A pumping station is a special set of equipment with which water is taken from a well or a well. The components included in its composition, if necessary, activate the replenishment of reserves and at the right time turn off the devices. It’s easy to assemble a modern pump station with your own hands, if you follow the recommendations of the masters.
System device
The pumping station in a private house or in the country performs two important functions: it provides the house and the plot with the necessary volume of water and maintains optimal pressure in the system. With proper installation of the pumping station, you can simultaneously operate various household and plumbing appliances - washing, dishwasher, boiler, shower.
The composition of the specified system includes many elements:
- Pump. Used superficial or submersible. Ready-made stations with centrifugal pumps are found on the market.
- Accumulator It has the appearance of a metal container of a certain volume, equipped with a special elastic membrane. The battery prevents water hammer because it reduces pressure when the flow of water stops.
- Coarse and fine filters. They remove water collected from a well or a well from sand, silt.
- Pressure switch. The unit automates the operation of the pumping station, prevents the system from operating in dry running mode.
- Pressure gauge. The device is necessary for monitoring the operation of the pumping station, allows you to quickly detect leaks.
- Dry running relay. It is applied together with borehole pumps. Turns off the device when there is no water in the system.
In the standard scheme of the pumping station, plumbing fixtures are present. These are various valves, taps, couplings, tees, hoses. The system also has a check valve. It prevents the outflow of water when the pressure drops or when the pump stops.
Element selection criteria for a pumping station
For the assembly of the system with your own hands to be successful, you must carefully approach the selection of all its constituent elements. Be sure to take into account several important factors.
Appointment
Pumping stations can be domestic or industrial. The latter type of equipment is used to meet the needs of manufacturing enterprises. Their operational characteristics allow pumping large volumes of water. Only professional professionals can assemble and install industrial type pumping stations. Installation at home is possible using household systems.
Source type
If the system is planned to be used exclusively for household needs, it is allowed to choose a natural or artificial pond as a source. When the pumping station will be used to produce drinking water, it is imperative to organize a well or well.
For open reservoirs, shallow underground sources, surface type pumps are chosen. Submersible units are bought for wells.
Mode of operation
The pumping station is connected to a water source and operates in manual or automatic mode. The user, depending on his needs, can choose a stationary or mobile model. Also consider the throughput of the equipment. It is believed that to meet the needs of one person, you need 250 liters of water per day.
Location selection
Do-it-yourself installation of a pumping station in a private house is allowed in the basement, in a separate building or coffer. When choosing the first option, it is important to adhere to several conditions:
- the equipment should be in the basement of the house at a level at which it will not be affected by the rise of groundwater;
- it is necessary to prevent the contact of the pumping station with the walls of the basement;
- the room where the equipment is installed should be heated, this will prevent freezing of water in the system in the cold season.
When using a pit for a pumping station, it is important to make it insulated. Installation of equipment in the caisson is carried out at a depth below the level of freezing of the soil. It is recommended to make a pit in the headband of the source. Around the casing they dig a well, the bottom of which is covered with gravel or poured with a screed. The walls of the caisson are formed of brick or reinforced concrete.
When choosing a separate room for installing a pumping station, you can solve the problem of sound insulation. But this option has many drawbacks - the presence of additional difficulties in maintenance, the need for insulation of water pipes suitable for the house.
Installation Steps
To install the pumping station, it is important to properly prepare the base. During operation, the equipment vibrates, so it must be fixed. The base can be made in the form of a concrete slab 10-15 cm thick. It is recommended to make sand preparation for it. Before pouring concrete, a reinforcing frame is installed on the pillow. The base may be made of several rows of bricks. Also, the pumping station can be placed on a wooden board. In this case, it is necessary to additionally provide for the presence of shock-absorbing pads to damp the vibration. The wooden board should be on the boards 10 cm thick.
On the finished base place the pump, the storage tank, the control unit. These elements are interconnected by pipelines. If there is a concrete floor, rubber gaskets are placed under the equipment supports. They dampen vibration and prevent premature wear.
To make a station with a submersible or surface pump, after installation of the equipment, it is connected to the existing water supply system and to the well head. Be sure to mount a check and check valve. All nodes and connecting sections are carefully sealed.
After completion of installation work, a test run of the system is carried out. Open shut-off valves and turn on the electric pump. In a functioning system, the pressure reaches 1.5-3 atmospheres. The parameters for stopping the operation of the pump can be adjusted using the automation unit.
Common installation errors
When assembling a pumping station, the following errors must be avoided:
- Install filters to the pump. Filters tend to clog, which can lead to idling of the unit.
- Incorrect mains voltage. If there is a malfunction, it is recommended to install an additional stabilizer.
- Accumulator and pump mismatch. It leads to cost overruns and premature equipment breakdowns.
- Use of an inlet pipe in front of a pump of the wrong diameter. In this case, the efficiency of the equipment is reduced.
It is important to check the pressure in the accumulator after starting up and adjustment work. This operation should be repeated regularly with a frequency of once a year.
