Wider pipe from mains worth it for shower pressure?

[Matt789]

Hi
Civilian here. I've bought / am renovating a Victorian house with two bathrooms, 1st floor and 2nd floor (loft conversion). My builder says I need to get Thames Water to fit wider pipes from the mains (from 15mm to 22 or higher, he's replacing all the internal pipework already), otherwise I won't be able to run both showers simultaneously (which is not ideal with a family). At the moment he says that if I run 1st floor shower, 2nd floor will just dribble...Thames Water are quoting close to 5k... Would that definitely work though? I understand it will improve flow rate, but will that make a difference to the pressure, or at least to whether the shower doesn't dribble! Thanks for any clues.

 

[lame plumber]

get a plumber in, might be cheaper to have cwcs in attic, and a plumber should be able to run new supply from stopcock in road for a lot less than £5k

 

[Dotty]

Ask your plumber (NOT the builder!) about a Salamander Homeboost.

HomeBoost | What is HomeBoost? | Find out how to boost you mains water pressure and flow by using Home Boost Pump

 

[Koogatubac]

Get them to upgrade to a 3" main that will cover your pressure and have fun letting the builder do the plumbing. Mostly likely will be all speedfit or any easy work, get a proper plumber who can do a proper, longer lasting, guaranteed, professional job

 

[Killy Bing]

Let the builders build and the plumbers plumb.

i cringe when i see 95% of builders plumbing.......

 

[Phil_Plumb]

hahaha i do too, all they use is JG or Hep20 or just cheap nasty crap, get a Plumber in to do the job, afterall you wouldnt let a dentist work on your brain would u?

The same principle applies.

Builders build. Plumbers Plumb!

 

[SimonG]

Have you seen the Thames water quote? or has the builder just told you?

 

[snowhead]

Victorian, so most likely Lead service pipe?

Find a plumber, he'll explain the (financial) advantage of having an existing lead service pipe.

 

[Howsie]

Where are you based Matt?

 

[Irish]

Yeah i think that's Thames water average price I had job in Hampton similar scenario the also got a 5k quote, I dug it out and laid a new one and back filled it all in one day didn't charge 5k though, get a plumber to do it waaaay cheaper

 

[supper plumb]

I can run mains from stopcock in pavement to house if needed

 

[AlexGas]

Get someone in who can calculate loading units for your house – this will determine the mains pipe diameter to your dwelling - to give you satisfactory flow rate.

 

[Howsie]

Get someone in who can calculate loading units for your house – this will determine the mains pipe diameter to your dwelling - to give you satisfactory flow rate.

Is there any other way? 😉

 

[Matt789]

Thanks all. I guess builders who plumb aren't too popular on this forum! I believe he does have a qualified plumber up his sleeve. The 5k quote from Thames Water is for changing the 2m of pipes from the mains to the stopcock in the pavement (most of it seems to be for suspending 5 parking bays for 5 days...). I'm looking into whether it's lead and could therefore be paid for.

Still not 100% clear on my original question though: whether wider pipes might increase shower pressure?

 

[SimonG]

Not necessarily, Thames water might be giving you all you can get already. You need to ask Thames water what benefit they 'think' you will get imho

 

[Howsie]

Thanks all. I guess builders who plumb aren't too popular on this forum! I believe he does have a qualified plumber up his sleeve. The 5k quote from Thames Water is for changing the 2m of pipes from the mains to the stopcock in the pavement (most of it seems to be for suspending 5 parking bays for 5 days...). I'm looking into whether it's lead and could therefore be paid for.

Still not 100% clear on my original question though: whether wider pipes might increase shower pressure?

Width gives you almost zero increase in pressure. LMGTFY.