Trying to improve supply flow/pressure to a shower

[CPdiyer]

Hi, I run an electric shower which is supplied by an 15mm pipe from a link in the property.
The property has adequate pressure but low flow due to the house being fed from an old lead pipe which can/will not be changed for other reasons at this time.
The shower works OK just! would this improve if I pulled a 22mm pipe as close from the supply as possible direct to the shower??

My other choice was running some form of hot supply of a tank somehow but the property has a worcester 30si combi boiler and no tank. Any thoughts would be great thank you.

 

[Dan Robinson]

There is next to nothing you can do for an electric shower other than get one with more kW's and that will probably mean a bigger electrical supply.

They are shyte.

 

[CPdiyer]

I kind of feared that it may be a lost project, could anyone point me in a direction to have a hot water storage tank that could be supplied by a combi or am I going about this all wrong, I basiclly like a shower that imitates Niagara Falls?
I can do the electrics and pipework but not sure what the solution is.
My pressure is ok but flow rate is the issue.

Any info greatly appreciated.

 

[fluxeyfingers]

It's possible to add a tank to a combi by adapting it into an S-plan system. Make sure the combi feeds at least one hot water outlet though.

 

[Chaard]

This may or may not be helpful but I had problems with my shower recently.

I took the shower head off where it meets the hose and there was a small rubber bung in it with 3 tiny holes.

i assume this was to reduce water flow so immediately removed it and now have a deluge on demand.

turns out it also sealed the shower head/ hose connection so i modified the bung with a Stanley knife and now its a washer.

might be worth investigating.

 

[picasso]

Put in a water tank and pump the cold supply to your combi, with a 30kw boiler you will get a decent shower.

 

[CPdiyer]

Thank you Chaard, I read elsewhere here some time back and sorted that one out first but with no luck.

I think the water tank is the option, Picasso - when you say put in a water tank do you mean in the following order mains to cold water tank to pump to combi boiler?

I am researching all methods as i have decided to restart the whole room and want some form of mixer shower at the end

 

[picasso]

Yes mains to tank and then pumped from tank to combi boiler, if you pump the cold supply to the shower as well you will have a balanced supply which will give you a more stable shower temp.

 

[CPdiyer]

Thank you - food for thought.

 

[CPdiyer]

After a little more reading I decided to check my flow rate, the simple way with a jug and a stop watch, and found the following from a kitchen tap close to the supply

cold 8.6 ltr per minute
Hot 7.5 ltr per minute

Now the boiler should give between 10 and 12 on the hot supply, I have read about these pumps you can attach to give a constant 12ltr on the supply would this be a valued investment?

 

[Dan Robinson]

What is the the pressure?

Those pumps are limited to flow and pressure as I understand them. They will shut down/by-pass themselves when they reach a certain pressure or flow...

 

[CPdiyer]

Not sure at this stage but when I last had the water company out they said the pressure was good but the flow is poor due to the lead pipe supply - suggested they would replace the outside stop and I replace the inside, which was done but has made little difference.

According to the literature this type pump works on flow rate only which is the problem

http://www.salamanderpumps.co.uk/pumps/home-boost

 

[Dan Robinson]

Please note that the HomeBoost™ is
designed to boost incoming water flow
under low pressure conditions. It cannot
overcome restricted incoming pipework
and replacement water pipes should be
installed in this scenario.

I have a vague recollection that if your pressure is over 1.6bar the pump won't function.


For a laugh I did their e-learning course - got 100% correct on the pre assessment. Then the course narrator said I should be able to improve on this at the post assessment stage that's reassuring.

 

[fluxeyfingers]

For a laugh I did their e-learning course - got 100% correct on the pre assessment. Then the course narrator said I should be able to improve on this at the post assessment stage that's reassuring.

 

[Dan Robinson]

I would prefer this one if I have to have such a device;

http://www.stuart-turner.co.uk/products/flomate/mains-boost/


Wonder why Salamander say they are the only ones that produce these - they know about Stuart turner's offering.