Traditional Boiler with Hot Water Tank - Can I plumb a shower?

FrankRizzo

Hi,

We have a traditional Boiler with Hot Water Tank. We have one bathroom with an electric shower which is very expensive to run.

Is it possible to tee off the bath hot and cold and mount a thermostatic valve and shower head? Would our hot water tank provide enough pressure or would water just drip out the shower head?

Any help appreciated!

Thanks

Section62

FrankRizzo said:

Is it possible to tee off the bath hot and cold and mount a thermostatic valve and shower head? Would our hot water tank provide enough pressure or would water just drip out the shower head?

It depends on how high the cold water storage tank is relative to the shower head, and the specification of the shower valve and head.

Unless the tank is high up in the loft, or the bathroom is downstairs, you would probably end up needing a pump to have a decent showering experience.  A pump will cost from about £120 (plus fitting etc).  Or you can get a power shower which integrates the pump and mixer valve in one wall mounted box.

Apodemus

That will largely depend on the height difference between the tank and the shower head.  If the pressure is too low, you could build in an electric shower pump, but that would marginally reduce the savings from switching away from the electric shower.  

grumbler

It will work, but the flow will be very low, especially on the first floor and when the show head is at the top, close to the ceiling.. That's what shower pumps exist for.

FrankRizzo

Thanks both! That is really helpful.

A pump would be the preferred option - I take it that could be installed within the vicinity of the hot water tank, although the tank is in the bedroom cupboard and I assume it will be noisy?

I appreciate that it probably won't save any money for the time begin, however our electric shower is 18 years old and I doubt its got much life in it either. Also our bath really needs replaced so would be good to put the thermostatic shower in while thats getting done.

macman

Even with rising energy prices, the extra cost of a ten minute electric shower is not going to be recovered for some years after the cost of the shower and install.

Rodders53

You can get pumped showers that use the feeds from vented HW and CW tanks e.g. https://www.screwfix.com/p/mira-go-rear-fed-white-chrome-power-shower/25745

Trouble you may have is pressure imbalance from cold (if mains fed) and the vented HW.

Expensive alternative is changing the HW tank for an unvented tank (so mains water pressure for both H and C).  That's the rolls royce solution though (and can lose the CW loft tank).

Examine the payback times based on your shower use and kWh costs of heating the HW.

NB Unvented tank and power shower pumps may result in more water use than an electric shower.  Factor that in the cost/payback also.

FrankRizzo

Yeh I know what you mean. Unfortunately the bath needs replaced and wallboards will be mounted at the same time. Plus the current electric shower is 18 years old and is no longer white and has went yellow.

FrankRizzo

Rodders53 said:

You can get pumped showers that use the feeds from vented HW and CW tanks e.g. https://www.screwfix.com/p/mira-go-rear-fed-white-chrome-power-shower/25745

Trouble you may have is pressure imbalance from cold (if mains fed) and the vented HW.

Expensive alternative is changing the HW tank for an unvented tank (so mains water pressure for both H and C).  That's the rolls royce solution though (and can lose the CW loft tank).

Examine the payback times based on your shower use and kWh costs of heating the HW.

NB Unvented tank and power shower pumps may result in more water use than an electric shower.  Factor that in the cost/payback also.

Thanks!! It would be great to remove the cold water tank in loft. Would an unvented tank work on a heat pump boiler system (if i get heat pump in a few years time)?

grumbler

Rodders53 said:

Trouble you may have is pressure imbalance from cold (if mains fed) and the vented HW.

In this bathroom mains pressure is in the electric shower only. All other cold water pipes are low pressure - the same as hot water.

FreeBear

One option for increasing water pressure is one of these pumps - https://showerpowerbooster.co.uk/

Various options available starting at ~£84 for a single pump up to £200 for twin pumps on both hot & cold.