Do shower pumps allow water to flow in a power cut?

[Lusi83]

This might be a stupid question ...(have tried a web search but can't find an answer - so either a really stupid question or not wording it correctly ...)

If you had a water pump fitted (vented cylinder and header tank) and there was a power cut or the pump failed would the water 'cut off' or would it still come through just at a lower (normal) pressure/flow rate?

 

[Newboy]

If the pump doesn't run then you may get a trickle of water but certainly not enough to be useful.

 

[Agile]

It depends totally on the available head of water.

If its over one floor then a useful flow might be achieved but usually only a small trickle.

Tony

 

[HERTS P&D]

Yes water does flow, my 4 year old likes to have a shower with the pump off as it is is too powerful for him.

Andy

 

[Lusi83]

Thanks! So it would be ok temporarily...
Posted another thread about my dad dithering about how to increase the flow/pressure to shower - wasn't going to have a pump and now another plumber is persuading him a pump might be best ... he is getting such mixed advice!
He has decided he doesn't want unvented now as he likes his current system cos he has some water stored even in the event of the water being off...now he is fretting that in a power cut with a pump he won't have water either

 

[longdogs]

Something I have done in the past is to fit a by-pass into the pipe work. If the electric fails, simply change the valves and the water will flow as normal. Its also useful if the pump fails and you are waiting for a new one to be fitted.

 

[big-all]

just make sure the header tank is big enough to handle the pumps requirements or you will run out off water

 

[Lusi83]

That was one of the reasons he wasn't going down the pump path...but another plumber has said he should be fine...
His flow isn't terrible so tanks should be filling quite fast...(guess if they have a long shower they might get a cold rinse off!) but I'll remind him about that ...