Shower power - am I being unrealistic?

[jez9999]

Hello all.

Here's the situation: when I moved into this house, I was beholden to what was installed. What was installed was a combi boiler (Ferroli Modena 80 E), and a crappy electric shower. The electric shower gave out a mediocre 'power' (I won't use the terms flow rate or pressure, as I'm describing a purely subjective shower experience here) and I was advised that the best way to get the 'power' up to the best level was to scrap the electric and go with a mixer shower straight off the combi. So, when I recently had my bathroom renovated, that's what I did.

The 'power' is a bit better now, but I'm still not fully satisfied with it. I'm aware that many people would probably consider my shower just fine, but I like a REALLY powerful jet of water from my shower, like you'd get at a quality hotel! Why might my shower be feeling a bit 'weak', still? I just measured the flow rate and it more or less matches what the manual says; I get about 10 litres of water per minute heating it up to 38C. Is it all in the showerhead? It's quite a big showerhead, and maybe it's not putting the water under enough pressure so it doesn't jet out fast enough? Or am I just never gonna get the kind of power that you would in a hotel? How do they get such a 'power shower' experience in hotels?

 

[bengasman]

For a "big" shower, you need a big combi, yours is about as small as they come.

 

[electronicsuk]

While it's more than enough to provide a satisfactory shower in terms of being able to wash yourself, 10 litres a minute isn't going to give you anything comparable to the shower in a quality hotel. If you simply want more powerful jets and you aren't too fussed about the flow rate, you might find that an adjustable shower head with a minimum number of jets open to be more to your liking.

 

[ianniann]

How do they get such a 'power shower' experience in hotels?

Big tanks

 

[simond]

Plate heat exchangers and booster pumps often used in hotels.

The OP needs a bigger combi and possibly a better cold water supply.

 

[newbuildinstaller]

unvented cylinder will (depending on your incomming mains) 18litres at 3 bar pressure = big shower

 

[jez9999]

I feared as much. I knew my plumber was talking out of his arse when he said combi boiler size didnt make much of a difference apart from big houses with multiple bathrooms. People should stop saying that a direct mains connection via a combi is 'good for showers' - it isn't particularly good for power showers.

That said, how much difference is a smaller shower head likely to make?

@simond: how could I measure the cold mains supply? Turn on the garden hose tap to the max and measure the output in a minute?