Do I need a shower pump?

[inneedofhelp]

Hello,

A plumber recently converted our bath tap into a shower mixer. The plumber advised me that there was enough pressure for the shower to work. After doing so we discovered that there is not enough hot water pressure for the shower to work. He is now suggesting a shower pump. We have a big boiler in a closet on the ground floor of our flat. The plumber is suggesting putting the shower pump close to the boiler. Will this solve the problem? I have been calling plumber and been getting mixed answers. Please advise.

 

[PlumbBobBob]

What sort of boiler do you have ? Is it a combi?

 

[IDCHAPPY]

I'm guessing you have a system boiler and a hot water cylinder.

 

[Plumbstar Tom]

I'm guessing you have a system boiler and a hot water cylinder.

I am hoping this is the case but why put the pump close to the boiler?



Do you have a hot water cylinder in the house with a cold water cylinder above it or in the loft?

 

[inneedofhelp]

It's not a combo boiler. It's one with a big tank that takes up a lot of space.

 

[inneedofhelp]

Hello Tom,

Not sure why he wants to put the pump so close (maybe that is the easiest. I just need the hot water in the bathroom. Regarding your question of cylinder, not sure how to find that out. It looks like there is cold water coming through to the top of boiler and another pipe leaving the boiler (which I assume is the hot water). Sorry, I hope this makes sense.

 

[T & H Plumbing]

big tank of what?

 

[galaxy_plumbing]

pic of your cupboard with the cylinder would help. pump would probably be situated there.

 

[inneedofhelp]

Yes I think that is the case.

 

[inneedofhelp]

water. I think it is a system boiler.

 

[inneedofhelp]

So the shower pump will increase the hot water flow to the shower? We have a system boiler.

 

[Plumbstar Tom]

Photo of your cupboard with hot water cylinder will confirm all to us.

Pump is best to be sited in there and then 'push' the water on dedicated feeds to the shower. Is the 'shower mixer' actually a shower mixer or is it a bath tap as well?

 

[Ray Stafford]

Hello,

A plumber recently converted our bath tap into a shower mixer. The plumber advised me that there was enough pressure for the shower to work. After doing so we discovered that there is not enough hot water pressure for the shower to work. He is now suggesting a shower pump. We have a big boiler in a closet on the ground floor of our flat. The plumber is suggesting putting the shower pump close to the boiler. Will this solve the problem? I have been calling plumber and been getting mixed answers. Please advise.

There are a number of possibilities here. Can we get some terminology straight first? When you say "BOILER" do you mean actually mean the boiler (the box where gas or oil is burned to make heat) or do you mean the cylinder - a (usually copper) container where the hot water is heated up?


1) If the cold water to your mixer comes from the main, and the hot water comes from a gravity fed cylinder, then any solution is likely to be a bodge. Even a well fitted pump won't guarantee a solution, as the mains pressure will vary.

2) If the cold water to your mixer comes from the same cold-water storage tank that feeds the cylinder (assuming that you have one) then a properly sited and well fitted pump should work nicely

 

[inneedofhelp]

Here are photo's of the tap and boiler. Please let me know if I should take detail photo's of the boiler with the cylinders. Thank you.

 

[Ermintrude]

Yep u need a nice Stewart turner pump or if your on a budget get a Graham's own brand one 'altec' it's a salamander in a different suit.

 

[PlumbBobBob]

that isn't a boiler it is a hot water cylinder

 

[inneedofhelp]

Thank you. Learned something new.

 

[inneedofhelp]

Hello Ray,

Sorry to take so long to respond. The plumber informs me that the cold water comes from the main. So should I not bother with a shower pump?

 

[E4gas]

Hello Ray,

Sorry to take so long to respond. The plumber informs me that the cold water comes from the main. So should I not bother with a shower pump?

You need a twin pump ,

 

[SimonG]

Find a new plumber.

 

[Ray Stafford]

Hello Ray,

Sorry to take so long to respond. The plumber informs me that the cold water comes from the main. So should I not bother with a shower pump?

If you have tank fed hot and mains fed cold, then you are always going to have problems with a mixer.

The best solution, is to re-pipe so that the cold is fed from the same tank as the hot, and so come into the mixer at equal pressure. Whether this needs pumping or not depends on a) the natural head - the vertical difference between the tank and the shower head and b) your desire for a high pressure shower.

So long as the head is more than a few feet, and if you don't feel the need for a blasting shower, and depending on the design of the mixer, it may be fine. Otherwise, pumping both sides equally will result in a good shower and should not cause problems at the mixer.

You can try pumping the hot only with a single impeller pump. However, the chances of getting the pumped hot to the same pressure as the mains-fed cold is pretty remote. Usually these solutions are bodges, which can work some of the time, but not others - remember that mains pressure will vary throughout the day, depending on local demand for water.

What you should absolutely NOT do, is put in a twin impeller pump and connect the tank fed hot to one side and the mains cold to the other. This will not work in the long run, and your pump will be toast in short order.

I always hesitate to say this, but I am a bit worried about the competence of your plumber. In shower pump terms, this is entry level stuff. If he can't clearly advise you, then maybe you should be looking for another.

 

[Ermintrude]

Find a plumber as the bloke u got is just a bloke not a plumber.

 

[Killy Bing]

Current plumber is a twit....or someone who has done a quick college course in plumbing therefore must be a plumber :doh:

use one of our lovely forum members in my humble opinion to get the job done right

 

[PlumbBobBob]

Post a request in the looking for a plumber section with your general location, and there may be someone from the forum who can have a look for you.