Low water pressure is an increasing issue for homeowners. Thankfully, pumps provide the solution to this major headache, explains Adam Ferneyhough, UK sales and marketing director at DAB Pumps UK.
Solving the problem of low water pressure when it comes to refurbishing housing stock can be problematic, especially if the pumps that are installed are noisy and difficult to commission. Low water pressure can waste energy and it is worth bearing in mind during refurbishment and regeneration projects that many modern heating appliances and showers will not work below certain water pressure levels.
Although tenants will be happy that water pressures and, therefore, their appliances are restored to acceptable levels, if the noise of the pump is too loud, then the quality of refurbishment may be open to complaints. Energy efficiency is important too and any pumping solution must have the capability of providing on-demand pressure as well as the ability to save energy when demand levels are reduced.
For building and maintenance teams, it is worth looking into other factors that may be reducing water pressure before booster pumps are fitted. Water pressure is the measure of the force that gets the water through the mains and into the building’s pipes and this can vary over the day, as can demand from tenants inside the building, which will also affect levels of pressure. Loose water fixtures or clogged pipes can all be factors attributing to low levels of water pressure.
Limescale may also reduce water pressure levels; hard water contains calcium carbonate, which may cause deposits to build up over time in pipes. This reduces the amount of water able to flow through the pipe systems. The pressure can also vary with the height of the ground a building is on. In hilly areas, the pressure will be high in the valleys, which are situated below reservoirs.
Pumps offer an answer and our company offers a range of products for different applications. Over the last five years we have been investing significantly in research and design to ensure our pumps offer good value and energy efficiency for our customers. This has recently led to a product being launched that lends itself to refurbishment projects, giving maintenance managers the option of an all-in-one unit that provides low noise levels, ease and flexibility of installation and automatic commissioning once the unit is primed.
The pump, called e.sybox, uses ergonomic design and cutting edge technology to bring a ‘plumb and play’ dimension to installation, saving time, money and costs. It can be fitted vertically or horizontally on its anti-vibration mountings or onto a wall with a special mounting bracket. It can be plugged directly into the mains electricity supply saving disruption to tenants while the work is being carried out as disruptive rewiring and, therefore, the extra costs of electrical contractors and the relevant certification may not be required.
Once primed and switched on, the unit automatically commissions, saving time, maintenance and hassle. Energy efficient, the pump’s variable speed motor operates from 0.3kW to 1.5kW, providing a powerful performance with flow up to 120 litres/min and pressures up to six bar. E.sybox is self-priming down to eight metres.
All the tools maintenance teams need are kept neatly in the lid of the unit, along with a useful QR code that links directly to an online ‘how to’ video that can be viewed on their smartphones. The technical compartment also allows easy access to the rotor shaft, vertical filling plug and expansion tank. The LCD high-resolution display is adjustable for easy reading and m