure of the well pump is a good idea. If you are using a 40/60 pressure switch, turning it up to 50/70 or even 60/80 will push more water through that old rusty pipe. Although when the pump is cycling on and off between 50 and 70 much of the time you are at the low end of the pressure. Adding additional pressure tanks just keeps the pressure lower for longer.
Adding a Cycle Stop Valve to maintain 60 PSI constant is much stronger pressure than when the pump is cycling on/off between 50 and 70. Even with small and rusty pipe, the CSV will maintain strong constant pressure and make the shower feel like a pressure washer. With new pipe and a CSV, which is the best fix, you would have to turn the pressure back down or it would peel your skin off in the shower.