Hot Water and Water Pressure

[Iwishiknew]

Apologies for the length of this query. We moved into our house
and immediately replaced an electrical central heating system with an external oil fired Grant combi. Initially both hot and cold water pressure in the house was exceptionally powerful. We then refitted and modernised the bathroom. All the taps and toilet had high water pressure at this time, so much so that the water would rebound out of the sink and the bath would take minutes to fill.

A new shower cubicle was then added with a Mira thermostatic shower which we had had in our previous property and were please with.

Then problems began. We simply could not get hot water out of the shower, tepid at best albeit extremely powerful. The toilet also made a huge amount of noise when the chain was pulled but filled quickly. We were advised that both problems were due to the high pressure and so decided to have a pressure reduction valve fitted.

So we then had weak pressure upstairs in the bathroom and a hot weak shower and quiet loo!! Now if we turn the pressure up it sounds like the QE2 is coming into dock, particularly when demanding hot water. So we have had to keep turning the pressure down. For whatever reason we now have a situation where the water pressure is so weak the hot water is practically unusable, I can't run the bath as it takes hours to fill and this is now replicated to a lesser extent at the kitchen sink.

Over the past week when showering or attempting to fill the bath the hot water stops coming. Totally cold. We then have to turn the water off and on maybe four or five times for the demand to kick back in.

This does not however seem to happen downstairs were the hot water pressure seems to be stronger and constant in temperature, I'm assuming that distance from source is an issue.

All our problems seems to have started with the PRV. Can anyone suggest why this is happening, our boiler is only 3 yrs old and we hope that this is not the cause!!!

Thanks in advance

 

[bob the plumber]

its sounds like you have a total imbalance of water pressures based on where pressure reducing valves have been placed all round your system. Your best bet is to get a pro to take a look at it, and decide what your best option is. Just sounds like your hot and cold need balancing and as for the toilet...i would imagine that it will require a pressure reducer in the inlet to the ball/torbeck valve which are usually supplied with the toilet and put in on installation, hope this helps, but like i said get some to take a look and put it right

 

[Iwishiknew]

Thanks Bob. We only have one PRV where the mains enter the house. Going to get someone in ASAP and hopefully they won't blame our taps (apparently not suited to pressure, seemed to work just dandy prior to the PRV) like the last guy did!!

Being completely clueless, why would reducing the pressure on the mains affect the hot supply so severely whereas the cold is relatively unaffected??

Is this something that is balanced in the boiler??

Thanks again