A.Y. McDonald DuraMAC booster pumps for homes, apartments, irrigation and commercial buildings — seven systems carrying 20 to 120 GPM.
The E-Series, Residential and Light Commercial models arrive on a pressure tank with a three-mode digital control that starts on pressure, on flow, or only at peak demand. The Dual-Mode Modular, Simplex and Duplex are the commercial platform, factory-built on a stainless skid and staged lead/lag to 120 GPM. The VS Booster holds a constant 25 to 65 psi with the drive, tank and sensor inside the pump body.
Every model is single phase at 120V or 230V, certified to NSF/ANSI/CAN 61 and 372, with 304 stainless impellers and a no-lead brass waterway. Residential and Light Commercial carry a three-year limited warranty from the date of installation; the rest carry twelve months.
We are an authorized stocking A.Y. McDonald and Baker Water Systems distributor, holding DuraMAC in Houston for Gulf Coast delivery in the correct US 60 Hz build.
Send us your fixture count, number of floors, inlet pressure and required flow and we will size it for you — 1-888.510.4036.
Seven DuraMAC systems from a half-gallon under-sink booster to a two-pump commercial skid, stocked in Houston and shipped across the Gulf Coast. Tell us the fixture count, the floors and the incoming pressure and we will size it.
20–120GPM
35–78 psiBoost, Fixed Speed
25–65 psiSetpoint, Variable Speed
1/2 – 2 HP120V & 230V, 1 Ph
NSF 61 / 372NSF/ANSI/CAN
A.Y. McDonald Mfg. Co. has been making water-system products since 1856, and DuraMAC is its packaged pressure-boosting line, sold through Baker Water Systems. Every model on this page is built around the same idea: a stainless steel multistage pump, a no-lead brass waterway, a controller that starts the pump when water is drawn, and electronics sealed away from the piping so a failure is a field repair rather than a replacement. The family runs from a half-gallon E-Series unit to a two-pump commercial skid on 2 in manifolds.
Watermain Supply is an Authorized Stocking A.Y. McDonald and Baker Water Systems Distributor. We hold DuraMAC in Houston for Gulf Coast delivery, in the correct US 60 Hz build with NPT connections and 120V or 230V single-phase power. Compare the models below, or call 1-888.510.4036 and we will size it for you. Genuine A.Y. McDonald equipment, factory-new in original packaging — sold and supported by Watermain Supply, an independent industrial supplier.
Will It Work for Your Building?
The four questions that decide a booster purchase, answered before the detail.
Warranty
3 years from the date of installation on the Residential, Light Commercial and Variable Speed Booster. 1 year from installation or 2 years from manufacture, whichever comes first, on the E-Series and the three Dual-Mode configurations. All under A.Y. McDonald’s published limited warranty terms.
Reliability
Stainless steel impellers and diffusers, silicon carbide seal faces and a no-lead brass waterway, with dry-run protection and the electronics sealed away from the water. Seals, controls and pump assemblies are catalogued A.Y. McDonald parts for every family on this page.
Fit
20 to 120 GPM, 35 to 78 psi of boost on the fixed-speed models and a 25 to 65 psi set point on the Variable Speed Booster. Single phase only, 120V or 230V. Keep incoming plus boost under 80 psi: each model lists the incoming pressure above which A.Y. McDonald recommends a PRV. The Dual-Mode Modular needs its own tank.
Size It Now
Enter flow, pressure and inlet conditions and see which models cover the duty, then size the tank. Or send the numbers to sales@watermainsupply.com or call 1-888.510.4036.
Three platforms. What separates them is how much water they carry, whether a tank comes with them, and whether the pump runs at one speed or varies it.
Tank-Mounted Boosters
Houses, apartments, irrigation
20–35 GPMMaximum flow
35–78 psiBoost
1/2 – 1-1/2 HPTEFC, single phase
0.5 or 2 galTank included
Three products on one platform. The E-Series is the compact one — a half-gallon tank, all-metal connections, flow-activated, and the only DuraMAC offered in all-304 stainless for RO and aggressive water. The Residential and Light Commercial models add a two-gallon tank, a pressure gauge and the three-mode digital control, and carry 20 and 35 GPM respectively.
