How to choose a pumping station

One of the most important problems facing any homeowner is supplying their possessions with water for food, hygiene and household needs. A great success is always considered to be the availability of an autonomous source with the required capacity( debit) and the required water quality. It remains to organize the lifting of the required volumes, if necessary - a certain water treatment( filtration and post-treatment), and then - distribution by points of water consumption with adequate pressure for the correct operation of all plumbing fixtures and household appliances.

There are a lot of approaches to solving this issue - you can select the necessary set of modern pumping equipment, storage tanks, automatic control devices. But independently to think about the compatibility of the corresponding devices, to ensure their required interaction, coherence in work, to calculate and mount a single system that will meet all the requirements - a very high level of complexity. That is why, if specific characteristics of the source and location of the house permit, many owners prefer to purchase a ready-made solution - a pumping station.

This publication will address a number of issues, one way or another relating to the main problem in the headline - how to choose a pumping station. By the way, with the content of the article, for sure, it will be interesting to get acquainted and some owners of apartments - those who for a number of reasons the pressure in the water pipes is insufficient or not stable - the pumping station is able and in such circumstances to come to the rescue, providing the required pressure in the system, necessary for the operation of household appliances - flowing water heaters, washing machines and dishwashers, shower cabins, etc.

So, as mentioned above, the whole complex of tasks includes ensuring the intake of water from the source in the right quantities, transporting it to water consumption sites withby curing the proper head. It is possible to get acquainted with the variety of pump equipment for external sources, with its device, principles of operation, installation rules, laying of highways, warming, etc., on the pages of our portal, so there is no point in returning to this topic.

How to provide your own house with water?

The problems of creating an autonomous water supply system for a country house on the pages of the portal are given a lot of attention. So, the issues of digging and well equipment , well drilling are discussed in detail. Special publications will help you determine the pump option for the or well pump for irrigation of the garden.

You can solve the issue of water supply directly on the points of water extraction by several methods:

• The pump is switched on directly when there is a need for water supply, that is directly from the source to the consumer. This scheme is one of the simplest in the organization, but also the most imperfect one. It depends entirely on the parameters of the pumping equipment, and most importantly - on the availability of power at the time of water intake.

In addition, in the automation of such a system, that is, installing a flow sensor, the pump will be started at any opening of any tap-it does not matter whether you need to take a shower, put a wash, rinse a plate, or just collect a glass of water. Agree that with such frequent on and off, any pumping equipment is unlikely to last long.

This approach can be fully justified, for example, watering the garden or to provide water with a very small cottage where the hosts come only from time to time.

• The pump pumps water into the storage tank located at the top of the house. Thus, there is always a certain reserve, which reduces the dependence of the owners on the stability of the supply of electricity.

This system is easier to automate - you can install a float switch that will control the start and stop of the pump when the required water level is reached in the tank and as it is consumed.

However, there are also serious shortcomings. First, to install a storage tank, it is necessary to provide a lot of space in the upper part of the house. If this falls into the attic( and so often happens), then it is necessary to do more and high-quality thermal insulation of the tank. Secondly, such a drive is usually very impressive in size.

And thirdly, the usual gravitational head of water from the tank may not be enough for the normal operation of household appliances. This means that you will need to install another pump - to increase the pressure, as shown in the above diagram. Agree that the installation of two pumps is not entirely and not always convenient, the overall complexity and vulnerability of the entire system is increasing.

• Finally, the third approach - a pump, surface or submersible( deep) pumps water into a membrane-type hydraulic accumulator( key 1).

. Moreover, the required water supply is created - it is also under the required pressure, in such a way as to ensure the functioning of all sanitary and household appliances available in the house. The system is controlled by means of a pressure switch( in this figure - item 2) - it is designed to ensure that the pump is switched off when the upper limit of the working pressure is reached in the storage tank. As the water consumption goes down, the pressure decreases, and if it drops to the lower threshold( which is still slightly higher than the pressure needed for proper operation of household appliances), the pump will be switched on again to replenish the consumed stock. Thus, the pressure in the membrane tank is constantly maintained in the required operating range.

Obviously, this scheme is most convenient to use, it is optimal from the point of view of economics of electric power consumption and the installed life of the pumping equipment. Such a system can be mounted from separate components - a pump, a hydraulic accumulator tank, an automation unit with a pressure switch. But very often it makes sense to give preference to the ready technological solution of the problem - a special installation in which all the necessary elements of the system are arranged. It is this type of equipment that has become known as pumping stations.

