The difference between water pressure and water flow | How Pipe Size Affects Water Flow

[@Blacksmith811]

An ounce of practice worth a ton of theory. This is by far the most clear demonstration I have seen online. Clear the concept and reduce confusion by such a simple way. Good job.

[@WendellLeeWellServices]

thanks for your response....we deal with this alot

[@BrandonDoner]

Who the fuck is confused nobody’s confused if the water is not coming out of our Fossett we want it fixed I don’t care if you call it low pressure low flow low rider I don’t give a fuck fix it

[@ebayauxions]

Just saw this video for the first time today. I gave it a thumbs up. I don't usually comment, thumbs up, or do any of that. Just a simple clear concise explanation and demonstration. No long intro, no useless information, no royalty-free music. I came here to learn about flow, pressure and pipe size, and that's exactly what happened, without all hype and nonsense. Extremely well done, sir!

[@kimberlyboyle3587]

Thank you for your explanation! Sorry people feel the need to be jerks in comments. It's nice to have someone explain in terms that people can understand.

[@WendellLeeWellServices]

lol it doesn't bother me just comes with the territory. i welcome all comments

[@coltonsila954]

Thank you so much for the extremely clear demonstration. You’ve cleared up a LOT of confusion with my water FLOW issues in my house with this simple video!

[@sanjeev78kumar]

it seems like "The ballad of buster scruggs" is explaining the flow rate and pressure. video is very informative. Thanks

[@jte9832]

One of the smartest Video I have seen on KZbin in a very long time. This guy is dead on. Thank You

[@ronaldjacobs8561]

You did a good job showing the difference between pressure and flow and flow between different size pipes. I think the ironic issue is that the people who complain probably still dont get it. I deal with similar issues explaining things. thanks for this video, It helped me.

[@dmaifred]

I work at a hardware store in Australia. Most people get most concepts but sometimes they don't so I politely suggest getting a plumber etc.

[@vijja6140]

Really a good explanation. I learnt a lot from this small experiment. I am from India, working in water supply sector.

[@HamzaHashem]

Great demonstration. Trying to get my staff to understand this concept but really need a visualization for them, this is very helpful. Thank you so much.

[@stephenbender7593]

Dude. You da man. Here I thought I was having a water pressure problem where it's a flow problem. Thanks!

[@fredflintstone1547]

thanks for the video. I am messing around building an aquarium canister filter and I am trying to wrap my head around how to manipulate the diameter of my intake and outflow tubing in order to maximize the potential of my tiny little pump. I understand that my situation is beyond the scope of this simple demonstration however this video helped me to understand that if my intake tube diameter is greater than the outflow tube diameter than I will have more volume coming into my filter due to the larger pipe than the volume exiting my filter which uses a thinner diameter pipe. The result being that my litle pump will have an easier time battling the head pressure as it supplies my aquarium in the outflow line because there is an abundance of water coming in. --- my situation reminds me of a brake master cylinder with its larger diameter booster that creates significant pressure down the line in the much smaller brake lines. this is the only video on KZbin that I have found that even attempts to explain the differences that pipe diameter makes on water pressure and flow. THank you

[@dmaifred]

So going to a smaller pipe for a couple inches (like the sink is smaller diameter) but then back to big doesn't make a huge difference to the flow if the majority of the pipe is bigger? I'm thinking about from my irrigation pump where pipe joins sometimes the coupler ID is smaller than the pipe either side?

[@moisty254]

That is one hell of a southern accent, yeeeeehaww!

[@edwardsencion6167]

Rob p 😂🤣😂

[@austin9703]

Hey now don't make me call bobby boucher

[@marlonw6236]

F**** me thats the first thing I thought as well 😂😂😂 Greetings from London, nice video mate

[@PinoyTechTutorials]

Very good illustration sir

[@WendellLeeWellServices]

thanks for the feedback

[@spencergelo7372]

Thanks for the simple explanation between water pressure and flow

[@greaterdesigns1]

You are exactly right. I have been mis-stating pressure when it is flow rate not making it to the top floor shower. Thank you Sir.

