Help bath mixer taps with shower low pressure

[Sacul]

Hi.
I'm having issues with my bath taps. I moved into a new house which only has a bath, I noticed that the pressure from both hot and cold taps on the bath is really good so I purchased mixer taps with a shower on them.
I've never changed a tap before so decided how hard could it be..... After a few leaks a busted knee, elbow and ripped tshirt.. it was harder than I thought. I got it done though but the pressure is stupidly low. Before with the 2 single taps I could fill the bath in minutes. Now with the new mixer it takes about 20+ minutes and the shower has no pressure either.

Have I done something wrong or is the problem with the taps? I just don't understand how something with such high pressure can change to literally nothing.

Thanks

 

[Riley]

Problem is the taps. They won’t be suitable for a low pressure system

 

[Harvest Fields]

As above. Check the pressure needed for them. It will be in the instructions

 

[Sacul]

Ah I see. I'll have another look in the shop and see what I can find. Hopefully something a bit more suitable.

Thanks

 

[Burger]

What type of system do you have? Combi boiler, system boiler open vented? If it's open vented then as above you could have an issue with the pressure rating of the taps - I know the Lidl ones are only suitable for high pressure systems. If it's a Combi you may have twisted flexi's if used or is your stopcock fully opened?

Also don't confuse pressure with flow rate.

 

[Rob Foster]

Some taps have inserts which might have to be removed in your case...check if the destructions mention this or look at the spec on internet or call their technical advice line.
Rob Foster aka centralheatking
busted knees and sore fingers are part of the job description but you will be a better fella for having a go.

 

[Sacul]

Ive added a picture of my airing cupboard.
So correct me if I'm wrong. I have a high water flow but low pressure, if I put taps on with restricted holes I don't have the pressure to force the water through to get the same flow rate?

 

[Welder]

Correct (essentially). You need taps specifically designed for low pressure 0.1bar. Unf there is no proper definition of low pressure so many are advertised as such but do not work. Those selling normally have no idea either.

In this instance you must stay away from 1/4 turn taps and stick with the multi-turn variety.

With such low pressure its extremely unlikely that you find a shower to work off the taps without installing a pump on the hot supply at least as that has the lowest pressure of all.

 

[Sacul]

Ok. I think in starting to understand. I read something about low pressure shower heads.. do these actually work?

 

[Welder]

Ok. I think in starting to understand. I read something about low pressure shower heads.. do these actually work?

Its not the head. The diverter valve spring is the prob.

 

[Harvest Fields]

Its not the head. The diverter valve spring is the prob.

Not enough pressure to make it work

 

[Sacul]

It's sounding like I'm definitely going to need the pump to get the shower to work properly then.

 

[Sharp Point]

Ooooof!! Look at that cold feed to the heating, blockage waiting to happen.

 

[Harvest Fields]

That is a giant airing cupboard

 

[Stigster]

That is a giant airing cupboard

I wonder why the installer came all the way down and back up again before joining the CH pipework? Probably just to get the valve down lower within reach without having to get on a stepladder I suppose? Even so it could surely have been routed differently so it doesn't have that beautiful "silt trap" arrangement.

Or maybe it's a combined cold feed/vent and they had trouble with pumping over so added that in as a restriction in which case the vent can be isolated by closing that gate valve which is not cool!

 

[Sacul]

To be quite honest I'm not sure what any of it does. I'm still learning how to turn the water off properly as the hot turns off completely but the cold still trickles when fully closed.

Also I checked the box and the taps I fitted is for minimum 0.5 bar.... I think that might be my problem. I found a 0.2 mixer with shower, will that work?

 

[Welder]

To be quite honest I'm not sure what any of it does. I'm still learning how to turn the water off properly as the hot turns off completely but the cold still trickles when fully closed.

Also I checked the box and the taps I fitted is for minimum 0.5 bar.. I think that might be my problem. I found a 0.2 mixer with shower, will that work?

Maybe. Flow however will be rubbish.

 

[Sacul]

Maybe. Flow however will be rubbish.

What on? The taps, shower or both?

 

[Riley]

Taps maybe shower definitely

 

[Riley]

If you want what you’d call a decent shower you will need to look at alternatives rather than just a new tap

 

[Sacul]

Like a power shower?

 

[Riley]

Power shower, pump, combi boiler, unvented cylinder. The world is your oyster if you have the urge (and money) to sort it

 

[Sacul]

I do have the urge but not the money haha

 

[Welder]

I do have the urge but not the money haha

Quite understand. What kind of budget might you have?

 

[Sacul]

Quite understand. What kind of budget might you have?

Well really I got these taps because they were cheap but obviously the wrong ones so I either replace my new taps with my old ones and just buy a shower which I think fitting myself will be a nightmare as I have no soldering experience plus would need to buy the tools to do it or buy new taps with a shower and pray. I really don't know what to do. At this moment in time I could probably squeeze 200. I've just spent around 1500 redecorating and furnishing the kids rooms so funds are running low