Connect Water Pump Directly To Mains Pipe?

[longball53098]

Water from the tank or water from the mains should be supplied if you plumb the set up as the diagram provided. All you are doing is plumbing the tank and pump in parallel to the main line from meter to house. In this way water can be supplied from either tank or mains or both depending on the mains pressure that day. Should the power be off or the pump dies the mains can still supply the house.

Crossie's diagram above in Post 8 is a perfect example of how to plumb the system to get water from either supply and not worry about if the pump dies or the power is off.

[finner]

Sucking water from your neighbour's house can happen at any time especially with these particular circumstances of low water pressure, water outages and people putting pumps on the mains. That's why bum hoses are illegal in many jurisdictions in the real world.

Had to laugh because this topic brought up an old memory from years ago when Pattaya had this problem. My neighbours would all use pumps whenever the water came on and everyone else's meter would spin backwards from the air flow. As a result nobody ever had a water bill to pay. I didn't pay for water for 5 years

[CaptainSplod]

Hi Guys!

Been looking at some different water pumps, mostly small pressure pumps.

Man, there's a whole arsenal of them, though I reckon a small one is

more than enough for our needs and I'm currently looking at some 250W

pumps.

I'm more than confused (as well as being stoopid!), as in one store they

point to a pressure pump and say that the little pressure tank has to be

filled with air before the pump is used. Sounds okay to me - and there's

even a valve at the rear of the pressure tank to connect to a foot pump.

That's to say the salesman says a motorbike foot pump can be used and

that the tank would probably have to be refilled once every coupla years,

maybe longer.

The next store I go into, they point to exactly the same model pump and

tell me that there's no need to fill up the pressure tank - ever. When I ask how

come it doesn't need charging, I just get shakes of the head and blank

stares - like I'm crazy for asking such a question.

Now - can you guys help out and tell me - does this puppy have to be filled

before the pump is used, or not?

Thanks a bunch - and sorry to use up your expensive time.

Splod

[Artisi]

Depends on the type of tank fitted to the pump however, usually the newer type are fitted with a diaphragm which has air under pressure on the upper side and the water under it on the lower side, the air pressure side of it is to maintain the system under pressure when the pump in off.

I think some of them are now filled with a gas and if the unit you are looking at is one of these then you wouldn't pump air into the tank.

Find a supplier who knows what they are talking about.

Get the operating manual and have read - see what it is all about.

Get the model number and post it here - maybe someone has first hand knowledge of it.

[Gary A]

Crossy has furnished a good diagram that has all the information you need. It's a simple project that nearly anyone should be able to do themselves.

We use on average about 500 liters of water per day. I would use a thousand liter storage tank. In fact we have two one thousand liter tanks and another 500 liter tank on a two and a half meter high tower for emergency use.

A 250 watt pump should be more than enough. Look for one that has a decent sized tank with the pump. The bladder tanks are best but the non bladder are fine too. The better quality pumps will have a air injector built into the pump. I have a medium priced ITC (Japan) brand that has never lost its air cushion. It's five years old and never had a problem.

Edited November 17, 2009 by Gary A

[CaptainSplod]

Can't say as I remember the correct name of the make and model - guess I'll have

to visit the store again when I get time - but I'm pretty sure it wasn't a bladder tank

type of pump, just an ordinary everyday pressure tank pump - not even a modern,

expensive one.

I do remember that on the pressure tank there was a sign to say that it was

advisable to check the pressure about every 12(?) months - and in English, too!

Oh - and to bkkbill - thanks for the pic of the union - that was very useful when

I wanted to buy a couple of them!

Thanks

Splod

[lopburi3]

The larger Mitsubishi round tanks with pumps on top had an air exchange system to automatically charge bladerless tank. As I recall is was a small black unit fitted into the lower storage tank. And this was at least 30 years ago.

[bkkbill]

Oh - and to bkkbill - thanks for the pic of the union - that was very useful when

I wanted to buy a couple of them!

Thanks

Splod

Your welcome. If buying a pump I would recommend you get a tank with bladder This should save you a lot of problems in the long run.

[CaptainSplod]

Hi Again Guys!

Well, it looks like Christmas has come early this year!

Around our way the weather turned rather cold, very quickly, too - and we

weren't too happy about having to use freezing cold water for a ladle

shower - it can get a mite chilly around the "southern parts", if you

catch my drift.

I'd more or less finished drawing up the plans for the pipes, pump and

whatnot, something like Crossy's diagram - and knew where it was all going

to be installed, so went back to the store - and bought it all. Reckoned with

all your helpful comments I could get everything set up without too much

hassle.

Took one morning to get everything cut, glued and set up the way I wanted and

even put in a "check valve" on the pipe from the road while I had the water turned

off, just to please you guys - heh heh.

Checked out the pump pressure tank - that puppy was pre-primed already and

there was a loud hiss when I punched the tank valve.

Later in the afternoon we turned on the water and made our way towards where

the pump was, opening valves and checking for leaks or drips as we went. To

my surprise there weren't any! While the water tank was filling up we let things

as they were for an hour or so - then checked everything again - still no leaks or

drips.

Time to open up the valves around the pump - unions okay, pipes okay. Opened

up the valve on the "out" side of the pump - aw, sheet! two places with a (very!)

slow dripping! Guess I didn't apply the glue too good, there, huh - but it ain't

enough to cause any panic. We turned on the pump and opened the outside tap

and out shot a load of dirty water, followed by clean water! Whooo! Ain't seen

water pressure like that in a long time! Went to the bathroom and tried out the

sink and shower unit - sink tap works, shower unit works - and there's hot water

coming out! My lady was one real happy camper!

In the evening it was definitely a thumbs-up experience to have a hot shower,

now ain't that the truth!

Still gotta try and fix the two drips but that's a problem for tomorrow.

I wanna thank all you guys for your help - and hope your Christmas is as good

as ours!

Thanks a whole bunch

Splod

[Crossy]

Great news Splod, hot showers AND in the good books of your lady, result!!