[@FranciscoSanchez-jk7ct]

I knew nothing before this video and this makes a world of sense, now I know what to get

[@portiaregencia]

Yow this is mind blowing omg, this is the best demo of water pressure and water flow with respect to pipe sizing, I wish I had found this earlier. We studied this in school and I had trouble understanding this simple principle. Thank you very much!

[@barrymilam5734]

This guy is exactly right. The quarter inch pipe pipe has more velocity but less volume than the three-quarter inch pipe....

[@manuelgautreaux8787]

Great explanation and demonstration. doing a good job, liked all the videos of yours I have seen...

[@WendellLeeWellServices]

thanks for the kind words, glad you get use out of them

[@bartman872]

Excellent video -simple explanation

[@WendellLeeWellServices]

thanks for the feedback and watching our videos

[@dhanapos3566]

Hello very nice video! I would like to ask, I am finalising a design for my gravity fed drip irrigation and my source water is from 40m elevation away. Sould I put my pressure regulator still on the source or should I place it near my drippers?

[@thedstillery53]

Thank you for the demonstration you just helped me visualize something that I had no idea I needed to know. I did know about pipe size and it's relation to but I thought was water pressure but really water flow. But I had no idea that water pressure did not translate into water flow. Great demonstration thank you very much.

[@emissarygw2264]

It does. Flow is proportional to pressure. But it's also proportional to pipe size, and inversely related to pipe length (due to friction etc) so there's more than one factor to consider.

[@Mr_Mumble_PSN]

great vid mate. all the way from Australia

[@JoeCoolPilot]

Perfect example! Thanks for sharing!

[@MrWLJ71]

Very informative. Simple, easy to understand and makes perfect sense. Thank you

[@wolfmcdowell3680]

I'd like to thank you for your video's with your help I have rebuilt my whole well system great job

[@WendellLeeWellServices]

Glad to help!!

[@wolfmcdowell3680]

I have a question. I was rebuilding my pump house and noticed that the pressure gauge was sitting at 40 psi so ran down till it kicked on at 30 went up to 52 kicked off. But after about an hour it was back to 40 is that normal. Any advice would be great thanks again wolf.

[@easunda]

Texan accent..... beautiful. Clear presentation

[@michaelwoodall7772]

Excellent lesson, well done. I very much enjoyed this presentation and it was very informative and on point correct.

[@ronaldpigeon4713]

Thanks for the information. I am trying to run a lawn sprinkler system off my home well. The pump flow is around 8 gallons per minute. 38 gallon Pressure tank, 40/60 switch. I have a freeze less hydrant between the well and the pressure tank, closer to the well. Is it best to connect in area of the hydrant or near the pressure tank. Can I put a booster pump (if needed) for the lawn sprinklers or will that mess with the homes system? I will reduce sprinkler heads to create more zones if needed. I currently have about 12 heads but may split that if needed. Thanks for any assistance.

[@pattiallred9635]

Thank you. We have good water flow to the garden and at the pump. We used to have good flow into the house but we replaced the kitchen and bathroom faucets and the flow is pathetic. I think I will start there.

[@1oldteck]

Love it..."look one more time..'

[@WendellLeeWellServices]

you would be amazed how often we deal with this with the invention of water savers in every fixture and pex pipe

[@fiftyoon]

Thanks for the great video and easy to follow explanation.

[@SANFRAN]

so if I run 3/4inch contractor hoses instead of 5/8 garden hoses for my sprinklers. I will get more water and spread coming out of my sprinklers? Water pressure is fine, just flow at the end sprinkler is a little thin

[@rickhill56]

We have terrible flow it seems. Wondering if the UV lamp system is to small. And can't give the flow we need. There is a restrictor installed before this lamp as well

[@eddiew300zx]

Seems to me that the reason why the flow rate was so close in the bucket was that they were both being feed through the same 1/2 black laundry hose off the water faucet. Flow rate increases with pipe size but not if they both came through the same 1/2" line.

