Can I use a water pump to increase shower pressure?

[inneedofhelp]

I live in a flat where the cylinder is located in a closet. Last year I had a shower mixer installed. Unfortunately there is not enough hot water pressure so we are unable to use the shower. I was told that a pump can be installed either in the closet or under the tub which will remedy the problem. Will this work?

My plumber is telling me since the cold water is coming from the main and the hot water from the cylinder there is no balanced pressure therefore it will not work. I thought the pump will fix this problem.

He is suggesting either installing a electric shower or a new cylinder.

Please help!!!!

 

[Chalked]

If he is g3 registered, get him to quote fir a pressurised cylinder. Far better than noisy, unreliable pumps. You will have ( depending on water pressure) a great shower.

 

[plumbersm8]

Hi

If you have good mains cold pressure and are wanting to fit a pump to increase the hot water pressure only you should look at the single Negative head pumps. Salamander Pumps have two types which I have used and they have worked fine. You could try the ESP80cpv which is a single 2.4bar negative head Centrifugal pump or the CTforce 20SU which is a single negative head Regenerative pump. The Negative head pumps seem to work best as they don't rely on a flow rate to activate they actually initiate when a pressure drop is noticed on the system, as the hot is pumping against the cold water then these have been my preferred option rather than the single positive head pumps!!

 

[Riley]

You will really struggle to get balanced h&c with a pumped hot and mains cold. If you can do it, go for an unvented cylinder you will be much more satisfied

 

[WaterTight]

Does the flat have a loft with a large water tank in it? Or does your cylinder have a removable lid on top?

If the former - and there are couple of metres between the loft tank and the shower - you could run a dedicated cold feed to your shower which will balance the pressues of hot and cold. Often it's not the cylinder fed hot being too weak, it's the mains cold over-powering it. If there at least a couple of metres between the loft tank and the shower (the part where the water actually comes out, not the controls) there are showers that will give a reasonable shower without needing to add a pump or install an unvented.

Depends on the situation/siting/etc in any case. Just another option. I did this the other day in a flat and it only took a couple of hours but access was really good.

If your cylinder has a removable lid, ignore my yabberings.

 

[TVP&H Ltd]

Getting a balanced hot and cold is easy.


First determine what the incoming main pressure is.
This will allow you to be able to get the correct size pump.
Then fit a PRV on the cold main to shower and set it to match that of the chosen pump.

Stuart Turner pumps are quieter and more reliable than Salamander if fitted correctly.