Boosting water pressure?

[StaggeringGoat]

I have a 1 1/4" PEX water line to my shop, it provides me with lots of water. Unfortunately the pressure from the city is only about 50 PSI. I have an industrial hose rated for 500 PSI, and a spray nozzle rated for 300 PSI. What kind of pump would I need to raise the pressure to around 200-300 PSI? All the water "booster pumps" I've looked at stop around 50 PSI, for household or sprinkler use.

I have a pressure washer for high pressure cleaning, but I think having a lower pressure, higher volume source of water would be nice. For example, squirting off the parking lot would be a lot easier at 200 PSI and 1000+ GPH.

 

[ponjohn]

Does the 50 psi pump add 50psi or boosts it to 50?

I have well water and would LOVE 50.

 

[StaggeringGoat]

Does the 50 psi pump add 50psi or boosts it to 50?

I have well water and would LOVE 50.

I think they usually stop at about 50 PSI.

 

[rodm1]

I think reposting at the well forum you would get a better answer. I think they had a discussion about 1 year age about a high psi booster pump.

About 70 psi is max for a normel system.

http://www.terrylove.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?4-Pumps-and-Tanks-Well-Forum-amp-Blog

 

[pop pop]

200 psi will knock you on your a**.

 

[StaggeringGoat]

200 psi will knock you on your a**.

That's funny, I have no problem holding onto my 2600 PSI pressure washer.

 

[jdieter]

Buy a used fire truck.

 

[RPH]

We use multi-stage turbine pumps to raise water pressure to 200 psig. These pumps are going to be rather expensive. Think in the $1500.00 and up range. It will also **** power as it requires horse power to run it. Also have to be able to feed the volume of water to keep the beast happy. Grainger and McMaster- Carr will have smaller versions for cheaper but have low volume.

 

[srmofo]

That's funny, I have no problem holding onto my 2600 PSI pressure washer.

Just thinking out loud, but your pressure washer doesnt have the volume of a 1.25" line either

 

[KinzeMech]

A well pump could probably be set up to give you 50-60psi OVER your line pressure, but it would require a pressure tank, there is the possibility that, like an air compressor, it would not always keep up, and you may periodically have to wait for it to build pressure. Also, given the fact that type of pump is not designed to have positive pressure on the suction side, there is a fair possibility of leakage at the pump shaft seal.

Even if it's achievable, I don't think there's much to gain. At the low end (garden hose and nozzle) you have high volume and low pressure. At the high end (pressure washer), you have low volume and high pressure. If you build a system in between, I suspect you will end up with the the drawbacks of both, and the advantages of neither. There's not much point using twice as much water if it doesn't get twice as much done (which is what I think will happen).

If you already have a pressure washer, I would use that. You will wash your parking lot in less time, and have to buy less water to do it.

 

[larry_g]

http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200329825_200329825

One thing to be sure of before embarking on this is to make sure that your supply can provide the flow necessary to feed the beast. Another is to make sure that you have properly rated hose and piping on the discharge side to handle the pressure. After your comment on holding a 2600 psi pressure washer wand I wish you good luck.

lg
no neat sig line

 

[Jagmandave]

1000gph at 200 psi to wash off the driveway is a terrible waste of water.

I use my leaf blower to clean my driveway, and if you need to clean a larger areas, try a stiff bristle broom and a good concrete cleaner, then rinse with the regular hose.

If I read your post right, you're on city water supply not a well. If so, the 50 PSI is set by your regulator at your meter - you can change it but you'll have the higher pressure in your house too unless you add another regulator at your house after the spit to your shop.

You don't want higher than 50psi in your house or you'll be buying a new water heater and other appliances soon.

 

[1redTA]

try an 1 3/4" hose with 200 gpm at 180psi attached to a fire truck, it makes a pressure washer feel like a watering can

 

[david594]

http://www.911nowater.com/AquaboostII_Product_Bullitan_ModelABS.pdf

Check out this product. No idea on the price, but I worked at a place that had one, and it seemed to do exactly what you were looking for.

 

[StaggeringGoat]

Buy a used fire truck.

Honestly, that's crossed my mind...

1000gph at 200 psi to wash off the driveway is a terrible waste of water.

I use my leaf blower to clean my driveway, and if you need to clean a larger areas, try a stiff bristle broom and a good concrete cleaner, then rinse with the regular hose.

I guess you've never tried to clean a half acre of asphalt this way. I live in Oregon, we have plenty of water. We have a 2" meter at the street, as long as the bill gets paid I'll use as much water as I want. I like to keep the grounds clean.

 

[Sureshot]

I have seen in multiple posts on GJ about the need for a pressure tank with a pump. You don't need one it just lets the pump kick out and supply you with water pressure until it drops sufficiently. The centrifigul pumps will max out at 60 or so psi. I run my sprinklers on a 1 hp electric with no pressure switch or tank and if you unplug all the sprinklers(I have the golf course plug in style) it is no big deal to leave the pump run while you move things around.