Help please - question about my water system

jc808

Just had a bathroom installed upstairs. Installed a basic shower tray etc and tiled, all looks nice.

As I suspected, due to a combination of low water pressure (mains) and my having a combi boiler, I have really piddly shower pressure. (About the same as my really weak electric shower in my previous house)

Due to the unusual layout of my house, I have an airing cupboard next door to my new upstairs bathroom, which houses the cistern and all pipework. It is relatively easy to install new pipework etc before the hall is boarded and replastered....

How do I get better shower pressure? Am I right in assuming that the thermostatic mixer I have running off the combi is not ideal?
Would a gravity fed system (ie a loft tank and pump) do the job?

I have just replaced my mains water pipe (Which did yield slightly better water pressure)

Googling I saw this - now this looks interesting, but im very dubious about it - in any case I thought it was illegal to pump the mains?
http://www.showerpowerbooster.co.uk/improve-shower-pressure-combi-boiler/

southcoastrgi

it's not illegal to pump the mains it's just got to be under 12 ltrs/min, which is what these pumps (& others) are designed for

jc808

interesting - do you think its worth getting something like this then? My water flow is really crap!!

southcoastrgi

maybe but if your water pressure really is that bad then a combi wasn't the right choice for your house in the first place

jc808

was here when i moved in about eight months ago -

My mums house has a combi for the CH system and an Instantaneous water heater for the hot water.
Do you think such a thing would be appropriate for the shower only? Not bothrerd about low pressure for cold water (Hosepipe etc), hot water (washing hands, etc except running bath which im timing now, but if it takes a few minutes longer to run then... who cares?) or toilets.

Just the shower really.
Thankyou for all your help so far

jc808

with a gas fired IHW/ mini boiler fitted to a storage tank is there a name for this type of system please?

brightontraveller

There are a multitude of reason for low pressure and ways to increase it
shows some solutions
http://www.plumbcenter.co.uk/wcsstore7.00.00.168/ExtendedSitesCatalogAssetStore/images/products/AssetPush/DTP_AssetPushHighRes/std.lang.all/hu/re/Grundfos_WPressureBoosting_Brochure.pdf

jc808

OK ive asked SEW to come out and check my presure, possibly increase it

Is it possible to have an Instantaneous Water Heater/ tank combo just for a shower?

smudger1964

You could try one of these it has increased the water flow in my shower..http://www.ecocamel.com/

just an idea