Best power shower method from Combi boiler

Fixitrite · Posted: Wed Oct 13, 2010 11:45 am

Hi
Please excuse me if this has been asked 1000 times before, did a search but didn't find anyting on Wiki.

There are 4 of us in the house ( bungalow ), shower room and separate bathroom but bath is very seldom used, family use the shower in the morning.

I currently have a combi boiler and electric shower. I'm going to re fit the shower room and want to fit a shower with some decent pressure behind it.
What is the best method to get good water flow , do I have to fit a hot water tank in my loft ?

Thanks.

Kenny.

kevplumb · Posted: Wed Oct 13, 2010 11:58 am

depending on water pressure /flowrate

you can run a mixer shower direct from a combi

other option is storage tank / hot water cylinder connected to the combi on a "s" plan and a shower booster pump

Fixitrite · Posted: Wed Oct 13, 2010 5:10 pm

Thanks Kevplumb
But what do I need to do to give me a power type shower from a combi boiler ?

kevplumb · Posted: Wed Oct 13, 2010 6:02 pm

the second option with a suitable mixer

mysteryman · Posted: Wed Oct 13, 2010 7:06 pm

I have to disagree. As long as you have a good mains water supply, a combi with a good combi-compatible shower will give you all you need, with far less complication.

Fixitrite · Posted: Wed Oct 13, 2010 8:39 pm

Thanks guys.
I think what I'll do is fit a temp rubber shower head to my bath mixer tap and see what the flow is like.

kevplumb · Posted: Wed Oct 13, 2010 9:17 pm

mysteryman wrote:

I have to disagree. As long as you have a good mains water supply, a combi with a good combi-compatible shower will give you all you need, with far less complication.

did i miss something

ianniann · Posted: Wed Oct 13, 2010 9:31 pm

Nobody seems to have addressed the question which is being asked, which is about fitting a power shower to a combi. The answer, and I think most people will agree, is that you don't and you can't. Water from a combi is (should be) at a good mains oressure and will produce a good shower through a simple mixer or more complex balanced or thermostatic shower. Adding a pump to drag hot water directly from a combi is a thing not to be contemplated lightly.

Your description implies further questions. You might want to run two showers at once. Is your combi powerful enough? Is your mains pressure and flow rate good enough? Are you prepared for the expense and trouble of fitting a supplementary tank and pump to provide enough water for two showers and maybe taps too? You might want to sit tight with your electric, pathetic though it may be.

kevplumb · Posted: Wed Oct 13, 2010 10:41 pm

err who mentioned fitting a power shower to a combi directly

Fixitrite · Posted: Thu Oct 14, 2010 11:05 am

So, if I go down the fitting of a tank, what is the simplest method of getting a system .
Is it a hot water tank with electric immersion coil with a pump supplying the shower mixer valve ?

I wont be running two showers at the same time, nor a bath and shower but someone could run the hot tap in the kitchen when shower is on.

muggles · Posted: Thu Oct 14, 2010 9:55 pm

Hang on we all seem to be getting confused here. You should be able to run a shower mixer direct off your combi. Get a combi-compatible mixer, no need to go to all the trouble and expense of a hot water cylinder and pump unless your mains pressure is absolutely carp

kevplumb · Posted: Thu Oct 14, 2010 10:01 pm

kevplumb wrote:

depending on water pressure /flowrate

you can run a mixer shower direct from a combi

other option is storage tank / hot water cylinder connected to the combi on a "s" plan and a shower booster pump

where did i go wrong

oh yeah nobody bothers reading the FULL thread

potterballs · Posted: Fri Mar 11, 2011 8:43 pm

i am just putting in a new bathroom and am looking at the pod type shower with the body jets and putting in a combi , however i want the shower to be quite powerful so what do you recon? i like the pod idea but i want a powerful shower like you get in a hotel

ironman1 · Posted: Fri Mar 11, 2011 8:58 pm

potterballs wrote:

i am just putting in a new bathroom and am looking at the pod type shower with the body jets and putting in a combi , however i want the shower to be quite powerful so what do you recon? i like the pod idea but i want a powerful shower like you get in a hotel

Unvented hot water cylinder is a good way to go , if mains pressure is an issue then a break tank can be used to boost pressure...................any combi will struggle to supply the demand you're after , Vaillant 937 included.

Most domestic dwellings will require a 32mm main in order to cope with these type situations.

potterballs · Posted: Fri Mar 11, 2011 9:32 pm

when i had the idea of putting in a new bathroom i was excited! now not so much! here is a spin off from origonal question, i realy like the pod with the steam and the body jets , however i do want a powerful shower, and i want to put rads in the upstairs rooms in the house (i have no central heating at min) abd i wanted to get rid of the cylinder cupboard in bath room, now half of what i want requires a combi and half requires a cylinder with a pump if im not mistaken? now unfortunately i dont have brandsons wallet and i havent got a clue about plumbing as you can probably tell so here is the biggie.....

WHAT DO I DO??