[@WendellLeeWellServices]

you are right, it doesn't increase, but it can decrease if you have too small of a line installed. That is the point of the bucket test....not to show a increase, but decrease in flow

[@bleh8310]

@@WendellLeeWellServices so to make sure I understand this, ¾ hose/pipes/fittings would allow the highest flow for a given pressure, and will maintain that flow/pressure over longer distances than ⅝ or ½. So if I assume my house uses ⅝ pipes (no clue yet, it's a rental), will running a ¾ hose from the spigot make a difference? I understand it will not magically increase GPM or PSI since the pump is already restricted by the plumbing, but will it help maintain the GPM and PSI from the spigot for a longer distance than if I used a ⅝ hose? (This is all assuming I use fittings that do not restrict the flow) Also if a pump pushes 100 GPM, and we'll say the ⅝ pipes flow 60 GPM, and I'm using a ¾ hose that *could* flow 75 GPM to a sprinkler flowing 20 GPM...... Does this mean the extra flow from the pump will still fill them ¾ hose and maintain better pressure since water is being pumped faster than the sprinkler outputs it? (All numbers hypothetical to help my simple mind)

[@bob_balda]

Great video. Thank you. This got me a little closer to reaching a conclusion on my sprinkler system setup. Hoping you can help me make the final decision. My incoming line from the city is 3/4". I wanted them to convert it to 1", but that was going to cost me $2600. I have a fairly large yard that will have sprinkler heads anywhere from 10 feet from the city box to about 200 feet from the box. From what I've researched, the farther the pipe goes the more drag you'll get. But the drag in a 3/4" line vs. a 1" line is vastly different. So my question is this: would it make sense to run my entire sprinkler system with 1" PVC even though I only have 3/4" pipe coming in from the city? Or should I do it all in 3/4"? This is with 55-60 psi.

[@OmarGarcia1]

same question i have

[@dmaifred]

Same question I have too.

[@petebusch9069]

Can you do a video explaining why we typically run a 3/4 inch pipe to our outside hose bibs but when you look inside the hose bib the hole is really small. That and all garden hose accessories are really small inside restricting flow. Why aren't these full flow? I don't get it?

[@FreeLearnclass]

question .. smaller diameter pipe should have more psi right ???? so it should fill up the bucket fast

[@WendellLeeWellServices]

smaller diameter pipe means more friction loss, which means more psi to push the same amount of flow with a larger pipe

[@roottermariampillai2841]

Thank you clearing my confusion, I always thought I have low pressure. Now I know that I have low water flow.

[@WendellLeeWellServices]

glad you found it useful

[@jonathandevries2828]

hey man just got my journeyman's...whats better for water flow in a 1 bath, 1 kitchen house: a home run system or trunk and branch? How big should the well holding tank be? I'm about to troubleshoot my system, it has nice pressure and flow but only if a single faucet is open. sometimes the shower will completely stop running when the washing machine is running...

[@2Lovelifedaily]

Thank you!! Now I understand there is a difference between water pressure and water flow coming from the faucet! 🙌 Now, I did the 30 second test and I'm getting 29 ounces from my bathroom faucet... I feel like this SUCKS!! Is this normal?? I don't own a gauge to provide any additional info except it's an apt.

[@CreativeLegend2023]

I appreciate you uploading this

[@fasttimestr]

Excellent lesson

[@Fernando-fn2px]

What if the valve comes before the gauge, would you expect the water pressure to increase as you open the valve more? Why is that?

[@Fernando-fn2px]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/kIKuoahjpMetorc If the above doesn’t make sense, this video (towards the middle) when he shows his set up depicts what im talking about. He opens the valve more and the gauge reading goes up. Doesn’t that go against bernoullis pressure velocity relation(

[@PontoonPilot]

i tried hooking up 3 or 4 sprinklers together in series with 3/4 hoses.. but they were hardly throwing any water.. My well is a 40/60 pressure set up.. On 40, off 60psi.. could I use one of those booster pumps at my hose spigot? then attach the main hose from there? would my well pump keep it supplied enough to send more water to the sprinklers?

[@bv2010]

Great explanation. Thanks. Why do you recommend removing water savers?

[@mehogngroup]

Great presentation

[@tariqusman2250]

Please let me know what device can we use to detect sound waves in utility pipeline 8 feet underground connected with an empty pipe at ground level 50 feet away?