The schematic diagram of the pumping station is shown in the figure below:

pump station device The pump station structure consists of the following elements:

A water pump from a well or well is provided with a surface pump( item 1) of one type or another - the varieties will be mentioned below. A water intake pipe( pipe 2) is laid to the water source, at the end of which a strainer( item 3) must be installed to prevent the ingress of solid suspensions of unacceptable size, and a check valve( item 4) to prevent water from draining downwardsoff position of the pump.

The water exiting from the pump passes through another check valve( key 5) and a splitter( key 6).With this "crosspiece" there is an accumulating membrane tank( item 7), flexible connection( item 8) to the barometric relay( item 9).The relay monitors the level of pressure in the system, providing a timely operation for transferring power from the 220 V network( item 10) to the pumping unit. By the pipe( item 11), water supplies with the right pressure to the consumption points: mixers in the kitchen, in the bathroom, in the washbasin( "a" and "b"), the shower booth( "in"), the toilet bowl"), A washing machine and a dishwasher( " d "and" e "), a household tap - for watering, cleaning, washing the car, etc.("G").

Design features of pumping stations

The layout of individual components may vary from manufacturer to manufacturer and depending on the specific model range. For example, a barometric relay( pressure switch) may not have a flexible connection, but simply be "planted" on a pipe or on a membrane tank. Nevertheless, the conceptual framework of this will not change significantly.

There are quite significant differences and the type of the pump itself.

• The usual surface pumps of the self-priming type are often used. These are reliable and simple to install units, which do not require complicated installation operations. They are distinguished by a sufficiently high level of productivity, they can create a good head, are not exacting to the purity of water and to air-blasting. Disadvantage - a small height of water from the well - usually within 6 meters, combined with a sufficiently high noise. So it is better for them to provide a separate room.

• Some self-priming pumps are equipped with a built-in ejector - a special device that allows to significantly increase the depth of water intake from a well or well.up to 10 - 15 meters,. True, for this it is necessary to "pay" even more noise and some decrease in the overall efficiency - part of the energy is expended on the recirculation of water in the ejector loop.
• If the depth of the water in the source is significant, then the only alternative is to use a pumping station with an external ejector.

The ringed water movement sharply increasing the suction characteristics of the pump is organized through the intake and additional hose, lowered into water and connected by an ejector nozzle.

This connection scheme allows you to lift water from significant depths( up to 40 - 45 meters) and transmit it over considerable distances through pipes from a remote source. The external arrangement of the ejector unit reduces the noise of the pumping station. There is, of course, a drawback - such equipment is characterized by high energy consumption due to reduced efficiency.

• For shallow sources, up to 8 - 10 meters, pumping stations with multistage unit are excellent. The level of generated noise is very low, so they will not become a source of irritation even when installed in the residential part of the house or in the kitchen. In this case, both the head and the productivity of the pump reach very significant values. True, the complexity of the design predetermines a much higher price than conventional self-priming units.

Multistage pumps can be immediately distinguished by the size of the working chamber - it has a distinctly elongated cylindrical shape, since it has several impellers.

• Another possible variety of pumps installed on pumping stations - vortex. The special design of the working chamber and the shape of the wheel create a turbulent flow of water, characterized by a high head, though, by reducing the productivity of the device( in comparison with other types).The depth of the fence is small - usually within 6 ÷ 7 meters.

vortex pump is quite suitable. It is advisable to use such pumping stations for small houses with a shallow source - here they will show "in full glory" their economy and quiet operation. Another common area of ​​their use is as pumps that increase the pressure in the inter-house water supply system, if such a need arises( for example, a weak pressure from the central water main).

Below is an illustration of a typical layout of a pumping station in a private house water system.

The pumping station can be located in the back room of a residential building and in a dedicated room, for example, in the basement or basement. For stationary installation, it is important to pay attention to laying the pipeline from the well to the house( shown by the orange arrow) at a depth below the freezing level of the soil and with its high-quality thermal insulation.

The fineness of laying the water supply from the well to the house

It is not enough to properly install the pumping equipment - it is extremely important to correctly lay the water mains from the water source to the residential building. These issues are also reflected in the pages of our portal. A special article is devoted to the laying of the water pipes from the well to the building. To the same visitors who live in regions with a cold climate, information on heating of the water pipe can be useful.

Note the series of letter symbols with arrows shown in the diagram. These are the values ​​that we will need in the future to determine the required parameters of the pumping station - the depth of water intake, the height of the pressure it creates, and the system's capacity.

