Low hot water pressure on new tap

The_Governor

We've just had a Blanco Nelson tap fitted in our new kitchen and the water pressure is pretty low, the tap requires 4 metre head, I reckon it has it but the pressure is too low for sensible use.

I'm thinking of adding a pump just for that tap, is there such a thing as an in-line pump that I can fit to a single tap (all the others are absolutely fine), and if so where can I buy it?

I'd prefer something i can fit myself than chasing around for a plumber as well...

Any and all help is much appreciated...

plumb1_2

The_Governor wrote:

We've just had a Blanco Nelson tap fitted in our new kitchen and the water pressure is pretty low, the tap requires 4 metre head, I reckon it has it but the pressure is too low for sensible use.

I'm thinking of adding a pump just for that tap, is there such a thing as an in-line pump that I can fit to a single tap (all the others are absolutely fine), and if so where can I buy it?

I'd prefer something i can fit myself than chasing around for a plumber as well...

Any and all help is much appreciated...

High pressure tap on a gravity system

Yes you can fit a inline pump for a single tap, google stuart turner pumps, as i am not chasing round for you:D

The_Governor

I was told that the nelson was fine with both high and gravity systems? In fact I'm sure it says as much on their site?

Thanks for the tip though, I've been googling for ages but it's all abut knowing the search terms!! :beer:

plumb1_2

Yes it does state they are suitable for low/high pressure, but some of these taps just dont give enough flow.
Have you got any kinks in the pipes

BobProperty

plumb1 wrote:

Yes it does state they are suitable for low/high pressure, but some of these taps just dont give enough flow.
Have you got any kinks in the pipes

I'll have 10p on a kink in the flexi

The_Governor

plumb1 wrote:

Yes it does state they are suitable for low/high pressure, but some of these taps just dont give enough flow.
Have you got any kinks in the pipes

That's the one, definitely no kinks I've had a right good look.

Who's Bob going to pay his 10p to then?

BobProperty

OK then, are there flexi's on the tap? If so, are they ordinary ones, or large bore?

BobProperty

Blanco say .2 bar or approx 2 metre head.
http://www.blanco.co.uk/test/specsheet.php?product_code=tblanconelson3300

(You can't believe everything people say on these internet forums , I'll have a word with them over on diynot )

I think it might be cheaper swapping the tap than getting a pump.

ozskin

Often taps need a balanced supply so fitting an inline pump may work but could cause probs. I see many taps today advertised as low pressure when they are no such thing. Genuine low pressure taps work on 0.1 bar pressure approx 3 foot head. many companies advertise 0.2 or 0.5 bar as low pressure, we even had one manufacturer try to pass 1.0 bar (ie approx 33 foot head required) as low pressure. While wide bore flexis are infinitely better you are best using rigid copper (wide bore) tap connectors. You may be surprised at the difference these can make. We always ask clients what water systems they have and what pressure, sadly many sellers do not have a clue.

The_Governor

Thanks for all the replies.

BobProperty, I'm not sure I could tell the difference between normal and large bore flexi, but they look fairly wide to me, but then I guess they could be a thick as opposed to wide tube?

I've got some that are much thinner on our downstairs loo mixer tap and that runs fine...

As it happens I did post on DIYNOT but didn't get a lot of joy...

I see what you mean about swapping the tap, trouble is how do I know the one I pick won't have the same problem? We were originally going to get the Abode Fliq tap which is a bit smaller.

I should also have mentioned that the Blanco has one of those pull-out heads, not sure if that makes a difference?

BobProperty

The_Governor wrote:

.....As it happens I did post on DIYNOT but didn't get a lot of joy...

I know. It came up when I Googled Blanco Nelson.
What you said on there must have been preying on my mind as I had a thought about this problem while I was out an hour or so ago. Can you take the mixer nozzle insert out of the end of the tap spout, and try the tap without it? If it is still poor after that (and there isn't some crud in the end of the spout) then I really do think it is down to the tap design. Which exact part did you remove to check the hot water pressure / flow ?