[@donalmccabe4137]

Very informative video. Well done & thanks

[@WendellLeeWellServices]

thanks, glad you found it useful

[@tombrown7558]

Gratitude, your explanation was very helpful I really appreciate this, I was also thinking while the water flow is running we should have some amount of pressure at the gauge instead of zero .

[@robblack6115]

Interesting. Our farm has 1.25" distribution piping everywhere except at the top of the well and at the house there are check valves that are not full bore (i.e. they reduce to 1"). How much will that little section effect overall flow?

[@dmaifred]

Same question I have.

[@youtubesucks4257]

Thanks buddy! I learned Alot! Keeping it simple.

[@feltingme]

Any tips on reducing water pressure on waterpick flosser machine? Would changing thickness of the hose will do it? Can I change thickness only on the tip?

[@benwilmarth5473]

I've been scouring KZbin for helpful videos on how to assess a private well accurately / properly to determine how to design your irrigation system. Does anyone have suggestions or videos that explain the 101 of designing a system off a private well??

[@joshjuniper8490]

Super helpful, thanks for the info :)

[@jimboreaddabible777]

I have a 3/4” supply going to a 1" irrigation pipe. Looking at 100-200 feet of run. 60 psi. & roughly 9gpm at the 3/4”. Will I have enough flow (with 1" line) to overcome friction loss?

[@amish1000]

Thank you for the clear information given here. It is very helpful to many of us. Kind regards and blessings.

[@subarumanrp233]

GREAT DEMO!

[@dragon77721]

I really enjoyed the guy with southern accent imitating uneducated person with southern accent.... thanks for the video you answered my question somewhat... hey i gave u a like...

[@furtadostefan]

Thanks for the explanation

[@WendellLeeWellServices]

sure thing, glad it made sense to you

[@ruddiger794]

Helpful video but i would have liked to see the pressure and flow coming out of the smaller pipe as well. Does this mean that with the small pipe hooked up and the valve fully open there is full flow whilst there is also pressure registering on the gauge? Even only a little.

[@WendellLeeWellServices]

No, it just means that there is less water flow coming through the pipe. Sorry for the confusion, I just try to keep our videos to the point and not put people to sleep if I can help it. The point you need to know is full flow from the smaller pipe is less than full flow coming out of the bigger pipe. That was the point I was trying to make by filling a bucket up for 30 seconds and showing where each pipe filled to with a black line.

[@ruddiger794]

Wendell Lee Well Services Thanks for your reply. I am currently studying mechanical engineering in Australia and getting through my hydraulics unit. I guess I still don’t fully understand this pressure vs flow relationship. Cheers

[@WendellLeeWellServices]

@@ruddiger794 I remember those days, I studied that here in the US and my brain stayed in a fog for the whole time studying. The easy way to remember it is water flow through a garden hose. When you have a garden hose and you put your finger on the end, that is more pressure because the stream sprays and shoots out farther. However, you have more flow without your finger on the hose restricting it. So think of your moving your finger over the hose is essentially like changing pipe size. You may have more pressure, but you have more friction and flow loss because you are trying to force water through a smaller exit path by moving your finger over the hose more.

[@rkj8487]

@@WendellLeeWellServices But when pipe size reduced , pressure should be reduced and instead velocity of water increase. velocity and pressure are inversaly proportional . i think when we keep finger on neck of pipe that is increased velocity not the pressure.. this is my little doubt .. thanks for making knowledgeable video.

[@mohammedalali8965]

What happens to the readings of pressure and current indicators and the amount of water pumped when a break occurs on the main water line of the city network?

[@kylorenkardashian5518]

thank you. can you help me troubleshoot what I believe is a air lock in my hott water system

[@juliobangguiyao785]

Great, better than my instructor

[@WendellLeeWellServices]

thanks for watching!

[@yohanesliong4818]

Thank you for the experiment!

[@stevenphillips2275]

Really great video, thanks!

[@WendellLeeWellServices]

thanks for watching and tuning in

[@jjory8210]

Thanks for the pressure/flow info.

[@jaysoberanes125]

Great explanation.

