Advice needed on power shower/pump

[sparksburnout]

I have moved into a property that has a mixer shower off the hot water, but the header tank is not high enough and the flow is poor. I am looking at a power shower, do i have to have a separate pump(s) or are these combined ones any good? I am looking at the Triton ones, they just look like an electric shower but have an integral pump for H&C and seem like a good solution? The electrical side is no problem BTW, any ideas would be welcomed, I can get to the back of the shower and everything else easily, can't fit an electric shower very easily as the cable run is a nightmare.

 

[PlumbBobBob]

Power shower is ideal for your situation (with integral pump)

 

[sparksburnout]

Power shower is ideal for your situation (with integral pump)

Is it better to use one of these rather than a twin impeller pump and separate mixer/shower head? Are there any advantages/disadvantages between the two?

 

[Best]

QUOTE=sparksburnout;692067]Is it better to use one of these rather than a twin impeller pump and separate mixer/shower head? Are there any advantages/disadvantages between the two?[/QUOTE]


The all in one power showers tend to be cheaper than a pump & separate shower valve, for first advantage.
They also tend to be easier to do the plumbing to.
You don't have the nuisance, where sometimes a separate pump is connected to most supplies & pump will start if a loo is flushed, for example. - Real problem if the cistern is passing a little water down the pan, as pump will keep automatically turning on & off!
Disadvantages are they are generally not as powerful as a lot of the twin impeller pumps (but that actually may be an advantage as they are usually more than plenty power).
Also you won't have powerful flow at other taps, that a separate twin pump would provide.
I don't know about Triton power showers, but I do know of Mira & Aqualisa.
Mira power showers can go for years & easily fixed also. I know of one Mira used every day that is 20 years old & all it has renewed is the motor/pump once after 8 years & brushes once just recently.
Aqualisa, I am not fond of, but still work well.

 

[helpsy]

Triton with integrated pump only requires 75mm head if I remember!

 

[helpsy]

You will need to adjust the pipework to suit MI.

 

[sparksburnout]

Thanks for your detailed answer! Do you think it is a good idea to fit a cylinder flange to prevent problems with air bubbles, as a matter of course? I must say the combined units seem like a very good idea

 

[helpsy]

I usually fit a Surrey flange or run the vent pipe diagonally and tee off the bottom of it, which are ok for MI. You could always use an Essex flange or Warix.

 

[kris]

I favour the mixer with the twin impellor as pumps have came down in price and you can usually find one at a good cost. Travis perkins have one at the moment @ £60. Both types of showers have there pros n cons and the pipework for both is basically the same , power has to be run in for both, the mixer only has the cartridge to maintain and the external pump has more power but this is only my opinion. The flange is ideal for both setups .

 

[sparksburnout]

I usually fit a Surrey flange or run the vent pipe diagonally and tee off the bottom of it, which are ok for MI. You could always use an Essex flange or Warix.

Forgive my ignorance what's MI?

 

[Best]

Forgive my ignorance what's MI?

MI = Manufacturers Instructions