Key specifications
E-Series: 20 GPM, 35 or 52 psi boost, 120V, brass or 304 stainless
Residential and Light Commercial carry a 3-year limited warranty
Best forWhole-house supply, homes on a rooftop or storage tank, RO and filtration installations, multi-bathroom and multi-story houses, small commercial buildings and irrigation zones.
The commercial platform, in three configurations of the same pump and control. Simplex is one pump, a 20-gallon tank and the piping already made up on a stainless base. Duplex puts two pumps on one skid with 2 in manifolds under lead/lag control, so either pump alone can carry the building. Modular is the bare booster for tying into a system that already has a tank and header — no skid, no tank.
Key specifications
Two control modes: pressure and flow. Stops below 3 GPM
Modular 56 lbs, Simplex 168 lbs, Duplex 252 lbs
1-1/2 in NPT on Modular and Simplex, 2 in manifolds on Duplex
Configuration is chosen at purchase; the Duplex is the two-pump build
Best forSmall to mid-size commercial buildings, apartment complexes, light industrial and process water, and any building where downtime is not acceptable and a second pump has to be able to carry the load.
The inverter-driven member of the family. Instead of cycling between cut-in and cut-out, it varies pump speed to hold one discharge pressure, which removes the pressure swing at the fixture and uses very little energy at part load. The drive, the pressure tank, the discharge sensor and a suction check valve are all inside the pump body, so there is nothing to plumb up beside it. Self-priming, with dry-run, air-in-casing, small-leak and overload protection.
Key specifications
50 psi added at 10 GPM (1 HP) or 20 GPM (2 HP); maximum working pressure 120 psi
1 HP 120V / 5.6 A, 21.61 lbs; 2 HP 230V / 5.9 A, 28 lbs
In compliance with NSF 61; UL-listed 2-pole induction motor, insulation class F
Continuous duty; liquid 32°F to 90°F
Best forInstallations where a steady pressure at the fixture matters more than headline flow — showers and multi-outlet homes, tight mechanical spaces, and any retrofit where a tank and separate controller will not fit.
The deciding axis is flow. Choose the row that carries your peak demand, then check the boost covers the pressure you are short.
Model
Part No.
Boost at 0 GPM
Max flow
Power
Voltage
Tank
PRV above
Weight
18035R020PC1 · E-Series
6010-101
35 psi
20 GPM
1/2 HP
120V
0.5 gal
—
27.1 lbs
18052R020PC1 · E-Series
6010-102
52 psi
20 GPM
3/4 HP
120V
0.5 gal
—
27.7 lbs
18035R020PC1SS · E-Series
6010-110
35 psi
20 GPM
1/2 HP
120V
0.5 gal
—
27.1 lbs
18052R020PC1SS · E-Series
6010-111
52 psi
20 GPM
3/4 HP
120V
0.5 gal
—
27.7 lbs
17035R020PC1 · Residential
6010-006
35 psi
20 GPM
1/2 HP
120V
2 gal
45 psi
33 lbs
17052R020PC1 · Residential
6010-007
52 psi
20 GPM
3/4 HP
120V
2 gal
28 psi
37 lbs
17070R020PC2 · Residential
6010-008
70 psi
20 GPM
1 HP
230V
2 gal
10 psi
40 lbs
17040C035PC2 · Light Comm.
6010-014
40 psi
35 GPM
1 HP
230V
2 gal
40 psi
38 lbs
17062C035PC2 · Light Comm.
6010-015
62 psi
35 GPM
1 HP
230V
2 gal
18 psi
41 lbs
17078C035PC2 · Light Comm.
