Domestic Water Pressure

[bambam0074]

Hi All

This is my first post so apologies if I don't give sufficient information.

I recently moved into a 3 story 1930s large semi detached house. It is currently being served by a small combi boiler. The Boiler is situated in garage which is lower level than the ground floor of house (Garage floor is approx 1.5m below Ground floor of house.

The house was renovated back in 2008 and new plumbing was installed. The water inlet/stop tap for incoming water to the property is at the back of the house in the kitchen under sink. From the inlet there is a branch to serve the ktchen sink then a further pipe goes off to serve the rest of the house.

Have had a few people come out to price up fitting a system boiler and an unvented tank for hot water. The engineers have concerns about the water flow as it is around 10-12litres per minute at entry point.

One of the engineers has suggested a cold water tank and a pump, but I am getting conflicting advice hence coming here for further guidance.

If I understand right one of the engineers is suggesting that he fits a cold water tank in the garage along side the unvented hot water tank. I believe he plans to tap into the cold water feed in the garage (ideally trying to find a suitable point to interrupt the pipework before it goes anywhere else in house. Connect the cold feed to a cold water storage tank and then after the cold water tank add a pump to help increase pressure around the remainder of the house.

I believe he intends to leave the kitchen tap as is but tap in after that as the pipes run next to the garage before they go upstairs.

There is a bathroom on the top floor and middle floor both with showers and idea being is tha we can regulate the cold water flow to give good pressure to all bathrooms when in use.

Another engineer has concerns about doing this.

I am just wanting to know if the cold water tank and pump is something that would

a. Resolve the cold water pressure to rest of house
b. Is the right way to do it based on the current configuration.

The engineer did say he would fit a bypass to the cold water tank that would only come into use as an emergency should a problem arise with the pump and the cold water tank.

All advice and help much appreciated. My knowledge of plumbing is very limited so I need it spelling out in leymans terms

Thanks in advance..

 

[stevetheplumber]

yes that would work but have you considered getting an upgraded water main it may be more expensive short term but having a tank and pump is another item to fail at some point
you dont give a location but round here anything built in the thirties has iron pipework from the mains and getting on for 80 years old they tend to be down to a pin hole inside due to scale and corrosion so it will only get worse and eventually will not be enough to feed the tank and pump

 

[bambam0074]

Thanks for reply...

When I look at the stoptap the pipes on both sides are plastic so I assumed that it has been replaced at some point.

The engineers that have questioned the setup on the coldwater tank and pump have talked about conflicting flows. I dont understand how that would be the case though if the pump only feeds everything after the tank and the kitchen tap is the only outlet from the mains pipe before the tank.