Low mains pressure

[Reltub]

Hi,
I have recently visited a customer who wants a combi boiler fittting but the problem is the area has low mains water pressure. At the minute they are only getting 8-9 Litres/min at their mains cold water taps. Can anyone recommend a solution to this ie booster pumps etc.

Thanks in advance

 

[Simon F]

why not keep it simple, as is?
(possibly an unvented cylinder? no not sufficient flow)
what is the pressure?

 

[Reltub]

He wants to remove his airing cupboard and make the bedroom bigger, I have suggested moving it all into the loft but he said he would prefer a combi if possible and the whole system needs replacing so it would probably work out cheaper even with a booster pump.

 

[quality]

why not keep it simple, as is?
possibly an unvented cylinder, what is the pressure?

The pressure is irrelevant if only 8-9 LPM is measured

 

[Simon F]

The pressure is irrelevant if only 8-9 LPM is measured

yes, thanks for correcting that, wasn't thinking straight. it is a very low flow rate, typically need about 20 lpm

 

[Reltub]

Anyone ever fitted a pressure booster then?

 

[Destroyer2813]

U cant boost straight from the mains so you would have to do it via a buffer tank then pump

 

[quality]

The first port of call would be to your local water board to see if they can increase your service and also to find out what pressure/flow rate should be supplied based on where you are and what your paying for

 

[plumbgeek]

The first port of call would be to your local water board to see if they can increase your service and also to find out what pressure/flow rate should be supplied based on where you are and what your paying for

You can now buy a pump to boost your mains pressure which is legal and relatively cheap. It's called home boost and you can find it at Plumb Center.

 

[Ray Stafford]

Yep - its a Salamander product link here

Their rep was in yesterday trying to flog it to me.

Would appreciate views on whether there will be much demand. Looks like a very useful niche product to me - the sort of thing that you want to know exists, but wouldnt necessarily expect to be in stock. However, if you tell me different...

 

[kozak1968]

Have you put a pressure gauge on the main to check static and dynamic pressure. Could be blocked pipework restricting flow or just a stopcock not open fully..... worth a try.

 

[jam1979]

could also be a leak on the mains supply pipe

 

[neily01]

would check out cold main as flow is very poor. need 25 ltrs a minute min for megs. we have fitted various systems accumulators with the mains booster pumps and groundfoss foss pump stations. were not great, i would use accumulators without the booster if you have got a pressure of about 1.5-2 bar and correct pipe sizing. all a bit over the top for a combi i would think

 

[Ray Stafford]

but unfortunately at he moment it can not be used on a unvented cylinder.
Paul

Hi Paul

Thanks for coming on the forum with that.

Just out of interest, whats the issue that makes it unsuitable for Unvented? Is it simply that the 12 litres is insufficient for the sort of demand that people tend to put on that sort of system?

Secondary question - is it suitable for combis that have some inbuilt storage? I know they range from a very small capacity (5 to 10 litres like a Baxi 105i or Chaff Calydra) right up to units that are really boilers and unvented cylinders wrapped up in a single casing. Just interested to know how careful we have to be in recommending them.

Ta

Ray

 

[BLOD]

Stuart Turner do one as well called the flo-mate.
It needs 1 lpm to activate the flow switch.