Getting water pressure back: my experience with a booster pump

Honestly, I’m not totally convinced rubber pads are enough either. Tried them under my old pump and the noise still carried through the floor. Ended up switching to a concrete paver base with a bit of foam underneath - seemed to help more than the rubber did. MDF’s a nightmare for anything damp, yeah, but I’ve had better luck with plywood if you seal it well. Vibration’s always gonna be a pain, though... sometimes I think these pumps just want to rattle no matter what you do.

- Concrete paver with foam is a solid move - I've seen that combo cut down on both noise and vibration way better than rubber pads alone.
- MDF's a no-go for me too, especially if there's any risk of leaks. Plywood, if sealed up tight, can hold up, but I still worry about long-term moisture sneaking in.
- One thing I've noticed: sometimes the mounting bolts themselves transmit a ton of vibration, even if the base is solid. Ever tried using isolation mounts or flexible couplings on the plumbing lines?
- Curious if anyone's had luck with those anti-vibration mats they sell for washing machines... seems like overkill, but maybe worth a shot?

I actually tried one of those anti-vibration mats under my booster pump last year - just grabbed a generic washing machine one from the hardware store. Honestly, it made more of a difference than I expected. The low-frequency hum dropped off a bit, but the real win was with the high-pitched rattles. Still, I think the foam/concrete paver combo you mentioned works even better if you’ve got the space for it.

About those mounting bolts... totally agree, they can be sneaky culprits for vibration transfer. I swapped mine out for rubber isolation mounts after noticing the noise was traveling right up into the floor joists. It’s not a miracle fix, but it definitely helped take the edge off.

I’m with you on MDF - just not worth the risk if there’s any chance of leaks. Sealed plywood’s held up okay for me so far, but I still check for any signs of swelling every few months. Moisture always finds a way eventually, doesn’t it?

You’re spot on about moisture - no matter how careful you are, it finds a way in over time. I’ve seen MDF swell and crumble even with “waterproof” claims, so I stick with sealed plywood too. Good call on the rubber isolation mounts; those little tweaks really do add up. It’s always a balance between noise control and making sure everything’s safe and secure. If you ever spot any swelling or soft spots, don’t wait - swap it out before it becomes a bigger headache.

Yeah, I’ve had my share of headaches with MDF too - one tiny leak and it’s like the stuff just gives up. Sealed plywood has held up way better for me, especially in those damp basement corners. The rubber mounts are a game changer for noise, but I always worry about missing a slow drip somewhere. Ever tried any of those moisture alarms under your pump setup? I’m thinking of adding one after finding a soft spot last year... caught it just in time, but it was close.