6010-016
78 psi
35 GPM
1-1/2 HP
230V
2 gal
2 psi
35 lbs
17044C070PC2-M · Modular
6011-005
44 psi
70 GPM
2 HP
230V
Required, ordered separately
36 psi
56 lbs
17060C070PC2-M · Modular
6011-006
60 psi
70 GPM
2 HP
230V
Required, ordered separately
20 psi
56 lbs
17044C070PC2-S · Simplex
6011-001
44 psi
70 GPM
2 HP
230V
20 gal
36 psi
168 lbs
17060C070PC2-S · Simplex
6011-003
60 psi
70 GPM
2 HP
230V
20 gal
20 psi
168 lbs
17044C120PC2-D · Duplex
6011-002
44 psi
120 GPM
2 × 2 HP
230V
20 gal
36 psi
252 lbs
17060C120PC2-D · Duplex
6011-004
60 psi
120 GPM
2 × 2 HP
230V
20 gal
20 psi
252 lbs
17080V022C-1 · Variable Speed
6010-033
25–65 psi set point
50 psi added at 10 GPM
1 HP
120V
In pump body
Not needed
21.61 lbs
17080V037C-2 · Variable Speed
6010-034
25–65 psi set point
50 psi added at 20 GPM
2 HP
230V
In pump body
Not needed
28 lbs
Quick rule. Under 20 GPM with a tank-fed or low-pressure supply, take a Residential; the E-Series where the space is tight or the water is aggressive; the Variable Speed Booster where a steady pressure at the fixture matters more than the headline number. Over 35 GPM, the Dual-Mode family is the way up, and the Duplex is the configuration that keeps the building running when one pump is down.
Boost figures are the pressure the pump adds at zero flow, which is the third group of digits in the model number. The PRV column is A.Y. McDonald’s own recommendation: above that incoming pressure, fit a pressure reducing valve so total boosted pressure stays under 80 psi. The Variable Speed Booster holds its set point instead, so it does not need one; its rows show the set point range and the duty point read from its published curve. Source: Baker Water Systems DuraMAC Booster Pumps catalog, rev 3/26, and VS Booster brochure.
Rated Performance
Rated duty for the US 60 Hz models. A.Y. McDonald publishes these as plotted curves rather than tables, so the figures below are the rated points the literature states in print.
Platform
Boost at zero flow
Maximum flow
Amps
Control
Certification
E-Series
35 or 52 psi
20 GPM
5.5 – 7.0
Flow-activated
NSF/ANSI/CAN 61 & 372
Residential
35 / 52 / 70 psi
20 GPM
4.0 – 7.0
Digital, three modes
NSF/ANSI/CAN 61 & 372
Light Commercial
40 / 62 / 78 psi
35 GPM
5.0 – 6.8
Digital, three modes
NSF/ANSI/CAN 61 & 372
Dual-Mode Modular
44 or 60 psi
70 GPM
7.0 – 8.0
Digital, two modes
NSF/ANSI/CAN 61 & 372
Dual-Mode Simplex
44 or 60 psi
70 GPM
7.0 – 8.0
Digital, two modes
NSF/ANSI/CAN 61 & 372
Dual-Mode Duplex
44 or 60 psi
120 GPM, both pumps
7.0 – 8.0 per pump
Digital, two modes, lead/lag
NSF/ANSI/CAN 61 & 372
Variable Speed Booster
50 psi added at the duty point
10 GPM (1 HP) or 20 GPM (2 HP) at 50 psi
5.6 – 5.9
Variable speed, 25–65 psi setpoint
In compliance with NSF 61; UL-listed motor
Read the curve, not the headline. Every fixed-speed figure above is the boost at zero flow — a ceiling, not a working point. A pump rated 70 psi is adding closer to 42 psi by the time it is moving 15 GPM. Each product page carries the pressure-added figures across the whole flow range in both psi and feet of head, which is what you size against.
Boost in psi equals head in feet multiplied by 0.433. The Sizing Charts printed in the catalog are incoming pressure plus nameplate boost, not curve data. For a certified curve at a stated duty point, request the manufacturer curve on 1-888.510.4036 and we will get it from A.Y. McDonald.
Sizing & Best Practices
How we size a booster, and what to check before it goes in.
1. Calculate required boost
Required boost = target pressure at the highest fixture + 0.433 psi per foot of elevation + friction loss − inlet pressure. A three-story house wanting 45 psi at the top floor, 28 ft above the meter, with 6 psi of friction and 25 psi arriving: 45 + 12.1 + 6 − 25 = 38 psi of boost. The 17052R020PC1 covers it with margin; the 35 psi model does not.
2. Estimate peak flow honestly
Use WSFU and Hunter’s curve (IPC Table 604.3) for residential, and the IAPMO Water Demand Calculator for light commercial — Hunter overstates demand badly on larger buildings. A three-bath house typically lands at 12–16 GPM; a twelve-unit apartment building at 35–50 GPM; a sixty-unit building well past what one pump carries.
