boiler question

keyboard

In my parents house,they have a combi bolier,however when someone runs the tap in the kitchen, the water and someone has a shower at the same time, the shower person gets a reduced flow of water.

Can some explain why this is happeneing and how to fix it so peopelcan run the tap downstairs and someone else can have a shower at the same time.

thanks

mr.broderick

Strange place for this question but while we're here..

I have one word for you ..Megaflo

nick22abdn

Hi,

Normal problem that causes this is the order in which the shower and sink are plumbed in. Sounds like both are plumbed in in line, with the sink being plumbed in ahead of the shower. Whilst the tap is off there is full pressure going to the shower. Once the tap is opened pressure is reduced to the shower causing a problem.

Check with a plumber but they should be able to take the shower off of a separate feed straight from the boiler eliminating the problem.

clutton_2

poor water pressure ??

Canucklehead

Good morning: What you have described is one of the disadvantages of a combination boiler... see here for more info http://www.diyfaq.org.uk/plumbing/combi.html

HTH

Canucklehead

pcwilkins

keyboard wrote: »

In my parents house,they have a combi bolier,however when someone runs the tap in the kitchen, the water and someone has a shower at the same time, the shower person gets a reduced flow of water.

Does this problem occur only when the hot kitchen tap is turned on, or does it happen when the cold is turned on?

If its just when the hot tap's on, it's because the boiler does not have enough "oomph" to supply both the hot tap and the shower at the same time. When your just using the shower, you might be asking the boiler to heat (for example) 10 litres per minute (figures may be ludicrously high or low but are just for illustration). If you turn on the hot tap as well you are asking the boiler for (say) 15 litres per minute. The boiler can only supply 10 litres per minutes, so 5 litres per minute goes to the tap, leaving only 5 per minute for the shower. In this case either fit a more poweful boiler, fit an electric shower which heats water for itself, or simply don't use the tap when someone's in the shower.

If it happens when the cold tap is on, then the problem is simpler --- the cold tap diverts water away from the boiler, so the boiler does not get the same amount of cold water going in, so it obviously can't produce as much hot water. In this case you may live in an area of low water pressure. Contact your water supplier who may be able to help. Alternatively don't turn on the tap when someone's in the shower!

Yes, this is a strange question to ask in this area of the forum but there we are. I'm sure someone will correct my response if I'm wrong.

Peter

silvercar

Read the link in canucklehead's post, this is exactly what is meant to happen.

Personally, I yell at the kids that I'm turning the kitchen tap on if they don't get out of the shower!