What rate of water fkow?

oldwiring

Can anyone satiate my curiosity? I'm wondering if my mains water is acring correctly.

My water bills refer to 20mm pipe. Firstly is that what the actual pipes in the house (built 1971) will be, and, if not, what are the y likely to be?

From the pipes what will be the minimum acceptable flow rare and the maximum obtainable?

Just in case it is of relevance the house is guessed at 2.5 m above the road (11 steps , bricks' courses high).

fwor

oldwiring wrote: »

I'm wondering if my mains water is acring correctly.

It isn't clear what aspect of your water supply you think might not be acting correctly.

Are you worried that the flow rate into the tank in the loft is too low? Or the rate of flow from the taps is too low?

In a typical 1970's built house the two are (almost) unrelated, except for any ground floor cold water taps that are supplied directly from the mains.

IIRC my last (seventies-built) house had 3/4" steel supply pipe, but I think they were also using plastic by then.

Whatever the material, a 3/4" pipe at mains pressure is likely to handle a higher flow rate than any "average" house is going to need - even accounting for the fact that the pressure varies from place to place.

totalsolutions

Have you got a short there oldwiring or water on the brain ??

oldwiring

fwor wrote: »

It isn't clear what aspect of your water supply you think might not be acting correctly.

Are you worried that the flow rate into the tank in the loft is too low? Or the rate of flow from the taps is too low?

In a typical 1970's built house the two are (almost) unrelated, except for any ground floor cold water taps that are supplied directly from the mains.

IIRC my last (seventies-built) house had 3/4" steel supply pipe, but I think they were also using plastic by then.

Whatever the material, a 3/4" pipe at mains pressure is likely to handle a higher flow rate than any "average" house is going to need - even accounting for the fact that the pressure varies from place to place.

@ fwor Thanks for your post. Taps’ flow roughly measured @ 7 to 8 l/min

totalsolutions wrote: »

Have you got a short there oldwiring or water on the brain ??

@ totalsolutions
As there is no smiley you must think your insult is funny.
No, you are simply revealing your crass ignorance.:mad:

fwor

oldwiring wrote: »

Taps’ flow roughly measured @ 7 to 8 l/min

Obviously it depends on the characteristics of the tap, but if this is a fully open tap on the mains supply it sounds very low - not enough to sustain the flow for a modern power shower, for example.

Have a check on the website of your water supplier to see if they publish minimum pressures and flow rates. I know that they ~used~ to, but I can't find that info now for my supplier, so perhaps they now don't disclose that to reduce the number of complaints.

I believe that they are still obliged to test your water throughput and give you the results - but they may charge you to do that!

oldwiring

Thanks for info. BTW what would be adequate?

fwor

As I said, I couldn't find any published figure for my supplier.

However, I think most suppliers aim for 9l/min. Given that your test is via a tap, and their test should be without such a restriction and so should get greater flow, it looks as though you are on the borderline, and they would say it is "adequate".

Incidentally my recollection was wrong - older properties often have 1/2" ID pipe - I was no doubt remembering the OD.

ChrisCobra

Dont know if this helps but in all the construction jobs ive worked on use this..

http://www.pipestock.com/mdpe-pipes-fittings-valves/mdpe-pipe-pe80-sdr-11-wras-approved/

25mm alkathene water connections for standard household supply.

oldwiring

Thanks all; I'll leave it now