[@philipebersole5718]

OK I have a question my well got hit by lightning and busted the casein have had the well replaced now we have sand in our well tank how can I remove the sand from the tank

[@iancameron4634]

Thanks for the video. I’m plumbing in a new spigot in my shop. Right now there is a (1) reducer fitting about 12 inches from the spigot. 3/4 “ line upstream of reducer which is 1/2”. The line then goes back to 3/4 “ diameter. Since I’m redoing this section, I’m wondering if I should copy what’s there now or have the line be 3/4” all the way. To decide, I’d like to know how the flow and pressure changes with and without the reducer. I believe I have a water pressure gauge which would give me the pressure with the reducer but I would like to know what will happen to the flow and pressure if I remove the reducer. Hope youre ok with questions here. Thanks. Lab a little scary but made it through.

[@WendellLeeWellServices]

lol our lab is a little scary but informative. I would probably go 3/4" all the way. Not sure what you will be doing with your spigot but that should suffice. Glad you found our videos useful.

[@thornmollenhoff8698]

good video and what I was looking for. Chees

[@nat10nic]

Good info , thanks.

[@WendellLeeWellServices]

glad you enjoyed our videos

[@whartonbuildersinc3124]

Thank you for explaining this in a way folks can understand. Every single forum, or nonsense life hack published out there lies to everyone. They all say that removing the flow restrictor will increase pressure. It'll in fact have the opposite effect. I've had to break it down to them various ways. One way is the nozzle, on a scram turbine, or rocket engine. Less flow means higher pressure, because the force behind it is a constant. I've had to explain it to folks regarding ventilation as well. They all think that what they want is giant hoola hoop sized supply duct. When all else fails I've had to show them the same way as you did. I take a garden hose and turn it on, and then without moving the spigot valve, I simply cover part of the hose with my thumb. A reduced surface area increases friction, which raises pressure, as it simultaneously reduces amount of material coming from the constant supply. This means that it saves you money, and hits harder. Go ahead, and search Google for "How to increase shower head pressure", and be amazed at every link detailing instructions that will deceive you into doing the complete opposite. Increasing your bill, and decreasing your pressure. Even the visual diagrams you'll see are completely false. Increased flow means decreased pressure. Decreased pressure does not however increase flow. Increased pressure does increase flow as well. This is not an oxy moron either, because the placement of hardware in the equation determine the outcome. I think I over complicated it.

[@WendellLeeWellServices]

Well said, you didn't over complicate it. That was the whole point of this video because we deal with this all the time. It would save them some time and money if they just understood and thought about what you just said. You are exactly right, it isn't an oxymoron either as placement and location of hardware determine what you get coming out.

[@thedada7762]

Your example of thumb over the end of a house is not analogous to the restrictor since the restrictor is inside the back of the head and your thumb is on the end. The water in the shower head fills completely before exiting, negating whatever increased pressure exists, leaving only the reduced flow. I've removed restrictors from dozens of shower heads over the years and have ALWAYS been repaid with better flow with the same pressure. Anyone who disagrees either has not tried or works for the water company.

[@eliassulaiman6609]

Thank you for your useful video .... can you give me some Equation

[@kylorenkardashian5518]

A^2 + B^2 = C^2

[@ghostrider5406]

need 2-4 Bars pressure can it be achieved through selecting pipe size or it requires booster pump

[@lanigutgesell7817]

Thank be cause hubby he doesn't get this I've been trying to explain to him the same thing with the sprinkler system that's when he adds or subtracts sprinkler heads up change the volume of pressure I change the volume that comes out but I'm going to have watch this video maybe it'll sink in thanks

[@terryjackson9055]

thanks from Canada!

[@Americandamnrights]

Great video! Thanks!!

[@mathiasmwingira6951]

Nice job brother

[@workingshlub8861]

i work at a big hotel and our pressure reducing valve was going bad so we were having all kinds of problems...my boss could not understand why we were having all these complaints in the mornings when we were at 120 psi of pressure and people had weak showers...tried to explain the difference to him but he didnt get it....he was annoyed that it cost almost 1,500$ because it was 3 inch valve we had to replace.....

[@benfica00]

Great stuff man!

