New bathroom - poor water flow

ITtim

Hi All, We've just had our bathroom re-fitted. Its taken a while and had many issues along the way!


We purchased an Orchard Wharfe basin and freestanding bath tap pack from Victoria plumb. Our plumber has fitted it and I noticed that the flow of water is really poor. The old taps we had on the bath which were from the 80's had a good flow. These new ones are not much better than a dribble and it will take an age to fill the bath.


Our plumber said it could be the taps are designed for high pressure systems and although compatible the VP website states 'gravity fed' systems as well which is what we have.



I know we could pump it but that will add cost and noise that I don't want. Have I got any other options? Are the taps at fault?

Le_Kirk

the taps could be "at fault" without being faulty. If, as your plumber says, they are for high pressure and you have low pressure water supply, why has he not suggested changing them?

ITtim

well we purchased the taps so I guess he's just doing as instructed, they are listed as for gravity fed which is as i understand it a low pressure system. My expectation was that they would have the same flow of water as the ones I took out.

Moss5

https://victoriaplum.com/product/orchard-wharfe-basin-and-freestanding-bath-tap-pack
The 'Dimensions and Specifications' drop-down list states min pressure = 1bar. Your cold tank would need to be 10-meters above the taps to provide 1-bar pressure.
Sorry to be the bearer of bad news.

ITtim

I guess i'll need to get the pump diverted then. Which i don't have a major issue with other than the noise as its located in a cupboard in our bedroom. Although i bought the tap I would have thought the plumber might have drawn my attention to it.

ITtim

Just a thought, if this tap is suitable for gravity fed systems, isn't is misleading if it then needs the tank 10m above it? Do i have a claim against VP for that?

kerri_gt

ITtim wrote: »

I guess i'll need to get the pump diverted then. Which i don't have a major issue with other than the noise as its located in a cupboard in our bedroom. Although i bought the tap I would have thought the plumber might have drawn my attention to it.

Is it not possible to buy an alternative tap that is suitable for your system?

phill99

Has the plumber used flexi connectors for the taps? If so, check that they aren't kinked, or that the bore is not too small. Some have a bore of just 10mm, while some have a 13mm bore which will make a 30% difference in flow rate.

ITtim

kerri_gt wrote: »

Is it not possible to buy an alternative tap that is suitable for your system?

its all been fitted now, plus there doesn't appear to be much choice.



I think we'll hook it up to the same pump used by the shower.

Ruski

phill99 wrote: »

Has the plumber used flexi connectors for the taps? If so, check that they aren't kinked, or that the bore is not too small. Some have a bore of just 10mm, while some have a 13mm bore which will make a 30% difference in flow rate.

This tap/filler will have flexis as the supply built in, with a 1/2" fitting on the end, and do indeed have a very small bore - in summary it's a cheap and nasty fitting, but what do you expect at that price!

Pump is the way to go, no fault to 'plumber'.
HTH (and anyone else considering these fillers!)

Russ

ITtim

maybe not the fault of the plumber, but an experienced one could maybe have suggested that this issue might occur.