Pressure/flow reducing valve

Redhotferrari · 15 Jan 2008

Hi Guys,

Major problem with mixer/shower bath taps, big imbalance of water pressure due to mains cold fed and tank hot fed. Shower is useless, cant get any temperature out of it as the cold simply blows the hot out!

Is there a valve of some description that I can fit to the cold pipe before the taps under the bath so that the flow is restricted therefore giving a proper mix and shower?

Many thanks

Redhotferrari · 15 Jan 2008

Thinking about this problem, would simply choking down the stop tap help the problem?

Obviously this would affect the whole house, but just a thought!

mark.neale · 15 Jan 2008

Does your shower have a dedicated hot water supply from the cylinder, poss. via a Surrey or Essex flange, or does it share the hot supply with all other hot taps.
Is the cylinder on a similar level (ie. the same floor of your house) as the shower.
What is the hot tap flow like from other taps.

Some remedies to your problem may be to use a pressure equalisation valve, or possibly a pump.

Turning down the cold supply wouldn't really help, as you will end up with a weak shower, especially if someone turns a tap on elsewhere in the house.

Redhotferrari · 15 Jan 2008

Just teed of from the cylinder outlet, so sharing supply with ather appliances.

Hot water flow not brilliant but not really bad either.

Yep the cylinder is on the same floor as the bathroom, its a flat not a house. Forgot to mention that.

mark.neale · 15 Jan 2008

Its unlikely that a Surrey or Essex flange will help in this situation.

Also, as you're in a flat, a pumped system will be a problem, as you need roof tanks because you aren't allowed to pump water from the main supply.

As you have a good cold supply, you might have to consider an electric shower.

Redhotferrari · 15 Jan 2008

Thanks, its a whole world of problems, electric shower is a pain in the a*** as well! Complicated to explain why due to the shape of the ceiling/position of water pipes, would mean pipes running everywhere!

Cant believe there is not a bath tap/shower mixer that works with uneven pressure. There must be thousands of houses/flats that have similar problems.

chrishutt · 15 Jan 2008

You could use a pressure reducing valve (PRV) on the cold supply. It might improve things a bit but no guarantee. Also you could consider pumping the hot side, but that would require plumbing alterations. If you are considering a seperate shower valve then a Venturi shower might work for you.

Redhotferrari · 15 Jan 2008

Not getting much joy with this, have spent much time going down the venturi route as I know they are really good showers, but the two that are availabler require 22mm feed to the hot...

Planned to take the feeds to it from under the bath and have the pipes exposed but will look pretty s*** having 22m up the wall....

Feel like I am going round in a never ending circle of madness here...

holty · 15 Jan 2008

you could try a pressure reducing valve on the cold supply to the shower which is usually set at three bar but can be reduced, there is some on the market that can be reduced to 0.5 bar which is=to 5 metres head . and a check valve on the hot supply.try this http://www.bes.co.uk/products/110.asp

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Pressure/flow reducing valve

holty

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