Choosing a pumping station

With some parameters of the pump station selection the reader has already been familiar with the above. In particular, it was about the type of the pump itself and related factors - noise, economy. And now we will consider some basic operational characteristics, which are necessarily taken into account when buying pumping equipment.

Maximum depth of water intake

The selection of the pumping station for this parameter should be based on the actual characteristics of the water source and its distance from the installation site.

The basic distance is the height from the water mirror in the well to the pump axis( indicated by the red arrows and the letter G on the diagram).For the reference point, it is customary to take the dynamic level of the well, that is, the average with constant water intake for at least 24 ÷ 48 hours. The static level reached by the water, if there was no selection from the well during the last one or two days, can give a significant error in the calculations.

The values ​​of the dynamic and static level of the source must be known to every host. They are determined by experience, by measuring for a sufficiently long period. From these indicators, by the way, the debit of the well( well) largely depends, which will also become one of the defining criteria when choosing pumping equipment.

If the water source is in close proximity, literally a few meters from the pumping station, then this value of G can be quite sufficient. Certainly, if the pump does not work at the limit of its capabilities, about 10-15% of the stock should be added, especially since water has yet to overcome the resistance of the non-return valve. But if a significant horizontal section is also laid( blue arrows and letter L on the diagram), then it should be taken into account - there will also be losses due to the hydraulic resistance of the pipes.

In the case where a pipe with a diameter of 1 inch is laid, one can start from the ratio of 1 meter of vertical = 10 meters of horizontal pipe laying. Usually pumping household stations and equipped with a suitable branch pipe of this diameter. But if a ¾-inch pipe is laid, then the correct ratio is 1: 7.Use pipes of smaller diameter is unlikely anyone will come to mind - it's completely unreasonable.

The material of the pipe manufacturing is also important - in steel the hydraulic resistance is much larger than in plastic ones.

To facilitate the reader's task, a calculator is placed below which will help to quickly calculate the required depth of water intake, taking into account the laid out main and the required stock.

Calculator for calculating the water intake depth for the pump station

Pumping station water pressure

The pump station is designed to provide the necessary water pressure at any point of consumption, up to the most distant, taking into account its features, that is the minimum necessary forcorrect operation of pressure. If this is just a mixer, then there will be enough 1 ÷ 1.5 atmospheres( respectively, 10 ÷ 15 meters of water column).But for some devices, for example, for a shower cubicle, a bath with hydromassage, a flowing water heater or other household appliances is required and more. This parameter is always indicated in the technical characteristics of the product.

The height difference between the pump station and the draw-off point( green arrows and letter H), the length of the horizontal sections of the internal water supply network, the material and the diameter of the pipes are always taken into account.

Below is a calculator that allows you to avoid complex calculations. Just enter the requested values ​​- and get the result.

Calculator for calculating the required head pressure generated by the pump station

Directly connected with pressure and workingth range of membrane accumulation tank. In the documentation of some models it is indicated by two values ​​- the upper and lower limit of the operation of the barometric relay. Models are produced in which the adjustment of the water pressure in the system can be carried out in a certain range and independently. As a rule, the pumping station is equipped with a barometer for visual inspection.

Capacity of the

pumping station The next important parameter is how much the pumping station will be able to cope with the water flow. You can count here differently, for example, starting from the average daily consumption for each member of the family. However, more correct is the calculation of peak consumption, which provides for the provision of water to all points of water in the unlikely, but still possible situation, when all of them are involved simultaneously.

You can start here from the average flow at each point. The approximate values ​​are given in the table( expressed in liters per second).

Varieties of water consumption points	Indicative rate( l / s)
Bidet	0.08
Washbasin in the bathroom	0.1
cistern toilet	0.1
faucet on the kitchen sink	0.15
Dishwasher	0.2
mixer with shower bath	0.25
Shower cabinet usual	0.25
Shower cabinet or whirlpool	0.3
Automatic washer	0.3
Faucet( ¾ ") for household needs( watering, car washing, cleaning, etc.)	0.3

it is sufficient to sum the values ​​for all available in the building of delivery points, to take into account the correction factor for their number and converted to liters per minute or per hour( typically just such parameters are specified in passports pumping equipment).

Q max = ΣQ( 1 ÷ x ) × Kx

Qmax - peak consumption.

ΣQ( 1 ÷ x) is the sum of the water flow of all the draw-off points, from 1 to x .

Kx is the correction factor taking into account the total number of water consumption points( x ).

