Shower pressure

[Reggie2004]

I have just fitted a Triton 9.5kw shower upstairs. The pressure is not good and the shower is switching from hot to cold frequently. There is no water tank in the house so it runs of a rising main. Given the poor pressure can I fit a pump 1-1.4 bar to improve the pressure?

Regards Reggie

 

[WHPES]

No. Should be fed purely from the rising main.

Check your feed into the house.

Do you have a FULL BORE isolation valve onto the shower supply? Are your mains stopcocks (inside and outside) FULLY open?

 

[Reggie2004]

Feed to house is fully open and the shower has a standard 15mm isolater valve. The water board state that they are only responsible for the supply to the kitchen tap and that is OK. However, I am pretty sure it is less than 2.4 bar. The central heating system only builds up pressure to just over 2 bar. If I measure the pressure up stairs and it is less than 1 bar can I fit a pump?

 

[philtheflush]

no you cant it could be a blockage somewhere or an appliance ie washing machine dishwasher on that could affect pressure needs investigating

 

[john.bell55]

No. Should be fed purely from the rising main.

Check your feed into the house.

Do you have a FULL BORE isolation valve onto the shower supply? Are your mains stopcocks (inside and outside) FULLY open?

If you have a standard isolation valve then you do not have a full bore as WHPES rightly says. Check the installation instructions for minimum pressure for shower. If you have 2.4 bar as you say, you should also have this to the shower. If not then investigate why.

Cheers
jack

 

[Reggie2004]

No blockage to be found. Only have washing machine and that is off. Seems to be just poor pressure. The rising main tap presssure is the same as the others next door. we all have poor pressure upstairs being on top of a hill. The shower works OK in the summer and I thought a higher kw shower would solve the problem. TIA Reg

 

[secret squirrel]

Your isolator valve, is it the type that you turn the centre with a screw driver?

If it is then its NOT a full bore isolation valve, change this and it will help.

 

[john.bell55]

Your isolator valve, is it the type that you turn the centre with a screw driver?

If it is then its NOT a full bore isolation valve, change this and it will help.

Comap produce a full bore valve of the type you have described. £3.65 out of Screwfix.

Cheers
Jack

 

[Reggie2004]

Thanks guys

 

[WHPES]

2.5 bar should be enough. It may be your available flow rate which is a problem.

If all else fails you could change your shower unit to either a thermostatic mixer from your DHW and CW header tank, or fit a header tank and a Mira Elite pumped electric shower.

You cannot fit a pump onto a supply from the rising main.

 

[secret squirrel]

Your isolator valve, is it the type that you turn the centre with a screw driver?

If it is then its NOT a full bore isolation valve, change this and it will help.

Should have said "probably no a full bore iso valve"😀

 

[Reggie2004]

LOL....

I have bought one and will fit it tomorrow and see if it makes a difference.

 

[Reggie2004]

All is OK inasmuch as the shower is working. If anyone switches on a tap or flushes the toilet a loud noise is heard coming from the shower. My displeased daughter....

Thanks to all who assisted me. Reg