Reduce your water consumption costs today with science
Pressure and Volume
To put it simply: when pressure goes up, volume goes down. This was first considered in the 1600's - before the advent of modern plumbing. Devised as a mathematical formula to explain the relationship between gas and pressure, Boyle's Law can be used to determine an increase or decrease in gas volume when pressure is applied or relieved.
Room for Compression
States of matter are relative. As we can determine with the consolidated Ideal Gas Law learned above, matter can actually transfer between these states through an increase or decrease of pressure and temperature. Solid matter can turn to liquid if heated enough, just as a liquid can turn to solid if cooled sufficiently. Think of water turning to ice. Thankfully, the gaseous state of matter can allow for a degree of "wiggle room" with particles spread out far enough for compression. Gas volume can be compressed significantly before being forced into a liquid state.
Why Has Nobody Thought Of This?
In short - there are many oversights in modern construction practices. With global populations booming over the last century, we've had to cut corners as we go. Japan has two incompatible power grids. America builds homes with hollow walls and soft lumber. Modern plumbing and regulations arguably aren't even 100 years old yet, with codes and legislation for standards only being introduced in the 1930's. Water saving laws started being introduced in the 1980's. Less than a century ago, most homes didn't have indoor plumbing. To put it simply, people just haven't had to look closely enough at their water bills until relatively recently.
why there is air in your water lines
Turbulent Flow
Ineffective Measurement
Inefficient Delivery
So long as water is passing over a surface, it will be generating friction, even along the walls of a smooth pipe. This leads to turbulent flow and inefficient transfer as fluid undergoes irregular fluctuations and mixing.
Inefficient Delivery
Ineffective Measurement
Inefficient Delivery
Utility water lines span across tremendous distances to numerous recipients. Along with leaks from construction and maintenance introducing air, this results in vast fluctuations in pressure, flow, and air.
Ineffective Measurement
Ineffective Measurement
Ineffective Measurement
Modern water meters effectively measure all flow passing through by volume, including any air that arrives through your pipes via leak or turbulent separation. Consumers are billed on total volume of flow, not just water.
Laminar Flow
Measurable Results
Ineffective Measurement
In laminar flow, the velocity, pressure, and other flow properties at each point in the fluid remain constant. Watergater valves create a compression zone of laminar flow through their adjacent water meters.
Measurable Results
Measurable Results
Measurable Results
Every location is unique and conditions can vary greatly. Some water meters are better situated than others along their utility lines. By its nature however, most water delivered through pipes is turbulent resulting in air separation.
Reducing Volume
Measurable Results
Measurable Results
When a gas is under pressure it takes up less space. The higher the pressure, the smaller the volume. By creating pressure in your water line you can reduce the air volume passing through your meter. It's as simple as that.