VERY Low Hot Water Pressure - HELP REQUIRED

fatpoo

My hot water pressure is terrible!

I live in a first floor flat. The hot water is produced by an immersion heater in a cylinder that sits at floor level. The cold water tank is directly above it. i have mixer taps on the bath, basin and in the kitchen (which is raised by a few steps in comparison to the bathroom where the cylinder lives.

On all 3 mixer taps the hot water trickles out at best. It takes ages to get any hot water out at all and the bath takes 20 minutes to fill with the right amount of hot water, i then have to add the cold separately as there is not 'mixing' goint on in my mixer taps.

All valves are fully open, and i know that the 2 bathroom taps are for high pressure systems, which mine is obviously not. Instead of buying new taps to check if that is the problem i am considering a pump of some sort.

A plumber has recommended a Grundfos 15/90 booster

http://www.grundfos.com/web/homeuk.nsf/Webopslag/DMAR-5UTLDA

(pumps to 0.75 bar which he reckons should help and wont empty the cylinder too quickly. My own research (and speaking to Salamander) led me to the Salamander ESP 80 CPV single ended pump.

http://www.plumb-warehouse.co.uk/ishop/968/shopscr1298.html

This is a 2.4 bar single ended pump which i am told (by Salamander/Pumpwise) is the only suitable pump for me as it will also do for the kitchen, all other pumps are for showers only.

The plumber has also said that this pump can not be fitted in a bathroom without being encased in some type of lockable cupboard.

What is the difference in these 2 pumps (and indeed between a shower pump and a booster pump) and which one would be more appropriate for my problem? is 2.4bar overkill, is 0.75 bar enough?

any help would be much appreciated.

Cardew

Have you read this thread?

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=316778&page=2

As you will see I have had the Salamander RG40 fitted. It sits on the floor in my airing cupboard. The pipes are connected via Anti vibration mounts and supply is via a 13 amp plug.

I can't see what the plumber means by not emptying the tank too quickly - you just don't turn the taps fully on!!

fatpoo

Cardew wrote: »

Have you read this thread?

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=316778&page=2

As you will see I have had the Salamander RG40 fitted. It sits on the floor in my airing cupboard. The pipes are connected via Anti vibration mounts and supply is via a 13 amp plug.

I can't see what the plumber means by not emptying the tank too quickly - you just don't turn the taps fully on!!

Yes, i read that before i posted but i still cant put the 2 pumps i have to choose from, into perspective.

The Grundfos (0.75 bar) is around £100 delivered and the Salamander (2.4bar) is around £200

I dont have the knowledge to make a choice between the 2 pressures. If the Grundfos' 0.75 bar will be sufficient then i can save myself £100. I dont want to be pinned down when showering but its just pathetic at the moment.

Am i comparing apples with pears? do these 2 pumps do the same thing so will either do the job?

Cardew

Well my Salamader RG40 is 1.3 bar as is around £160 and would seem more than adequate for what you describe - which is the same problem as I had.

Looking at the link you gave for the Grundfos it appears to be a COLD water booster set with tank, pump, microproccessor etc - presumably wrong link?

The 15/90 pump is between 0.5bar and 0.75 bar according to the spec and at flows up to 5.2 gals/min is more than adequate for a good shower - although I hate the use of the term ''up to' as that covers anything from 0.1 gals/min upwards.

Sorry can't advise if that would be sufficient pressure for your pipe run/taps/shower - I suspect it would.

I certainly believe the ESP80 with 2.4bar would be 'overkill'. As said above the RG40 with 1.3 bar is sufficient for a long pipe run in my house(50ft) to the same sort of taps as you have.

Incidentally my plumber advised that you must not have too much pressure to 'normal' shower(i.e. non-power shower) as it will cause damage.

fatpoo

Cardew wrote: »

Well my Salamader RG40 is 1.3 bar as is around £160 and would seem more than adequate for what you describe - which is the same problem as I had.

Looking at the link you gave for the Grundfos it appears to be a COLD water booster set with tank, pump, microproccessor etc - presumably wrong link?

The 15/90 pump is between 0.5bar and 0.75 bar according to the spec and at flows up to 5.2 gals/min is more than adequate for a good shower - although I hate the use of the term ''up to' as that covers anything from 0.1 gals/min upwards.

Sorry can't advise if that would be sufficient pressure for your pipe run/taps/shower - I suspect it would.

I certainly believe the ESP80 with 2.4bar would be 'overkill'. As said above the RG40 with 1.3 bar is sufficient for a long pipe run in my house(50ft) to the same sort of taps as you have.

Incidentally my plumber advised that you must not have too much pressure to 'normal' shower(i.e. non-power shower) as it will cause damage.

Yes, you are right about the link; i have ammended it now so it should show the upa 15/90.

The technical people at Salamander recommended their esp as they said this is the only single ended pump that is positive and negative head. Like you say, 2.4 bar is probably overkill. I dont know that the Grundfos is so now i am really confused.