12-26-2007, 05:11 PM
Some more info:
Pressure is from height only - makes no difference if you have 1 ounce, one gallon or 1000 gallons up there, if it's the same height (drop) you get the same pressure.
So you can put a small tank or barrel up high for pressure, and pump to it from a much larger tank down low.
If you want to use typical appliances and the kind of very small diameter plumbing put in most houses these days, realize that they are all designed for ~30+ PSI water pressure (tank pressure switches are usually 30-50 or 40-60 PSI factory setting, somewhat adjustable though).
However if you want simple living, can use larger diameter pipes and/or shorter pipe runs, and don't need the pressure for e.g. dishwashers and fancy faucets or shower heads that need high pressure or lawn sprinklers etc. then as long as your outlet is below the tank you will have water flowing just fine.
Most drip irrigation systems are built for household pressure water and will not work well if at all on low pressures. Some emitters may drip but the ratings on the emitters may not be correct at lower than standard pressures, and of course the little micro-sprayers/sprinklers will not work too well...
Soaker hoses do OK at lower pressure, most say 10-30 PSI, and you only need about 25 ft. of elevation to get 10+ PSI (~.4 PSI per foot as mentioned previously).
cheers,
John S.
Pressure is from height only - makes no difference if you have 1 ounce, one gallon or 1000 gallons up there, if it's the same height (drop) you get the same pressure.
So you can put a small tank or barrel up high for pressure, and pump to it from a much larger tank down low.
If you want to use typical appliances and the kind of very small diameter plumbing put in most houses these days, realize that they are all designed for ~30+ PSI water pressure (tank pressure switches are usually 30-50 or 40-60 PSI factory setting, somewhat adjustable though).
However if you want simple living, can use larger diameter pipes and/or shorter pipe runs, and don't need the pressure for e.g. dishwashers and fancy faucets or shower heads that need high pressure or lawn sprinklers etc. then as long as your outlet is below the tank you will have water flowing just fine.
Most drip irrigation systems are built for household pressure water and will not work well if at all on low pressures. Some emitters may drip but the ratings on the emitters may not be correct at lower than standard pressures, and of course the little micro-sprayers/sprinklers will not work too well...
Soaker hoses do OK at lower pressure, most say 10-30 PSI, and you only need about 25 ft. of elevation to get 10+ PSI (~.4 PSI per foot as mentioned previously).
cheers,
John S.