How to improve feeble shower flow?

Dubber_2

Hi All
My partner and I have just moved into a rented property and the shower in the ensuite bathroom is very feeble to say the least. I have quite long and thick hair and it seems impossible to get all the shampoo/conditioner out of it without standing in there for hours.

What are the options for improving this, is there anything we could try fairly cheaply to improve it or is it a case of needing to have a pump fitted? Our landlord is really good about changes being made to the house to improve it so I think I could approach him and ask for a contribution to the cost of fitting this if it is the only option.

A bit of info about the system (I'm not very technically minded so this is a rather basic explanation). We have a hot water tank in the airing cupboard and a cold water storage tank in the loft. The shower is a stand up glass one in our ensuite and has a mixer knob which only seems to do heat rather than the ones I've seen that you can set the heat and change the pressure. Its not an electric one.

Any help or advice much appreciated.

Plumberman

Sounds like you have a gravity fed mixer shower supplied from the CWT in your loft. The pressure is determined by the height of the tank above the shower.

Presuming there is no problem with the pipework, your options are..
Raising the height of the tank in your loft (dependant on space being available above it)
fitting a pump
changing to an electric shower that runs off mains pressure.

Dubber_2

Sounds about right, I'd imagine the tank isn't that far above the shower at all, the pressure in the taps upstairs isn't great either but that doesn't matter as much as the shower.

From your list, the pump sounds like the least invasive of the 3, is this something that is fitted in the airing cupboard where the HW tank is or in the ensuite? (sorry for asking daft questions if I am, just want to get a general idea of what we could do and roughly how much it might cost before approaching the landlord).

ormus

half decent pumps start at about 100/120 quid. plus fitting.

Plumberman

The pump is fitted on the pipes that feed your shower (one from the CWT in the loft and the other from the HW cylinder) possibly in the airing cupboard if there is room.

A pump is a good solution but could be costly, not only for the price of the pump and plumbing costs but also to have the pump connected to an elecs supply.
All three options may be pricey, it's impossible to say how much without seeing the set up. Sorry if this is a bit vague

moonrakerz

If you go for a pump, don't get one with too high a pressure. It will empty you hot water tank in next to no time - then you are left with soapy hair and lots of high pressure COLD water.

zzzLazyDaisy

In my previous house I had a pump fitted to provide decent pressure for the shower. I can't give an indication of cost as it was done as part of a bathroom refurbishment and in any case it was years ago.

But it powered a power shower and I used to stand under it for ages - we never had the problem of water running cold, so I think you'd have to spend a lot of time or have a really powerful pump for this to be a problem (unless you have a smaller than average cylinder). Worth discussing with the contractor though.

hth

Oldsoak

Get a plumber round to give you a quote. Depending on how much work is involved and if the pump is a double feed(ie hot and cold being pumped) it will vary wildly between £200 - £400ish. Sorry to be vague but like I say get a plumber to see the job and explain exactly what needs doing and how much it will cost.

keystone

moonrakerz wrote: »

If you go for a pump, don't get one with too high a pressure. It will empty you hot water tank in next to no time - then you are left with soapy hair and lots of high pressure COLD water.

Its not the HW cylinder you need to worry about emptying - its the CWST. If the cylinder is empty then the tank will be too.

OP - get it pumped. You'll need to repipe the shower so that the pump gets separate hot and cold feeds from any other drawoffs and ensure that the CWST has a minimum capacity of 50 gallons. Use a Stuart Turner or Techflow pump.

Cheers