water pressure to bathroom shower dropped, after washing machine installed in kitchen

PaulBrighton2021

Before my washing machine was installed (by supplier), the water pressure in bathroom was quite good - shower feeds from the  combi bath taps.

Since the, pressure dipped maybe 20-30% ?   Just about OK, but would like a bit more oomf, as it were.  WM water feed is tapped into down piping, under kitchen sink. 

When I come to get bathroom refurbed, is it worth getting a separate feed plumbed in, or just a pump shower unit? 

(ground floor apartment, I have a Worcester greenstar boiler, if that helps). 

Slinky

When they installed the washing machine presumably they turned the cold feed off. Have you tried turning that tap in case they didn't open it back up fully?

Le_Kirk

I would ask are you using the W/M at the same time as having a shower?  There is no reason (other than the post above yours) why it would affect it.

casper_gutman

How did they tap into the piping to add the feed to the washing machine? Did they add a self-cutting tap to the existing pipe run rather than modifying the system the old fashioned way by shutting off the water and adding a new tee?

If so, I wonder if the cut out disc of copper could be still in the system somewhere , obstructing the water flow.

Bendy_House

PaulBrighton2021 said:

Before my washing machine was installed (by supplier), the water pressure in bathroom was quite good - shower feeds from the  (1) combi bath taps.

Since the, pressure dipped maybe 20-30% ?   Just about OK, but would like a bit more oomf, as it were.  (2) WM water feed is tapped into down piping, under kitchen sink. 

When I come to get bathroom refurbed, (3) is it worth getting a separate feed plumbed in, or just a pump shower unit? 

(ground floor apartment, I have a Worcester greenstar boiler, if that helps). 

Hi Paul.

(1) What's a 'combi bath tap'? Do you mean a bath shower deck mixer? Or does 'combi' refer to the boiler you have?

(2) The W/M supply was tapped into the pipe under the sink? I presume this was just the cold (because most/all W/Ms are this way). Could you post a photo of the type of 'tapping' fitting they used?

(3) Ok. If the reduction of flow from your shower only happens when the W/M is also on, then you know the answer - don't run the W/M whilst you are having a shower. If the reduction in shower flow is a seemingly permanent result of having the W/M added, then something else is amiss. Such as the type of fitting they used having an inadvertent effect of partially blocking the flow. Or, as Slinky says, they didn't return things to their previous state - espec the mains stopcock.

Q - what TYPE of boiler do you have? Combi? Or do you have a hot water cylinder?

NSG666

As per Slinky - make sure the main incoming stop tap is fully open before looking at anything else.

PaulBrighton2021

Le_Kirk said:

I would ask are you using the W/M at the same time as having a shower?  There is no reason (other than the post above yours) why it would affect it.

hah! usually used at different times!  will check the stopcock, for main feed..