Plumbing: How to measure water pressure? - Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community

Ducay · 03-25-2010, 06:09 PM

With a gauge!

Real question: Im trying to install a thermal expansion tank in my potable water supply, and for the tank to function properly, the tanks pressure must equal that of the supply.

For the life of me, I cannot find a gauge to measure water pressure. I've been to a couple plumbing supply stores and the big-box stores, yet no dice.

What Im looking for exactly whats in the picture below. My problem is not the gauge part, all the plumbing stores carry boat loads of them. My problem is finding an adapter that will go from a 3/4" threaded hose end, to the gauge's 1/4" end......any ideas? I either need to find the bottom piece (or something serving the same purpose), or a 1piece gauge.

Only solution the plumbing store guys could come up with was soldering in a tee into the line that is the adapted into the threaded 1/4" female end, allowing the gauge to be screwed in.

So brain trust.....what say you?

DownhillGoat · 03-25-2010, 06:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ducay

Only solution the plumbing store guys could come up with was soldering in a tee into the line that is the adapted into the threaded 1/4" female end, allowing the gauge to be screwed in.

Bingo. That's what I was going to suggest until I read the rest of your post.

Rjcsjc62 · 03-25-2010, 06:52 PM

It will be hard to find this in one fitting, but you can probably do it in 2.

Most gauges of this nature will come in a 1/4" MIP (male iron pipe) thread.

What you need is a 3/4" FHT (female hose thread) X 3/4" MIP (Male iron pipe) adaptor.

Then you need a 3/4" X 1/4" black reducing coupling.

I would be quite surprised if any EMCO, Wolseley, or Crane Supply branch in Calgary doesnt have these fittings. Dont bother with RONA or any hardware stores.

Ducay · 03-25-2010, 07:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rjcsjc62

It will be hard to find this in one fitting, but you can probably do it in 2.

Most gauges of this nature will come in a 1/4" MIP (male iron pipe) thread.

What you need is a 3/4" FHT (female hose thread) X 3/4" MIP (Male iron pipe) adaptor.

Then you need a 3/4" X 1/4" black reducing coupling.

I would be quite surprised if any EMCO, Wolseley, or Crane Supply branch in Calgary doesnt have these fittings. Dont bother with RONA or any hardware stores.

Great, I'll try that. I figured there would be a way to adapt it to work, but I didn't have any ideas to suggest.

Further, which store would you suggest I try first? (ie most selection of fittings). Do any of them have their fittings area open to public so I can fiddle without having the counter guy grabbing me parts endlessly?

Rjcsjc62 · 03-25-2010, 08:20 PM

All of the 3 wholesalers I mentioned, Crane, EMCO, Wolseley, can be pretty handy depending what part of town you live in.

I like CRANE Supply (on 58th Ave) myself, but I honestly have no idea if they even let public just walk in and buy stuff. Maybe phone first. EMCO and Wolseley vary by branch to branch depending what part of town you are in.

return to the red · 03-25-2010, 09:00 PM

if you lived in Lethbridge i could set you up in 2 seconds...female hose thread X female Pipe thread and a 3/4 X 1/4 threaded bushing. We actually sell these parts to UFA.

I've also seen the parts in Home Hardware Home Depot etc. they are fairly common.

Ducay · 03-25-2010, 09:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by return to the red

if you lived in Lethbridge i could set you up in 2 seconds...female hose thread X female Pipe thread and a 3/4 X 1/4 threaded bushing. We actually sell these parts to UFA.

I've also seen the parts in Home Hardware Home Depot etc. they are fairly common.

I tried for about 1/2 hour in home depot trying to piece together a solution, gave up when I hit 5 pieces trying to adapt it.

I'll see if CRANE or EMCO do public sales, since I should be near Manchester sometime tomorrow.

Ducay · 03-25-2010, 09:50 PM

If only HomeDepot actually carried this

http://www.homedepot.ca/webapp/wcs/s...k=P_PartNumber

SebC · 03-25-2010, 11:16 PM

Just lift the end of the hose until the flow stops. Pressure at the bottom of the hose will be equal to the density of water x acceleration due to gravity x height difference between the end of the hose and the source.

Ducay · 03-25-2010, 11:28 PM

wait, what hose?

And I don't think thats feasible indoors, but thanks for the suggestion.

SebC · 03-25-2010, 11:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ducay

wait, what hose?

And I don't think thats feasible indoors, but thanks for the suggestion.

Dunno, I assumed the hose end was on a hose. I also thought about doing an ASCII drawing of a reducer for you, but it was too much effort.

Bownesian · 03-26-2010, 12:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SebC

Just lift the end of the hose until the flow stops. Pressure at the bottom of the hose will be equal to the density of water x acceleration due to gravity x height difference between the end of the hose and the source.

For that method, you'd need a really really tall ladder or to live next to a big hill. My water pressure has enough lift to reach above the peak on my roof (I know this because I built a solar hotwater heater and there was more than enough pressure to overcome the fricton losses of the 600' of tubing I have up on the top of the roof).

Edit: as an aside, I found all the alternate hose size adaptors I needed for my project at the UFA store in Calgary.

SebC · 03-26-2010, 01:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bownesian

For that method, you'd need a really really tall ladder or to live next to a big hill. My water pressure has enough lift to reach above the peak on my roof (I know this because I built a solar hotwater heater and there was more than enough pressure to overcome the fricton losses of the 600' of tubing I have up on the top of the roof).

Shhhh...

Rjcsjc62 · 03-26-2010, 05:39 AM

Just curious...

Why are you installing an expansion tank on your potable water supply?

Nufy · 03-26-2010, 08:26 AM

Why don't you just cut the end off an old Washer supply line and hose clamp it to your guage.

Ducay · 03-26-2010, 09:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nufy

Why don't you just cut the end off an old Washer supply line and hose clamp it to your guage.

Thought about that, but my experiences clamping those hoses usually ends up with many leaks. Especially if Im trying to clamp the hose to a 1/4" thread, I can forsee me getting very wet.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rjcsjc62

Just curious...

Why are you installing an expansion tank on your potable water supply?

Installed a new pressure regulating valve (closed system) and I've started to notice some thermal expansion issues. Probably should have had a tank in the line in the first place, which sort of explains why the old PRV failed

Shazam · 03-26-2010, 09:49 AM

This?

http://www.leevalley.com/garden/page...t=2,2280,33160

Ducay · 03-26-2010, 10:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shazam

This?

http://www.leevalley.com/garden/page...t=2,2280,33160

Exactly. Guess i'll have to see if the Lee Valley here has any in stock

return to the red · 03-26-2010, 10:18 AM

where are you located?

if close to glenmore http://eljay.com/locations.html

ask for an fswivel 3 a 3/4 x 1/4 threaded bushing and a pressure gauge. Our gauges are pretty high end so you may want to source that somewhere else.

amorak · 03-26-2010, 10:24 AM

I'm pretty sure this is why God created plumbers - You hire them sh1t for you're not the least bit qualified to do.