Pumping the mains supply

[larold]

Probably controversial I know but is it one of those laws that have little or no practical application or should you really not do it for safety/hygiene reasons?

I do love a good shower.

Larold.

 

[Howsie]

I believe you're OK until you get to12l/m. If you need the water and don't impinge on the WR then why not.

 

[BLOD]

Fitting an accumulator might be your answer.
Do you know what your mains pressure is & what flow rate you have ?

 

[fagsanbooz]

remember, you can only 'pump-out' what you can 'draw-in' so also depends on existing mains size, flow rate and pressure, personally may also look at accumulators or a break-tank system. From regs point of view you need to consider that a pump fitted directly to mains may 'draw' water from other supplies. i.e. neighbours or other supplies in your property, this 'could' cause 'backflow' and that will start a real problem with water regs

 

[larold]

The accumulator looks great as a system, would actually seriously consider having one on the future, but I'm only a few months in on a new combi boiler so just a hundred quid pump looks like a goer...

I'm third floor on a small block of flats and pressure on the boiler reads 0.5, but isn't this only referring to the closed pressure system feeding the rads?

Not sure about the flow rate either, would have to research that...

Cheers for the replies.

 

[larold]

Thanks fagzanbooz...

I suppose what I'm trying to decipher is as long as the least that happens everytime I take a shower are the couple of surrounding flats experiencing a slight drop in pressure then I'm sure I can live with that 😉... But I don't want to cause serious problems with 'backflow' do you have any more info on that per chance?

Oh and is there an easy way of measuring pressure and flow rate on the system?

 

[fagsanbooz]

Difficult to say without seeing but i take it you are going to pump 'cold mains' to shower and to combi boiler and so 'hot' will effectvely be pumped as well? You will only get a certain amount through boiler and no more!! Also don't want the two supplies at shower to be too different pressures otherwise will cause other probs. Other people in flats will be affected if your mains is a 'shared supply', it's not just their pressure, you 'could' (depends!!) draw in water from their flats!! this can lead to the probs mentioned earlier
Manufacturers have info in boiler instruction booklet for max flow rate etc. Mains flow rate can be checked by putting a flow cup under mains tap.