What does this domestic water booster pump annual checklist cover?

15 items across 4 sections, covering notice, as-found and protection, tank and pre-charge, pumps and controls, return to service. Each item spells out what the person walking the job is actually looking for, not just a box to tick.

Who should run this inspection?

The plumbing service tech on the annual service, with the set staged down so pressures and pre-charge can be measured cold.

When in the schedule should this walk happen?

Once a year, the pass where the tank is isolated and gauged and the controller's staging and run-hour balance are actually verified rather than assumed.

Why do these items ask for a photo?

11 of the 15 items call for photo evidence, 12 photos in all. A checklist answer without the photo is a claim; the photo is what makes the record worth something in a dispute and lets a reviewer approve work without re-walking the job.

What most often fails a domestic water booster pump annual inspection?

Tank pre-charge never gauged against the actual setpoint, so it's off and the set short-cycles all year. Run hours skewed heavily onto the lead pump because alternation was never enabled, wearing one pump out while the other stays new.

Can I use this checklist in RTI?

Yes. Start a free RTI workspace, build this list as a checklist, and the Photo Gate holds the submit button until every mandatory item is answered and its photos are attached. Approved inspections roll into a branded turnover package with a tamper evident audit trail.

Free checklist

Domestic water booster pump annual maintenance checklist

The annual booster pump set service is the deep pass: the measurements, cleanings and tests a quarterly round doesn't reach. This checklist keeps the full service on record with the photos that make it defensible later. Work is commonly verified against IPC / UPC plumbing codes, manufacturer's published instructions. Confirm the edition your authority having jurisdiction has adopted.

Start free with this checklist Download as PDF

The checklist

Every item, and the photo evidence it needs

The photo count on each row is what RTI would require before the item can be submitted. Work the list here and watch the gate hold, or load it into RTI and let it enforce the real thing.

Notice, as-found and protection

Owner and occupants told before the set is taken down
Owner told when upper floors lose boosted pressure, occupants of the boosted floors told through the owner, and work timed away from peak draw so no one is caught mid-shower.
No photo
As-found setpoint and suction and discharge readings logged
Controller setpoint and live suction and discharge pressures photographed on arrival, before anything is adjusted, so the service has a true starting point.
Transducers compared with a calibrated test gauge
Suction and discharge transducers checked against a calibrated test gauge at the same tap, rescaled or replaced if the controller is off by more than the manufacturer allows.
Low-suction cutout tripped and reset under test
Suction valve throttled slowly or the switch tested at its port as the manufacturer describes; pumps stop at the design cutout, alarm, and restart on recovery.

Tank and pre-charge

Tank isolated and pre-charge measured to setpoint
Tank drained of water pressure and the air pre-charge read and set relative to the pump cut-in per the published instructions, bladder proven intact with no water at the air valve.
No photo
Small draw carried by the tank after the pre-charge reset
Tank back in service and a single fixture opened and closed, the set cutting in no sooner than its design pressure and not cycling repeatedly on the draw.

Pumps and controls

Each pump run and current read against nameplate
Every pump in the set brought up individually, amp draw read against its nameplate, no unusual noise, vibration or hot bearing.
Full lead-lag staging exercised through the range
Controller driven across its demand range so every pump stages in and out in sequence and the transducers agree with the gauges under load.
Run hours reviewed and alternation confirmed
Logged run hours reasonably balanced across the pumps, alternation enabled so wear spreads instead of falling on one pump.
Drive parameters and fault log noted where drives fitted
On a drive-fed set, speed limits, ramp settings and fault history noted in the record against last year; drive service itself is done on the VFD checklist.
No photo
Set locked out and each pump valved off before opening
Pump disconnects opened, locked and tagged under the site's procedure and proven dead, suction and discharge valves closed and tagged before any check valve is opened.
Pump check valves inspected with the set isolated
Each discharge check valve opened or tested as the manufacturer describes, seat and spring clean, no scale or debris holding it cracked open.

Return to service

Isolation valves stroked, reopened and pumps vented
Each isolation valve stroked through full travel and reopened slowly, pump casings vented of air as the manufacturer describes, and opened joints dry.
Locks cleared and set restarted in automatic
Locks and tags removed by whoever hung them, each selector back in auto, and the set brought up to setpoint with no alarm standing on the display.
Annual readings filed as next year's baseline
As-found and as-left setpoints, cutout pressure, pre-charge, amps and run hours recorded against the set so next year's service reads against them.
No photo

What usually sends this back

The failures are almost always the evidence, not the work

Tank pre-charge never gauged against the actual setpoint, so it's off and the set short-cycles all year.
Run hours skewed heavily onto the lead pump because alternation was never enabled, wearing one pump out while the other stays new.

Verified against

IPC / UPC plumbing codes

Common questions

6 answers

What does this domestic water booster pump annual checklist cover?: 15 items across 4 sections, covering notice, as-found and protection, tank and pre-charge, pumps and controls, return to service. Each item spells out what the person walking the job is actually looking for, not just a box to tick.
Who should run this inspection?: The plumbing service tech on the annual service, with the set staged down so pressures and pre-charge can be measured cold.
When in the schedule should this walk happen?: Once a year, the pass where the tank is isolated and gauged and the controller's staging and run-hour balance are actually verified rather than assumed.
Why do these items ask for a photo?: 11 of the 15 items call for photo evidence, 12 photos in all. A checklist answer without the photo is a claim; the photo is what makes the record worth something in a dispute and lets a reviewer approve work without re-walking the job.
What most often fails a domestic water booster pump annual inspection?: Tank pre-charge never gauged against the actual setpoint, so it's off and the set short-cycles all year. Run hours skewed heavily onto the lead pump because alternation was never enabled, wearing one pump out while the other stays new.
Can I use this checklist in RTI?: Yes. Start a free RTI workspace, build this list as a checklist, and the Photo Gate holds the submit button until every mandatory item is answered and its photos are attached. Approved inspections roll into a branded turnover package with a tamper evident audit trail.

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Run it with the Photo Gate

A checklist nobody can submit half-finished

Load this list into RTI, stick a QR tag on the area it covers, and the submit button stays locked until every mandatory item is answered and the 12 required photos exist. Approved walks roll into a branded turnover package with a tamper evident record behind every line.