Low Water Pressure and hard water

[mcdeal]

My Subdivision has historically low water pressure and very hard mineralized water. All of my neighbors have booster pumps and water softeners. My house pressure is about 28-38 psi., with no pressure reducer. My project will be done with PEX Blue Hawk, push together plumbing, 3/4 inch.
The recommended/purchased list of items for my project is:

Whole house filter - Whirlpool large capacity
Water Softener - Whirlpool 44K
Booster Pump - Pacific Hydrostar with 25/65 presets

1- Is this the correct order to place the items?
2- Do I need a pressure tank? Many of my neighbors do not have one.
3- I am told that the pump needs a pressure reducer and a check valve, but which goes before and which goes after the pump?

Any suggestions are greatly appreciated.

 

[frodo]

low pressure sucks

my suggestion is run 1'' pvc sch 40 pipe from the meter to the house.

at the house, install a ball valve in a valve box below grade.

on the house side of the valve, tie in 1'' pex and run it into your house

run a 1'' line straight to the w/h branch off with 1'' to each bathroom

reduce to 3/4 in the bathrooms.

i would not run 1/2'' pex to anything. but would use a 3/4x1/2 reducer at the copper stub outs

why?
research the ID of 1'' pvc sch 40
research the ID of pex
you will find that 3/4 pex is 3/4 OD not ID

bottom line, you are having pressure problems, you want as much VOLUME of water as you can get
so go with a bigger line, to get the volume

 

[mcdeal]

My subdivision owns it's own well and gravity feed storage tank. No meters, free water - but bad pressure to all 132 homes. Supply water line is 3/4 inch, buried 6 ft down (it gets cold in the Colorado mountains), so I'm not going to get more water volume. I just have a 3/4 inch line coming into the house. My neighbors have many variations of my planned project, and they mostly work well. I'm using 3/4 inch PEX throughout and will be replacing old pipe as I go - but supplied pressure is too low! ~32 PSI. Home is 40+ years old.

 

[KULTULZ]

Pay close attention to frodo's recommendation on PEX size. To maintain 3/4" distribution with PEX, you need to go one size over (1" - reduced internal diameter) over PE/PVC/COPPER supply.

 

[mcdeal]

frodo - Thanks for the input on PVC and ID measurements. I am now looking at 1" PEX and trading in a lot of fittings.

From my original 3 questions - - -

From KULTULZ's diagram, I read that the booster pump should be first in the series.
Where do the check valve and pressure regulator go?
Does the booster need a tank?

 

[mcdeal]

I did it! House supply to all 1 inch PEX and SharkBite fittings, booster pump, whole house filter, water softener, back to house supply. "SharkBite" fittings are NOT leaking. Threaded NPT have some minor dribbles so I am out to get some thread sealant.

Total project: 10 hours labor
2 trips to local Lowe's
Spoke with retired Master Plumber
$ 200 in PEX and SharkBite fittings
+ pump + filter + softener

Total cost ~$1150

Plumbers bid was $2450

Sorry the picture is sideways (corrected for ya)