Loft cold water tank keeps running out

HansGruber · Jun 17, 2019

Our bath and en-suite shower is fed from a cold water tank in the loft. My kids have decided they like the shower but stay in it a long time. This causes the tank to empty and airlock the shower pump. I then have to the disconnect and bleed the the cold water feed.

I there a way to make the water tank fill quicker so it doesn't run out? Can something be adjusted or will it require a new fill tap/valve? If so any idea how much this should cost?

Welder · Jun 18, 2019

Some observations:

As mentioned, your fundamental issue is an incorrect install in that EVERY pump manuf says double your cold water store to avoid this issue.
Plastic pipe is almost always problematic for showers. It restricts flow to much and a pump not getting enough water will cause the bearings to fail much sooner.
Personally, I feel the way the hot supply to the pump has been installed is adequate in that it is taken from teh very underside of the tank outlet. This means the ability to take air in in minimised. I'd prefer to see a slight lift on that pipe and similarly I'd prefer it to be in 22mm until close to the pump to maximise available water to the pump. That said, with it running from just a 25 gal tank, it's the least of your worries.
Noise is hugely reduced by mounting your pump on the very largest piece of traditional paving slab you can accommodate in the space. The highly dense concrete simply stops the vibration being transmitted through to the floor which is where most of your noise will come from. As rob said, you can indeed put a proper sound absorbing mat in too but at that point radiated noise and pipework vibration will be far more of an issue. This type of mat tends to be used for taking specific frequency vibrations out.
Personally I'd never fix a pump down. Far too much transmitted vibration. Just let it sit on the supplied feet but make sure they correctly and properly installed.

HansGruber · Jun 19, 2019

Thanks again everyone.

Aire · Jun 19, 2019

Quietest pump you can buy is the salamander ct force range. Their pumps run at 46db where the Stuart Turner monsoon runs at 51. Both very quiet compared to the cheaper models and exceptionally quiet compared to pumps of 10 years ago. No matter how or what pump you install though, you will always hear them when they're running.