More water pressure... but only for showers and only for one user?!

Kiran

Just checking, how old is your boiler, any plans to change it in the near future? A combi (although not ideal if you want to run 2 showers at the same time) or an unvented cylinder would allow you mains pressure hot water. Obviously if a new boiler isn't on the card the the pump option is definitely viable 

sarahTT

ThisIsWeird said:

Models with the wee pump inside the unit, so usually much easier installation:

At ~£550, it ain't cheap: https://www.aqualisa.co.uk/aquastream-power-shower-white-chrome.html (Best price, Amazon).

Less than half the price, but you'd need to compare specs: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Triton-Showers-Silent-Running-Shower/dp/B0851BMG9L/ref=pd_day0fbt_d_sccl_1/261-0022907-9156104?

And I'm sure there are other options.

Hey, thanks for that! Didn't even know these things exist... always thought these showers also heat the water.

£550 is a bit steep but the other option looks perfectly feasible. Will have hubby talk to the plumber we normally use as to what he thinks.

This would be a perfect solution Again thanks!

@Kiran: no plans to change the boiler anytime soon but thanks.

Albermarle

Kiran said:

Just checking, how old is your boiler, any plans to change it in the near future? A combi (although not ideal if you want to run 2 showers at the same time) or an unvented cylinder would allow you mains pressure hot water. Obviously if a new boiler isn't on the card the the pump option is definitely viable 

Plus a new system as you describe would mean that an line pump, or the units linked above, would be redundant/have to be replaced.

carly

We had a Mira power shower  ( our water set up was almost identical to yours re pressure )    for many years until we changed the bathroom.  It worked well and was over 15 years old.  However , quiet it was NOT.  You are literally standing next to the pump with the noise that that entails.  We now have a mixer unit with the pump in the airing cupboard on the landing, it's much much quieter in the bathroom but the flow is not as good. If I had known about such things at the time I would have specced a better pump, but my installer chose the pump .

ThisIsWeird

sarahTT said:

ThisIsWeird said:

Models with the wee pump inside the unit, so usually much easier installation:

At ~£550, it ain't cheap: https://www.aqualisa.co.uk/aquastream-power-shower-white-chrome.html (Best price, Amazon).

Less than half the price, but you'd need to compare specs: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Triton-Showers-Silent-Running-Shower/dp/B0851BMG9L/ref=pd_day0fbt_d_sccl_1/261-0022907-9156104?

And I'm sure there are other options.

Hey, thanks for that! Didn't even know these things exist... always thought these showers also heat the water.

£550 is a bit steep but the other option looks perfectly feasible. Will have hubby talk to the plumber we normally use as to what he thinks.

This would be a perfect solution Again thanks!

@Kiran: no plans to change the boiler anytime soon but thanks.

These 'power-showers will be the easiest and cheapest option for you, even tho' it ain't cheap. I suspect you'll get what you pay for, so the Aqualisa will be quieter, nicer-looking, and possibly provide a better flow than the Triton.

Triton used to have a different model - perhaps they still do? - that would likely fit in between these two.

They do work - I've had experience of them. Whilst not full 'power shower' - rain heads and all that malarkey - they are far superior to instant electric showers, for example. As Carly says, tho', the motor is in the unit, so they do buzzzz. (Again, I suspect the Aqua will be a lot better in that regard).

Bottom line before considering them is, test what your current shower flow rate is, and then check what these deliver. 

The other option - a separate shower booster pump - will almost certainly also require a new thermostatic shower mixer - the thing on the wall - and that will add a few extra £undred.

Grenage

Normally you would just chuck something decent like a Stuart Turner pump in by the hot water tank.  They're under £200, and they will trounce the 'power shower' all-in-one units. 

Noise levels are almost always down to poor installation.  When we moved it, the previous owners had one on a tiny shelf hallway up the airing cupboard.  It turned the cupboard into a speaker. 

Repositioned onto a concrete block on the floor and it's very quiet. 

An in-line pump is the cheapest and best solution.  They are also easier to repair and swap out.

ThisIsWeird

Wot Grenage says ^

My only caveat is due to the existing shower controls seemingly being a couple of manual 'taps' - that could be quite unpleasant to use, delivered at 2 bar or so.

fluffymuffy

We had this problem where we lived 10 years ago. We installed a shower with a booster pump and the hot water came from a cylinder fed from a tank in the loft. The shower was great for a few minutes before the water ran out - the header tank wasn't able to refill the cylinder fast enough. We would have been better off with an electric shower which heats the water as well as boosting it.

Grenage

The problem with electric showers is that flow isn't great, and even poorer in winter.

Our pump was fine unless the other half had a shower that lasted more than 20 minutes. I just added a second tank.

ThisIsWeird

fluffymuffy said:

We had this problem where we lived 10 years ago. We installed a shower with a booster pump and the hot water came from a cylinder fed from a tank in the loft. The shower was great for a few minutes before the water ran out - the header tank wasn't able to refill the cylinder fast enough. We would have been better off with an electric shower which heats the water as well as boosting it.

A known issue, and may require a Surrey or Essex flange installed in the top of the hot cylinder.
But it would make sense in the OP's case to perhaps have isolating valves supplying the shower, which could be tweaked down to limit the max flow.