Kx is defined by the following expression:

Kx = 1 / √( x-1)

And again - we suggest using the built-in online calculator.

Calculation calculator for the pump station

It should be correct to imagine that the value obtained is indicative. It should in no way exceed the real debit of a well( well) in order to prevent the pumping equipment from sinking or sinking and silting the source of water. If the actual flow should be smaller( based on the source parameters), then still, when choosing, one should proceed from it. Well, at home it is necessary to solve the issue of consumption by any "administrative" measures, in order to exclude the possibility of simultaneous opening of all water distribution points.

Supply voltage and power consumption of pumping equipment

These selection criteria are not so important from the point of view of the pumping station itself, as from the position of laying the appropriate power line for it.

The vast majority of household pumping stations are equipped with electric drives operating from single-phase 220 V alternating current. Very rare, but still there are stations with three-phase motors( 380 V) - these are powerful units designed for long and high-performance work to provide water to a large mansion ora whole riser in the entrance of the high-rise building.

The power of household pumping stations is usually in the range of 500 to 2000 W.In accordance with this, the cross section of the power supply wires, the type of circuit breaker and the safety device( RCD) will be selected.

As a rule, modern pumping stations are equipped with their own emergency shutdown systems - from overheating, dry running( in the absence of water in the source or in the intake hose), short circuit or breakdown to the mass, voltage surges, etc.

The volume of the accumulation tank

The larger the volume of the membrane tank, the less the power unit will turn on, and the longer the pump station will last. True, the increase in volume is always accompanied by an increase in the overall dimensions and weight of the entire installation( there is not enough free space for its installation everywhere), and an increase in the cost of the station. So, some kind of "golden mean" is needed.

• The most popular, according to sales statistics, are pumping stations with a tank capacity of 24 liters - this is enough to provide water to the country house or organize an independent water supply system for 1-2 people.

• membrane tank. For a family of 3 to 5 people, under the condition of constant use, there is usually enough accumulator of 50 liters - the engine will not turn on too often, and in addition an impressive supply is createdwater, which can help out with a sudden power outage.
• If the house is home to 6 or more people, then, of course, you need to think about a more capacious accumulator - about 100 liters.

By the way, in some branded salons working with branded products, it is common practice to equip a pumping station with accumulating capacity at the customer's option, based on specific needs.

If you get acquainted with the catalogs of pumping stations offered for sale, you can find installations with very small membrane tanks - sometimes the volume is only 2 liters. It is clear that to consider seriously such a capacity as a hydraulic accumulator is at least naive - it serves, more likely, to maintain the required pressure in the system, to smooth the water hammers. But the frequency of starting the pump with such a tank will be very high, and the apparent advantages in the cost of the station will be absolutely not justified - long such a pump is unlikely to last.

Design features

• Pumping stations differ according to the material of the case.

- Pumps with cast-iron housings are distinguished by a relatively low noise level and quite affordable price.

. A disadvantage is the large weight of the product. In addition, although cast iron itself has good corrosion resistance, rusty plaque can form in the water, especially with prolonged contact without movement. Manufacturers try to solve this problem by applying a special protective coating to the inner walls. When choosing a pumping station with a cast iron body, this aspect should be paid attention.

- Stainless steel housings do not provide a rusty precipitate and are much lighter in weight.

However, they have a significant drawback - such pumping stations are the most "noisy" when working. In addition, their cost is much higher than that of appliances with cast-iron housings.

- More and more popular models are made of special high-strength plastic.

. They, in fact, combine the advantages of both types listed above - they have low noise level and perfect inertness in relation to water - they do not change its composition in any way. Many pumping stations in plastic version have additional anti-vibration protection.

• When buying, it is worth paying attention to the presence and placement of mounting brackets( stands), the method of attaching the station to the installation site in the selected location.
• The degree of protection of the device body from dust and water spray is of great importance. The higher the IP index, the better the station. The optimal choice will be the purchase of an installation of a class not lower than IP54 - this is almost complete protection of the electrical part of the pump from dust and water splashes.
• A convenient addition will be a built-in water filter - this completely eliminates the wear or failure of the pump due to the possible entry into the working chamber of solid suspensions from the source. However, nothing prevents the installation of a coarse filter at the entrance and independently.

Do not forget about the water purification system from an external source!

Water from an autonomous source is often far from sanitary standards. Installing a mechanical cleaning filter in front of the pumping station will only prevent it from breaking, but it will not solve the issue of water quality. What fine and fine water filters exist, how and where it is recommended to install them - read the special publication of our portal.

