I recently moved into a mid-sixties bungalow that seems to have widely varying water flow at kitchen taps and bath tap manual mixer hand-held shower. This is noticeable on both hot and cold.
The bungalow has a Glow Worm 30 CSI combi-boiler that has had a history of problems but is currently working OK, least ways it gives good DHW and CH temp.
Typical static mains water pressure is between 1.5 and 4.5 bar, usually between 4 to 4.5 bar. It rises to over 6 bar when a tap/valve is closed quickly, with the peak being even higher. Typical, dynamic (?) pressure is between 0.5 bar (bath/kitchen taps full on) to 2.5 bar bathroom sink full on and bath mixer partially on. Flow rate at kitchen sink about 17ltr/min at 1.5 bar (1700ml in 6 seconds).
The main issue is with the bath tap manual shower mixer. After opening the bath tap and setting the flow (usually cold in my case) required for the shower then depressing the collar to divert water to the shower the shower works ok. However, the flow from the shower will frequently fall and the unit will revert to the bath tap outlet. If I then open the bath tap further and reset to shower outlet the flow after a short while will suddenly increase spraying water all over the bathroom if I don't have a good grip of the shower head.
A similar thing happens with the bathroom and kitchen sink taps; set either to the flow required then often after a short while of use, the flow will fall to a dribble then after opening the tap further the flow will suddenly rise to weigh more than is wanted. With the bathroom sink taps this causes the water to flood over the front of the sink and onto the floor, though I have restricted flow to these taps by partially closing their isolation valves.
I assume the problem is due varying mains water pressure. If this is the cause will fitting a PRV to the mains inlet, set to a lower pressure, reduce the problem? If not, what else could be causing the issue and how would I stop it?
The bungalow has a Glow Worm 30 CSI combi-boiler that has had a history of problems but is currently working OK, least ways it gives good DHW and CH temp.
Typical static mains water pressure is between 1.5 and 4.5 bar, usually between 4 to 4.5 bar. It rises to over 6 bar when a tap/valve is closed quickly, with the peak being even higher. Typical, dynamic (?) pressure is between 0.5 bar (bath/kitchen taps full on) to 2.5 bar bathroom sink full on and bath mixer partially on. Flow rate at kitchen sink about 17ltr/min at 1.5 bar (1700ml in 6 seconds).
The main issue is with the bath tap manual shower mixer. After opening the bath tap and setting the flow (usually cold in my case) required for the shower then depressing the collar to divert water to the shower the shower works ok. However, the flow from the shower will frequently fall and the unit will revert to the bath tap outlet. If I then open the bath tap further and reset to shower outlet the flow after a short while will suddenly increase spraying water all over the bathroom if I don't have a good grip of the shower head.
A similar thing happens with the bathroom and kitchen sink taps; set either to the flow required then often after a short while of use, the flow will fall to a dribble then after opening the tap further the flow will suddenly rise to weigh more than is wanted. With the bathroom sink taps this causes the water to flood over the front of the sink and onto the floor, though I have restricted flow to these taps by partially closing their isolation valves.
I assume the problem is due varying mains water pressure. If this is the cause will fitting a PRV to the mains inlet, set to a lower pressure, reduce the problem? If not, what else could be causing the issue and how would I stop it?
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