I have a one story 1952 ranch home that sits on a slope 125 feet from a 3/4 inch county water meter also I had a 3/4 inch copper water line. The house sits on a hill about 40 feet above the county meter and is approximately 90 feet long and 45 feet deep. The house has 2 water heaters, one on each end of the house; a 50 gal gas and a 40 gal electric. There are 4 full bathrooms and one half bath and a 6 zone irrigation system and 4 hose bibs on the house. There is 3/4 copper running under the house with appropriate downsizing to the faucets. I also have a recirculating pump for continuous quick hot water.

My problem is that I have low water volume and pressure in showers and sinks; I installed a new PRV... no increase, next a new 2 inch PVC water line... still no increase, but a decrease in volume and pressure. Now I am thinking that the street 3/4 line meter is too small to push the volume of water up to the house and maybe I need a 1 inch county meter?

At what point does volume overcome pressure, or how can I move a large volume of water with standard street pressure, is it possible, the street pressure 140 psi, or approximately 26 gal/min. according to the county officials who supposedly measured it.

I need help with volume and pressure.

Thanks... Fred

Hi Fred...

Water is basically incompressible, and therefore its volume cannot really be changed by pressure. If your county has water pressure at 140 PSI and you have a PRV installed and it is reducing the pressure to 80 PSI or less then pressure is definitely NOT your issue... VOLUME is your issue!

You are correct, a 1" line from the county is a minimum size I would put in this house for decent volume! If possible, an 1.25" line/meter sounds even better if you want to be able to run the irrigation system and any plumbing fixtures at the same time! Increasing a water line from 3/4" to 2" won't do anything as you now know, huh??

You could also have the local plumbing inspector size the main line according to specific codes in your area... betting he'll come up with 1.25", too!



Good luck!

Mark