3. Check the model limits before the curve
Four limits decide more fits than the curve does. Total pressure: incoming plus boost, which A.Y. McDonald advises keeping under 80 psi — the PRV column in the comparison table is where each model needs help. Power: 120V and 230V single phase are not interchangeable, and there is no three-phase DuraMAC in this range. Suction: the 18035R020PC1 and its stainless twin are not recommended in suction lift or flooded suction applications, so plan a pressurized inlet. Tank: the Modular ships without one and has to be sized separately.
4. Size the tank on a fixed-speed pump
Drawdown volume = pump capacity in GPM × minimum cycle time in minutes ÷ 4. At 15 starts per hour that works out to roughly one gallon of tank per GPM, which is where the old rule of thumb comes from. Precharge to 2 psi below cut-in with the system drained. Our pressure tank sizing calculator does the arithmetic, and a diaphragm tank covers 2 to 119 gallons.
Sizing rule of thumb. If the duty point lands past 70 percent of a model’s maximum head at design flow, step up a model. A booster running at the far right of its curve is one that will be replaced early — and most booster failures are pumps that were oversized or undersized for the building rather than pumps that wore out.
Selection by application. Call with fixture count, floors and inlet pressure for an engineering-led pick.
Application
Typical demand
Recommended
Notes
RO or filtration booster
3–8 GPM, 35 psi
E-Series 18035R020PC1SS
Specify stainless for low pH and RO permeate. Pressurized inlet only.
Single-family home, rooftop tank
10–16 GPM, 35–52 psi
Residential 17052R020PC1
Two-gallon tank included. 120V.
Multi-story house or villa
12–18 GPM, 60–70 psi
Residential 17070R020PC2
230V. Intended for use with a holding tank above 10 psi incoming.
Steady pressure, tight mechanical space
6–18 GPM, 25–65 psi
Variable Speed Booster 17080V022C-1
Tank and drive built in. No separate tank or PRV to plumb.
Irrigation zone or small commercial
20–35 GPM, 40–62 psi
Light Commercial 17062C035PC2
230V. Two-gallon tank, 1-1/4 in outlet.
Small commercial building
40–70 GPM, 44–60 psi
Dual-Mode Simplex
Complete skid with 20-gallon tank. One pump, so no redundancy.
Existing tank and header in place
40–70 GPM, 44–60 psi
Dual-Mode Modular
Bare booster. Pressure tank required and sized separately.
Apartment complex or process water
70–120 GPM
Dual-Mode Duplex
Lead/lag. Either pump can be set to carry the building alone.
Downtime is not acceptable
any, up to 120 GPM
Dual-Mode Duplex
The DuraMAC configuration with a spare pump on the skid.
What Makes DuraMAC Different
The design decisions that show up on an installation rather than on a spec sheet.
Three Control Modes
Pressure mode starts on a pressure drop and stops on low flow. Flow mode starts on water movement, which suits a system with a slow leak that would cycle a pressure switch all night. Conservation mode only boosts at peak demand, leaving the city main to do the work the rest of the day. One dial, on the Residential and Light Commercial models.
Electronics Off the Waterway
The control and transducer are separated and sealed from the piping. A failed board is a part, not a pump, and it can be changed without breaking into the water side.
Stainless Wetted Path
304 stainless impellers and diffuser, 301 stainless casing inlet and outlet, silicon carbide and carbon seal faces. The E-Series is offered entirely in 304 for reverse osmosis permeate and low-pH water that attacks brass.
No-Lead Brass Throughout
Check valve, union connection and controller cross are no-lead brass, certified to NSF/ANSI/CAN 61 and 372 — two distinct marks, one for material safety in contact with drinking water and one for lead content.
Dry-Run Protection
The control shuts the pump down when the supply stops rather than letting it run dry, which matters most on tank-fed systems where an empty tank is a normal Tuesday rather than a fault.
Seven-Second Pressurize Delay
On the Dual-Mode control, the pump keeps running for seven seconds after flow past the sensor stops. It finishes pressurizing the system instead of dropping the load instantly, which is what eliminates water hammer on a commercial riser.
