We'd like to remind Forumites to please avoid political debate on the Forum. This is to keep it a safe and useful space for MoneySaving discussions. Threads that are - or become - political in nature may be removed in line with the Forum’s rules. Thank you for your understanding.
We're aware that dates on the Forum are not currently showing correctly. Please bear with us while we get this fixed, and see Site feedback for updates.
Water Pressure

MouldyOldDough
Posts: 2,365 Forumite

Is there a minimum permitted water pressure ?
Our shower (over bath type) often does not have adequate pressure to fire up the boiler - particularly at 8am ! At other times - sometimes - it is fine !
I think that the number of new housing devvelopments around us is responsible
0
Comments
-
Check your water supplier website. Your issue is flow rate not pressure and the minimum in my area is 9l per minute so check yours at the tap nearest the main cold water feed.
Your boiler may also be the incorrect for the flow rate. Check the specifications of the boiler.
0 -
MouldyOldDough said:Is there a minimum permitted water pressure?The GSS standard is 7 metres of water gauge (0.7 bar) at the boundary of your premises - typically at the water meter or stopcock where you take responsibility for the supply pipe.See also section 5 of this pdf:Any pressure drop after this point will be within your own pipework, and your responsibility to deal with.N. Hampshire, he/him. Octopus Intelligent Go elec & Tracker gas / Shell (now TT) BB / Lebara mobi. Ripple Kirk Hill member.
2.72kWp PV facing SSW installed Jan 2012. 11 x 247w panels, 3.6kw inverter. 33MWh generated, long-term average 2.6 Os.Not exactly back from my break, but dipping in and out of the forum.Ofgem cap table, Ofgem cap explainer. Economy 7 cap explainer. Gas vs E7 vs peak elec heating costs, Best kettle!0 -
QrizB said:MouldyOldDough said:Is there a minimum permitted water pressure?The GSS standard is 7 metres of water gauge (0.7 bar) at the boundary of your premises - typically at the water meter or stopcock where you take responsibility for the supply pipe.See also section 5 of this pdf:Any pressure drop after this point will be within your own pipework, and your responsibility to deal with.
It is caused by a lack of pressure in the mains
Proven by the fact that it is worse in the morning when everyone is showering
They build all of these new homes but don't uprate the water supply
This has only been like it for about 5 years. Prior to that, no issues0 -
When I had a combi boiler installed earlier this year the thing I kept reading about was having enough pressure and flow coming in to the house. Obviously it was less important with the previous vented cylinder and heat only boiler.As it happens I do have a good supply but did go to the trouble of buying a pressure gauge (available from plumbers merchants and Amazon etc) and checked the pressure at a couple of points in (and outside) the house.I also filled a bucket of a known capacity and checked how long it took to fill it (litres per minute)... thus confirming the flow (as opposed to the pressure).One other thing that might not be immediately apparent .....I have a Mira thermostatic shower which ran off the old cold water tank in the loft and the old hot water cylinder in the airing cupboard. Obviously it worked via gravity and was dependant of the head of water from the cold water tank in the loft. The flow out of the shower was OK for us but lots of people would think it was a bit meagre. BUT the flow from the shower used to decrease over time due to the inlet filters in the Mira shower unit getting partly blocked with crud. I cleaned them every six months or so and the flow was better thereafter (until the filters blocked up again ... and so it went on).Now the combi is in there's no cylinder and no tank (obviously) and the shower is at mains pressure (give or take) and the shower is approx. a million times more copious. So much so Ive had to take measures to reduce the flow from the shower head by means of restrictors.The topic of combi boilers versus Unvented Cylinders used in conjunction with a System Boiler is one for huge debate, as you probably well know. I hated combis for years and years but now I have one I admit to having had a change of heart. But that's neither here nor there.1
-
