I get where you’re coming from, but I’d be a little nervous about cranking up the pressure on old pipes. Sometimes it’s not just leaks—if there’s a weak spot, that pump can find it fast. I had a buddy who ended up with a surprise ceiling drip after doing the same thing. Not saying it’ll happen to everyone, but it’s something to keep in mind if your plumbing’s got some miles on it.
That’s a fair point—old pipes can be a wild card. But did you ever get the lines scoped before adding the pump? Sometimes you find stuff you’d never expect. I’ve seen folks crank up the pressure and suddenly discover a pinhole leak that’s been hiding for years. Ever notice any weird noises or water hammer since installing it? Sometimes that’s a red flag too...
Didn’t scope the lines, just crossed my fingers and hoped for the best—probably not the smartest move, but hey, rookie mistake. Haven’t noticed any water hammer or weird noises yet, though I’m half-expecting something to go “clunk” at 2am one of these days. I do keep checking for leaks obsessively, just in case. Old pipes really are like a box of chocolates... never know what you’re gonna get.
Definitely agree—old plumbing’s a wild card every time. A couple of quick checks I always recommend after a booster pump install:
- Feel the pipes for vibration, especially near joints. Subtle shaking can mean something’s loose or pressure’s too high.
- If you haven’t already, check your pressure gauge after the pump cycles off. Sometimes the pressure can creep higher than you expect.
- Water hammer arrestors help if you do start hearing those 2am clunks... cheap insurance, honestly.
Had a job last month where everything looked fine until a week later, when a sneaky pinhole leak showed up. Pipes can be stubborn like that. Keep an eye out for damp spots under fittings—sometimes that’s your only clue before it gets worse.
Pipes really do have a mind of their own sometimes. I had a similar thing happen—everything looked solid after a pump install, then a couple days later I found a slow drip right where I least expected it. Old copper especially is like, “Surprise, here’s a leak.”
Good call on the water hammer arrestors. I used to think those 2am clunks were just the house settling, but nope… just the pipes trying to wake everyone up. Pressure gauge checks are something I’m still getting in the habit of, honestly. It’s wild how a little spike can turn into a big headache if you miss it.
Definitely agree about feeling for vibration. I’ve chased down rattles before that turned out to be nothing, but it’s way better than missing the real problem. Old plumbing keeps you on your toes, that’s for sure.