Staged in the Factory
The Dual-Mode Simplex and Duplex arrive assembled on a 304 stainless base with tank, gauge, check valve and manifolds already made up. There is no panel to build, no skid to fabricate and no field-assembled control sequence to commission.
Inverter Option at the Same Sizes
The Variable Speed Booster brings constant-pressure control into the same flow range as the Residential and Light Commercial models, with the drive, tank, sensor and check valve inside the pump body. Nothing plumbs up beside it.
How DuraMAC Compares to Other Brands
We sell every major booster line, so we can be straight about fit. Competitor specifications are taken from our own product pages and curve data, not from memory.
DuraMAC vs Grundfos SCALA2
Specification
DuraMAC Residential 17052R020PC1
A.Y. McDonald Variable Speed Booster 17080V022C-1
Grundfos SCALA2 3-45
Speed control
Single speed
Variable
Variable
Maximum flow
20 GPM
10 GPM at 50 psi added (duty point)
20.7 GPM (end of plotted curve)
Boost at zero flow
52 psi
Not printed
63.6 psi (147 ft)
Maximum setpoint
n/a — fixed boost
65 psi
51 psi
Maximum system pressure
80 psi recommended
120 psi
145 psi
Self-priming
No
Yes
Yes, to 26 ft
Motor
3/4 HP TEFC
1 HP, 2-pole induction
0.74 HP
Voltage
120V 1 Ph
120V 1 Ph
115V or 230V 1 Ph
Pressure tank
2 gal included
Built into pump body
Integrated
Warranty
3 years from install
3 years from install
12 months from purchase
Honest verdict: Grundfos SCALA2 is the quieter machine, has the highest system pressure rating of the three and self-primes to 26 ft, which is genuinely good on a shallow well; its tank is integrated and it reaches 20.7 GPM at the end of its curve. If you want variable-speed behaviour from A.Y. McDonald, the Variable Speed Booster is the direct answer, holds a higher set point and carries a 3-year warranty; for a straightforward whole-house job, the Residential includes the tank and the same 3-year term. Above 35 GPM none of these three is the answer — step to a Dual-Mode.
DuraMAC vs Davey DD Series
Specification
A.Y. McDonald Variable Speed Booster 17080V037C-2
Davey DD90-11NPT
Davey DD60-10NPT
Speed control
Variable
Variable
Variable
Maximum flow
20 GPM at 50 psi added (duty point)
36 GPM
24 GPM
Boost at zero flow
Not printed
80 psi
91 psi
Maximum setpoint
65 psi
80 psi
87 psi
Maximum system pressure
120 psi
145 psi
145 psi
Motor
2 HP
1.21 HP
1.07 HP
Voltage
230V 1 Ph
230V 1 Ph
230V 1 Ph
Pairing
Single unit
Up to 2 units
Up to 2 units
Self-priming
Yes
No
No
Warranty
3 years from install
24 months from purchase
24 months from purchase
Honest verdict: the Davey DD units pair, which the Variable Speed Booster does not, and they hold a higher setpoint on a strong system — on a job that may need a second unit later, that flexibility is worth more than any spec in the table. The Variable Speed Booster is self-priming and carries a 3-year warranty against Davey’s 24 months, and its 2 HP model carries the flow on a bigger house without a second machine. Where the building genuinely needs staged pumps rather than a pair, the Dual-Mode Duplex is a different class of answer at 120 GPM.
Tanks, Brackets & Service Parts
What completes a DuraMAC installation, and what keeps one running.
Genuine A.Y. McDonald spare parts available by model and serial — call 1-888.510.4036 with the nameplate and we will identify the correct part. On any system with a storage water heater, a separate thermal expansion tank is still required at the heater whatever tank the booster carries.
Why Source DuraMAC from Watermain Supply
Stocked in Houston
Watermain Supply is an Authorized Stocking A.Y. McDonald and Baker Water Systems Distributor. DuraMAC is held in Houston in the correct US 60 Hz build, with NPT connections and 120V or 230V single-phase power — not an import variant that needs a transformer and an adapter.
Engineering-Led Sizing
Send fixture count, floors, inlet pressure and required flow and we will come back with a sized selection, the tank to go with it and lead time. We would rather talk you out of the wrong pump than sell it.
