We Are Water Meter Experts

Free Shipping on orders over $100

BASIC

ADVANCED

Exact Match:

  • Home
  • Knowledge Base Categories
  • Home
  • Knowledge Base Categories
  1. Home
  2. Knowledge Base Categories
  3. Flow rate for meter sizing

Flow rate for meter sizing

  • Date updated 2015-04-28
  • Author Flows.com
  • Comments 0
  • Rating
  • Categories
  • General Questions
  • Residential Water Meters
  • WM-PC Series
  • WM-FAM Series
  • G2 Series
  • TM Series
  • PT Series
  • Tags
  • Meter Sizing
  • Bucket Test

How do I get my flow rate if I do not have a flow meter, so I know what size meter to purchase?

This is a great question.  The flow rate is much more important for meter sizing than the line size in which the meter will be installed.  The quickest way to do this is what we call a bucket test.  You get a bucket that has a known volume or you measure out a known volume into a bucket and mark a line.  Typically you would use 1 gallon or 5 gallons as the test.  Then you would run your liquid at the flow rate you are interested in measuring into this bucket and time it.  If the flow meets the 1 gallon mark in 15 seconds you would know that you are flowing 4 gallons per minute (GPM) (60 seconds / 15 seconds = 4; 4 X 1 gallon = 4 Gallons).  If you hit the 5 gallon mark in 15 seconds you would be flowing 20 GPM.  If you hit the 1 gallon mark in 30 seconds you are running 2 GPM, 5 gallon mark at 30 seconds it would be 10GPM.

After this test you have the information you need to get the correct size meter.  You normally would like to stay in the middle of the range that the meter can handle.  So if you have a flow rate of 10 GPM a meter that works from 0 to 20 GPM would be great (for most meter technologies).

Rate this article


Your email is now subscribed to alerts for this article

Your email is not subscribed to alerts for this article

Subscribe to alerts for this article below

Unsubscribe to alerts for this article below


Leave a comment?

Related articles

  • Water Meter Installation Orientation
    • 5538
    • 1
    • 0
  • WM-PC Series Water Meter
    • 4283
    • 2
    • 0
  • WM-PC Series Installation
    • 3434
    • 1
    • 0
  • Resettable meters
    • 3780
    • 0
    • 0
  • Vertical Water Meter Installation
    • 10031
    • 0
    • 0
  • Why horizontal installation for residential water meters.
    • 10026
    • 0
    • 0
  • Meter starting point is not zero
    • 4224
    • 0
  • Extend My Water Meter Pulse Output Wire
    • 3953
    • 0
    • 0
  • Enfield, Connecticut Deduct Meter
    • 5408
    • 0
    • 0
  • Differences between 5/8 and 3/4 meters
    • 14853
    • 1
    • 0

Popular Knowledgebase Articles

  • WM-PC Series Installation
    • 3434
    • 1
    • 0
  • WM-PC Series Water Meter
    • 4283
    • 2
    • 0
  • Water Meter Installation Orientation
    • 5538
    • 1
    • 0
  • Flow rate for meter sizing
    • 6188
    • 1
    • 0

Knowledge Base Authors

  • Flows.com
    Flows.com
    Total articles: 16

Company Sites

Home

Products

Residential Water Meters & Sub-meters

Wireless Water Sub-metering Systems

Digital Displays for Water Meters

Automatic Batching Systems

Knowledge Base Categories

  • General Questions
  • Residential Water Meters
  • WM2 Series
  • WM-PC Series
  • WM-FAM Series
  • All Categories

Connect With Us

  • Flows.com
  • We Are Water Meter Experts
  • 50 S. 8th Street
    (Located in Tatamy)
    Easton, PA 18045

  • 855-871-6091
  • inquiry@flows.com
  • https://flows.com
    Powered by LiveHelpNow customer support suite