ButtersUK said:When I had a combi boiler installed earlier this year the thing I kept reading about was having enough pressure and flow coming in to the house. Obviously it was less important with the previous vented cylinder and heat only boiler.As it happens I do have a good supply but did go to the trouble of buying a pressure gauge (available from plumbers merchants and Amazon etc) and checked the pressure at a couple of points in (and outside) the house.I also filled a bucket of a known capacity and checked how long it took to fill it (litres per minute)... thus confirming the flow (as opposed to the pressure).One other thing that might not be immediately apparent .....I have a Mira thermostatic shower which ran off the old cold water tank in the loft and the old hot water cylinder in the airing cupboard. Obviously it worked via gravity and was dependant of the head of water from the cold water tank in the loft. The flow out of the shower was OK for us but lots of people would think it was a bit meagre. BUT the flow from the shower used to decrease over time due to the inlet filters in the Mira shower unit getting partly blocked with crud. I cleaned them every six months or so and the flow was better thereafter (until the filters blocked up again ... and so it went on).Now the combi is in there's no cylinder and no tank (obviously) and the shower is at mains pressure (give or take) and the shower is approx. a million times more copious. So much so Ive had to take measures to reduce the flow from the shower head by means of restrictors.The topic of combi boilers versus Unvented Cylinders used in conjunction with a System Boiler is one for huge debate, as you probably well know. I hated combis for years and years but now I have one I admit to having had a change of heart. But that's neither here nor there.
The pressure is OK usually but not at 8am - it is clear that the water mains are not designed for the number of users of users., now so what will it be like in a few years when a new housing estate is built with 750 houses in it.0 -
Can't add anything other than suggest the obvious, to contact the water company. I did notice a reduction in flow a couple years ago and called them and they sent a bloke down to look at the stop tap in the pavement and he found that the washer has deteriorated and partly blocked the supply to the house. He did a live swap of the tap head and it was miles better. Maybe a bit of an obstruction? But otherwise I can't offer any more. I'd definitely call them (again?).
0 -
MouldyOldDough said:QrizB said:MouldyOldDough said:Is there a minimum permitted water pressure?The GSS standard is 7 metres of water gauge (0.7 bar) at the boundary of your premises - typically at the water meter or stopcock where you take responsibility for the supply pipe.See also section 5 of this pdf:Any pressure drop after this point will be within your own pipework, and your responsibility to deal with.
It is caused by a lack of pressure in the mainsI don't you've understood.Ther is a requirement that the water pressure in the communication pipe be at least 0.7 bar. If it isn't, you can complain and they should do something about it.However, if the problem is due to your pipework, it's your issue to deal with.Until someone comes to investigate, though, you won't know where the problem lies.
N. Hampshire, he/him. Octopus Intelligent Go elec & Tracker gas / Shell (now TT) BB / Lebara mobi. Ripple Kirk Hill member.
2.72kWp PV facing SSW installed Jan 2012. 11 x 247w panels, 3.6kw inverter. 33MWh generated, long-term average 2.6 Os.Not exactly back from my break, but dipping in and out of the forum.Ofgem cap table, Ofgem cap explainer. Economy 7 cap explainer. Gas vs E7 vs peak elec heating costs, Best kettle!1 -
MouldyOldDough said:QrizB said:MouldyOldDough said:Is there a minimum permitted water pressure?The GSS standard is 7 metres of water gauge (0.7 bar) at the boundary of your premises - typically at the water meter or stopcock where you take responsibility for the supply pipe.See also section 5 of this pdf:Any pressure drop after this point will be within your own pipework, and your responsibility to deal with.
It is caused by a lack of pressure in the mains
Proven by the fact that it is worse in the morning when everyone is showering
They build all of these new homes but don't uprate the water supply
This has only been like it for about 5 years. Prior to that, no issues
I had the reverse issue, where I had 7.4 bar of pressure and it was destroying my plumbing and water tank. I had to get a PRV installed.0 -
QrizB said:MouldyOldDough said:QrizB said:MouldyOldDough said:Is there a minimum permitted water pressure?The GSS standard is 7 metres of water gauge (0.7 bar) at the boundary of your premises - typically at the water meter or stopcock where you take responsibility for the supply pipe.See also section 5 of this pdf:Any pressure drop after this point will be within your own pipework, and your responsibility to deal with.
It is caused by a lack of pressure in the mainsI don't you've understood.Ther is a requirement that the water pressure in the communication pipe be at least 0.7 bar. If it isn't, you can complain and they should do something about it.However, if the problem is due to your pipework, it's your issue to deal with.Until someone comes to investigate, though, you won't know where the problem lies.0
Confirm your email address to Create Threads and Reply

Categories
- All Categories
- 348.3K Banking & Borrowing
- 252.1K Reduce Debt & Boost Income
- 452.4K Spending & Discounts
- 240.9K Work, Benefits & Business
- 617.2K Mortgages, Homes & Bills
- 175.7K Life & Family
- 254.1K Travel & Transport
- 1.5M Hobbies & Leisure
- 16K Discuss & Feedback
- 15.1K Coronavirus Support Boards