• And, finally, in the event that the pumping station, according to the owners, should have a certain mobility - it is planned to move it from place to place as needed, it is worth paying attention to the mass of the product, its carrying capacity, convenience and simplicityquick preparation for work and transfer to "marital status".

Overview of models of household pumping stations

Undoubtedly, the rating of the manufacturer should be considered the most important criterion for choosing pumping equipment. This purchase can not be called cheap, it is done for several years ahead, and it will not be entirely reasonable to give money for an unknown product with vague warranty obligations.

From domestic brands, you can easily recommend pumping stations of the company "Dzilex" - they are perfectly adapted to the Russian conditions of operation. Not bad reputation is possessed by installations of brands "Whirlwind" and "Zubr" - these are also Russian developments, although they are mostly let in at the production facilities of neighboring China. However, a lot of European manufacturers are practicing the Chinese assembly.

"Heavyweights" in the field of production of pumping equipment are always considered German companies - "Wilo SE", "Gardena", "Grundfos", "Metabo", "Kärcher".High-quality reliable pumping stations of Italian companies - "Marina", "Pedrollo", "Ergus", are in high demand.

When choosing a specific manufacturer, it will never be superfluous to specify how the service is organized in the region, whether there are specialized centers where technical support can be obtained. It will be very offensive if the acquired pumping station in your area is considered "exotic", and any even a small spare part will have to be ordered from somewhere far away.

Model name	Illustration	Short description	Depth of intake( m), generated pressure, capacity	Average price
"Caliber SVD-410/2"		Domestic water supply station. Cast iron body, without ejector. Power - 410 Watts. The tank capacity is only 2 liters, which significantly narrows the scope of the station. Dimensions 330 × 260 × 340 mm. Weight 12.3 kg.	9 m, 35 m of water.article, 30 l / min.	5350 rub.
«Quattro Elementi Automatico 601»		Inexpensive middle class pumping station. Plastic enclosure. Protection against "dry running" is not provided. Built-in manometer. Accumulation tank for 20 liters. Power - 600 Watts. Weight - 12 kg.	8 m, 35 m of water.article, 2800 l / h	6750 rub.
"Gilex Jumbo 60/35 P-24 4021"		One of the most popular models of the Russian manufacturer "Dzieleks". Plastic housing, built-in pressure gauge. Ejector built-in. There is no protection against dry running, but it is possible to install it. The membrane tank is 24 liters. The power of the pump is 600W. Dimensions 540 × 280 × 530 mm. Weight - 12.7 kg.	9 m, 35 m of water.article, 60 l / min.	7700 rub.
«Metabo HWW 3300/25 G»		Cast iron housing. Built-in manometer. Compact station layout. Convenient stand for fastening on the base. The tank is 24 liters. Overheating protection. Power - 900 Watts. Weight - 19 kg.	8.5 m, 45 m of water.article, 3300 l / h	9500 rub.
«Gardena 4000/5 Comfort ECO»		Modern pumping station of increased operational comfort. Plastic housing, low noise. Convenient control panel with mode switch and pressure gauge. Built-in water purification filter. The tank is 24 liters. Weight - 13.7 kg. Protection against "dry running". Engine power - 850 Watts.	8 m, 45 m of water.article, 3500 l / h	11900 rub.
«Karcher BPP 4500/50 1.645-291»		The original model, made by the company's "Carherovsky" style, with a very compact layout. Plastic housing, integrated manometer. Additional control of the switching frequency of the station. Accumulation tank for 18 liters. Power - 1200 watts. Dimensions 495 × 283 × 550 mm, weight - 17 kg.	8 m, 50 m of water.article, 75 l / min.	11200 rub.
«Marina APM100 / 25»		Pumping station of a fixed installation with an external ejector, allowing to draw water from a considerable depth. Cast iron casing. Membrane tank - 25 liters. Drive power - 1100 Watts. Increased suction and discharge nozzle diameter( 1¼ in.). Weight - 24 kg.	25 m, 35 m of water.article, 2400 l / h	17700 rub.
«Grundfos Hydrojet JP 5/60»		Automatic pumping station with integrated ejector. Impeller housing and blades are stainless steel. Volumetric storage tank for 60 liters. Power - only 775 watts. Weight - 23.2 kg.	8 m, 40 m of water.article, 3000 l / h	29700 rub.

And at the end of the publication - useful video information that will also help determine the choice of pumping station for the house:

Video: tips for choosing the pumping station