Which City water pressure booster pump is right for me to increase PSI ?

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LLigetfa

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I think it is just the end result of the litigious society we are living in. Too many folks are ready to sue your pants off even if you get them to sign a waver.

Code in many places say that 80 PSI is the max and anything above that needs a pressure reducing valve. I would only install the booster configured to 80 PSI and fully document it. If you later jack it up to 120 and "blow out everything", I'd have my ass covered.
 

Gregmech26

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As Valveman indicated, I believe this plumber for Lowes just didn't know what he was talking about.

Even my realtor said he had a few of his clients on city water purchase similar water pressure booster pumps to successfully increase their city water pressure.

I believe it wasn't until 1992 that the US government restricted shower heads to 2.5 gpm, and bath tubs to 5 gpm. It's worse in California. As you know, many people are desperate to quickly remove the water-saver out of a shower head when it's still possible.

Today, manufacturers have become wise and started making shower heads where you can't remove the water-saver. The new cartridges have built-in strictors that lower GPM so it won't even matter if you remove the water-saver in your shower head.

I don't see the point when it comes to filling a bathtub, as the tub needs to be filled regardless.

Prior to 1992, I don't recall hearing massive "blow outs" when water pressure was often way over 120 psi back in the day. Not to mention the links and videos I provided in this thread which clearly shows people enjoying their 100+ psi showers.

After I emailed the Lowes plumber the 5 items I wanted intstalled, he basically said it couldn't be done because I would blow out everything in my house. He basically made me feel like an idiot for suggesting it, and said it had nothing to do with "code." These were the 5 items I emailed him:


1) https://www.homedepot.com/p/MasterS...lume-Control-and-Stops-K-2976-KS-NA/203782809


2) https://www.homedepot.com/p/Kohler-3-4-in-wall-2-or-3-way-Transfer-Valve-K-728-K-NA/202388604


3) https://www.rheem.com/product/resid...essional-classic-plus-series-heavy-duty#tab-5


4) https://www.lockewell.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=1_3_86&products_id=1788


5) https://cyclestopvalves.com/collections/frontpage/products/custom-pk1a-pside-kick-kit


Plus, I kept insisting I want a Rheem Pro water heater, and he always pushes back with STATE water heaters. I'm paying, so I should get to pick what I want.

Anyhow, thanks for the education I received on this website as I'm not a plumber and just a lay person. I'm still not giving up as this is America!
 

Gregmech26

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I just got the Rheem Pro Classic "commercial" water heater with 76,000 BTU which has helped slightly with the water pressure. I now notice pooling of water which accumulates when I shower. Plus, I 'm getting 15-minute HOT showers.

I didn't go tankless as I've read many reviews on tankless water heaters reducing water pressure.
Who knows if that's true or not.
 

Gregmech26

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I just wanted to add this interesting site about increasing shower pressure. Although it is a British site, apparently you can still convert with a 3/4 inch.

https://www.showerpowerbooster.co.uk/


Also, I love my vintage 4-jet Speakman Ansytream shower head; however, a couple very good places for high-flow shower heads I found:

https://www.ebay.com/sch/m.html?ite...owerblaster_high_pressure_showerheads&_sop=16


...and...


https://www.ebay.com/sch/m.html?_nkw=&_armrs=1&_ipg=&_from=&_ssn=redmamba&_sop=16

I personally purchased a modified Grohe shower head from eBay seller rebmamba and it is fantastic. It costs around $70. You can email him to make you one. He will also modify (drill out the ball joint) of a current shower head you own.
 

Valveman

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That shower booster sounds like a gimmick to me. It doesn't list the GPM or pressure anywhere. And at 3 Amps on 12 Volts, it can't be adding 5 PSI to a shower. But I guess if you have zero pressure to start with, 5 PSI is better than nothing.
 

Gregmech26

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That shower booster sounds like a gimmick to me. It doesn't list the GPM or pressure anywhere. And at 3 Amps on 12 Volts, it can't be adding 5 PSI to a shower. But I guess if you have zero pressure to start with, 5 PSI is better than nothing.

Yes, I noticed that too. It makes it sound like a gimmick.
You think they would certainly list the GPM and/or PSI boost increase statistics.

It makes me lose faith in their shower heads they are offering, and their wide-bore shower cord.
 

Gregmech26

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Well I ended up moving to a condo that was built in 2014.
Anyways, this is what I ended up doing at my condo.
I should have done this at my house before moving, as it worked very well at my condo.

I don't think installing the new 3/4 piping at my new condo made much of a difference, as swapping out to the new cartridge that offers up to 17 gpm.

Anyways, here is a cell phone video of what I did to increase my pressure. Very happy with the results:
 
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