Multi-Brand Perspective
If DuraMAC is not the right fit, we will say so and quote the one that is. We supply Grundfos, Davey, Goulds, Franklin Electric and DAB alongside it.
Complete System, One Order
Pump, tank, mounting bracket and service parts on a single purchase order and a single delivery, rather than three vendors and three lead times.
Account Terms Available
Net-30 for qualified contractor, property-management and municipal accounts.
Parts & Aftermarket
Service parts carried by family — E-Series, 20 GPM residential, 35 GPM light commercial and 70 GPM commercial — so a seal or a control board does not mean a new pump.
Frequently Asked Questions
The questions we answer most often on the phone about DuraMAC boosters.
Does the pump boost pressure to the number on the label, or add it?
It adds it. A 52 psi model adds 52 psi at zero flow on top of whatever arrives at its inlet. On a 30 psi main that is 82 psi total, which is why A.Y. McDonald recommends a pressure reducing valve above a stated incoming pressure on each model. The exception is the Variable Speed Booster, where the drive holds a total set point of 25 to 65 psi instead.
What does the model number mean?
Reading 17044C070PC2-M: 17 is the series, 044 is the boost in psi at zero flow, C is commercial (R is residential), 070 is the maximum GPM, 2 is 230V (1 is 120V), and the suffix is the configuration — M modular, S simplex, D duplex. SS on an E-Series model means all-304 stainless.
How long is the warranty?
Three years from the date of installation on the Residential and Light Commercial models and the Variable Speed Booster. On the E-Series and the three Dual-Mode configurations, 1 year from the date of installation or 2 years from the date of manufacture, whichever comes first. Full terms are in the A.Y. McDonald Pumps & Accessories Price List.
Does a pressure tank come with it?
Half a gallon on the E-Series, two gallons on the Residential and Light Commercial, twenty gallons on the Dual-Mode Simplex and Duplex, and a tank inside the pump body on the Variable Speed Booster. The Dual-Mode Modular ships without a tank, and one has to be sized and bought separately.
Can I add a second pump later?
The configuration is chosen at purchase, and the Dual-Mode Duplex is the two-pump build. If the building may need two pumps, specify the Dual-Mode Duplex now; a simplex stays a simplex.
Will it work on a rooftop or storage tank?
Yes — tank-fed supply is the most common application for the Residential model, and dry-run protection shuts the pump down if the tank empties. One exception: the 18035R020PC1 and 18035R020PC1SS are not recommended in suction lift or flooded suction applications, so plan a pressurized inlet for those two.
What is the difference between pressure mode and flow mode?
Pressure mode starts the pump when system pressure drops, which suits most installations. Flow mode starts it when water actually moves, which is the right choice where there is a slow leak or where incoming pressure swings — a pressure switch would cycle all night on a system a flow sensor ignores.
Do I need three-phase power?
Every DuraMAC on this page runs on single-phase power: 120V on the E-Series, the 35 and 52 psi Residential models and the 1 HP Variable Speed Booster; 230V on everything else. There is no three-phase option in this range.
How much tank do I need for a fixed-speed booster?
Roughly one gallon of tank per GPM of pump capacity at fifteen starts per hour, more if you want fewer starts. Precharge to 2 psi below cut-in with the system drained. Our pressure tank sizing calculator works it out from capacity and the cycle rate you want.
Can you send a pump curve for a submittal?
Yes. Call 1-888.510.4036 or email sales@watermainsupply.com with the model number and we will get the factory curve and submittal data from A.Y. McDonald. Catalog plots are fine for shortlisting; a submittal wants the certified document.
Ready to Size Your Booster?
Send us your fixture count, number of floors, inlet pressure and required flow. We will respond with a sized selection, the tank to match, accessories and lead time.
Technical data on this page is taken from A.Y. McDonald and Baker Water Systems US 60 Hz product literature, and for the comparison tables from Grundfos and Davey product literature, and is subject to change by the manufacturer. Confirm against the current installation manual and pump curve before specifying. A.Y. McDonald, DuraMAC, Baker Water Systems, Grundfos, SCALA, Davey, Goulds, Franklin Electric and DAB are trademarks of their respective owners, used here for product identification only. Watermain Supply is a DBA of E4 Industrial LLC, an independent industrial supplier based in Houston, Texas.
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