Unusual Shower Advice/Configuration!!!!

[stevo23777]

Hi All!

I recently bought a house with an en-suite shower room, the shower has conked out and I need to replace it. All makrkings had worn off the shower so I couldn't tell what it was to replace it. Now the plot thickens!!

I had a plumber around to quote for the work and asked him what type of shower I should replace it with. He had a look at the plumbing/electrics and started to scratch his head. Here is the configuration the previous owner had installed, either himself or professionally:

• Firstly the house is combi-boiler fed - Two showers a no-no!
• So he has installed a cold water tank in the loft to feed the en-suite by gravity.
• The cold gravity fed system, comes down to the floor in the landing cupboard where there is an extrenal pump pumping cold water to the shower.

My plumber thought this was a clever solution, however he also thinks it's illegal!! I would like to know:
a) If this is illegal
b) If not what shower should I be looking to install to replace the exiting shower? (Electric cable size dependent).
c) If this was your home and you wanted to ensure a powerful shower in the en-suite what configuration would you use given that running two showers off the combi will not work very well.

Your thoughts and suggestions are all very much appreciated.

Regards

Stevo

 

[chris watkins]

Hi & welcome,
Was / is the en-suit shower an electric one i.e. cold water supply only & heated by electricity (booster pump pushing water into the shower heater) ?
What size is the incoming mains supply to the house ? what happens to the mains flow rate with 2 mains cold water taps runing at the same time?

 

[stevo23777]

Hi & welcome,
Was / is the en-suit shower an electric one i.e. cold water supply only & heated by electricity (booster pump pushing water into the shower heater) ?
What size is the incoming mains supply to the house ? what happens to the mains flow rate with 2 mains cold water taps runing at the same time?

Hi And firstly thanks to your response.

I can only assume it was an electric shower as there is only a gravity fed cold feed being pumped by an external pump. I haven't tested the taps but I can tell you whilst in the other shower, mixer off the combi, when a tap is on in the en-suite the flow reduces significantly.

Regards

Adam

 

[chris watkins]

If the mains water supply is not adequate to run two showers simultaneously then this arraignment could be the answer, it is perfectly legal, you would only have to notify your water supplier if the pump draws more than 12 L/M, which it would not. Even with a 10mm2 electrical supply the hot water production on these showers is poor, if it was me I would be looking to remove the combi & go back to some form of storage of both hot & possible cold water but it will be dependant on your budget & on-site restrictions.

 

[Howsie]

Two showers on a combi is fine just not at the same time.