[@WendellLeeWellServices]

thanks glad you found it helpful

[@ilhembenaissa7242]

good little video

[@brianstandridge4537]

I do have one question how does it change so much when that sink is feed by a half inch line so what u do from there with a bigger pipe or smaller change so much?

[@maxz3809]

Hi thanks for the video, very helpful! One small question, you said almost 60 pounds when the valve was fully closed at 3:45. Just wondering what the water pressure was when you switch the pipe to that thinner one when the valve was also closed (assuming with the same water supply) should be about the same right?

[@flyinryan1100]

It will be exactly the same.

[@jeremyhenderson163]

So the diameter of the piping dictates water flow, and restricted water flow dictates pressure in the piping?

[@WendellLeeWellServices]

a pump can only pump a certain amount of pressure. so the amount of pressure in your piping system is ultimately dictated by your pump and what it can deliver. But, it won't be able to deliver as much pressure and flow if your piping isn't sized right. A larger diameter pipe is less friction loss, or less work your pump has to do to push the flow through.

[@richardcampbell2230]

Question: My back yard is about 200 square feet and I have 4 sprinkler head installed. I have 60+ lbs of pressure and 10gpm flow. Yet, all of the sprinklers do not move or get stuck instead of returning to start. Any ideas on why this is happening?

[@zimmers]

So the pressure is the same inside the small pipe and the bigger pipe? but the flow is different?

[@SteeveM]

if i have a pump of 10 bars and 10 nozzles closed circle pipe of one inch diameter then how the pressure can be distributed on 10 nozzles

[@transientemotion]

This is awesome thank you

[@sajjadkhan9710]

Excellent. Thanks for sharing 👍👍👍👍👍

[@kazuomikun]

Is there any appropriate equation that can be used to calculate how the flow rate varies as I close a valve (increasing the pressure)? Fo example, I have an air saturation pump for wastewater that delivers 24 m3/h with a pressure in manifold of 4 bar. If I close the discharge valve further, increasing the pressure in the manifold, how does my flow rate change? of course it decreases, but I need to estimate by how much. Thanks! ;)

[@kerryclark1926]

Soooo, with 50lbs of water pressure to my house, (sprinklers aren't shooting as far as I want), do I increase the size of irrigation pipe?

[@manueldam7178]

Good Job buddy ,you are doing Great !!! i like it, very good explained :-)

[@tmw872]

nice and simple

[@asyrafaziz3119]

the volume flowrate are difference with the pipe diameter??

[@tonytrinidad4409]

Great explanation sir. Im a plumber and often I need to mention volume and pressure are 2 different things. I tell them if they Increase the water service diameter There Should Be A difference. They never look convinced. Then I Mention there’s a physics/ mathematical explanation involving friction, rough pipe wall, fittings, length, viscosity pipe diameter ect. Combine a few There Should Be A noticeable difference. They get it but are still concerned if that will solve problem or will have to pay twice. I know my job well but I suck as a salesman. I feel if i explain something with to little or to many college words, I’ll be seen as another habitual wallet rapist. I will just simply send them your video b4 I arrive to clear things up some. Thank you sir. You added a year to my life. 🖖🏽 P.S. Since you have the materials, I seen a video with a guy using a MacGyver harpoon special to spear Alligator Gar from an impressive distance, made from PVC fittings, pipe, ball valve and a compressor. A strong enough gas combustion cannon too!

[@xuzm]

Can someone explain this: How can there be a difference since the flow rate increase when the pressure is higher in a smaller hose? If i take my thumb and block half the garden hose, the flow rate will increase and the preassure will increase. If i let go of my thumb the water pressure decrease and the flow rate decrease?

[@InNOWvations]

We're in a neighborhood that uses a common well system. When we use our sprinklers we have such little water flow in our home that we cannot shower and our laundry gives error codes. How can we fix this?

[@jwfixit7494]

Can you set the irrigation to run on a timer say at 4am? Unless you are using laundry/showers then…

[@flyinryan1100]

Pressure is the resistance of flow. Close the valve, you create resistance and hence pressure. Open the valve, you remove resistance to the flow and there for no pressure(that is not measurable with your pressure gauge).