Water Booster Pumps

Water booster pumps improve low water flow by increasing water pressure. A whole house booster pump turns a trickle of water from your faucet, shower head, or filtration system into a steady flow. Most booster pumps require a pressure switch and transformer.

How a water booster pump works

The booster pump is a centrifugal pump with impellers that pull water in and increase the pressure as it passes through. The impeller rotates on an axis that pulls the water in. As the water enters, the curved vanes of the impeller spin and push the water outward with centrifugal force.

Single-stage pumps

• • Include a single impeller
• • Used where less pressure is required

Multi-stage pumps

• • Include multiple impellers for high-pressure applications
• • Used to send water through extensive pipelines and multi-story buildings

Watch this video to learn how a water booster pump works:

Types of Booster Pumps

Whole House Booster Pumps

Homes with low incoming city water pressure or fluctuating water pressure benefit from water booster pumps. A booster pump can also help boost water flow throughout your lawn or garden.

How to install a whole house booster pump

Turn off the valve on your main water line and feed the line through the booster pump. If your water comes from a city water plant, then install the pump just past the shut-off valve on the main line. A check valve prevents the pump from sending pressurized water back into the city supply. Use a 1-inch nipple to attach the pump head to the check valve. If you’re not on city water, then place the booster pump right where your water enters the house.

Do you need a water booster pump?

Low water pressure affects the whole house, not just a specific point of use, and a booster pump increases pressure from all fixtures. But sometimes, low water pressure relates to your plumbing. Iron could be blocking a metal pipeline and decreasing the flow from a fixture or group of fixtures. If your home has plastic plumbing pipes, then they could have cracks, which increase the chance of corrosion. In either case, replacing your pipes would solve your low water pressure problem.

What to consider when purchasing a water booster pump

Flow rate: How much water can the pump produce?

Pressure boost: How much pressure can the pump add to the initial water pressure?

Power: How much power is required to operate the pump?

Booster Pumps for Reverse Osmosis Systems

An RO booster pump increases the rate at which you receive filtered water from your reverse osmosis system. If you’re looking for a booster pump for your RO system, browse our RO booster pump collection.