Power pumps

bigal7 · 18 Apr 2008

I have been a DIYer all my life, probably not always doing things right, but have carried out all kinds of little plumbing jobs such as fitting out a utility room with hot and cold water supplies and waste to a sink unit to fitting a complete bathroom suite with underfloor electric heating. However I have no experience or knowledge about power pumps to boost the pressure and flow to my new shower bath.
I have looked around all the sites on the web, but find it a mine field when coming to make the final decision on which pump to buy. I like the look of the brass pumps but I have heard of the manufacturers of the plastic pumps and hear good reports.
I need to supply 2 showers, one over the shower bath and one in an en-suite. I am fitting 18mm copper pipe throughout except directly into the thermstatic valves which take only 15mm.
I am wanting to know if any pumps are superior on such things as low noise and vibration, good reliability, and long lasting. It would be much appreciated.

Agile · 19 Apr 2008

bigal7 said:
I am fitting 18mm copper pipe throughout except directly into the thermstatic valves which take only 15mm.

Where are you buying the 18 mm tube and fittings?

Tony

bigal7 · 20 Apr 2008

Sorry, should have said 22mm piping. Got the thickness of the replacement bathroom floor in my head. Thanks for the correction.

AshaDPlumber · 20 Apr 2008

Go for a stuart turner, best pumps you can get in my experience. But ofcourse you pay for it. Try that sight where people buy and sell stuff. Sitting on the dock of the E bay!!!!!!

Gunslinger · 20 Apr 2008

i'll second that, stuart turner are probably the best you will get, expensive but worth it, also keep an eye out for Rada (commercial arm of sirrus/mira i think) as they tend to also be stuart turner pumps badged for Rada, so you might pick up a bargain if someone doesnt know what it is

.. after this, salamander have a good reputation

bigal7 · 21 Apr 2008

Thankyou very much for the replies. I have seen both these makes of pumps advertised along with a few others. As you say the Stuart Turner pumps are expensive, but if they last and are reliable then it could be money well spent.

I will look at Rada, though, but never heard of the make. Maybe worth investigating.

Thanks again

Gunslinger · 21 Apr 2008

yeah, people over look the fact that stuart turner pumps are rebadged by a couple of people, i have a Rada one, and in the instruction booklet, the guarantee is stamped and covered by stuart turner.

this Rada one finished on ebay last night ... second hand, went for £82 ... someone got a good deal (if it is fully working of course)

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=280218563335

Goldspoon · 22 Apr 2008

Salamander customer service good if you just wish to chat through your options with them (have pen and paper handy and take notes!).

minimoog · 22 Apr 2008

Stuart Turner are lauded for quality and reliability, but they are very noisey are they not? I know there's no such thing as a quiet shower pump, and much depends on the install, but 70dB is chuffing loud...

Gunslinger · 22 Apr 2008

true - salamander are good for that, i have phoned and asked them a couple of things in the past and they have been very helpful, and i will be fitting their tank level switches to my system when i switch to using the new pumps and storage tanks.

As for the pump i am using now, i am actually quite impressed with it's noise levels, you cant hear it in the shower above the noise of the water and bathroom fan (its mounted the other side of the wall in the airing cupboard, and from outside the airing cupboard, it is hardly what i would call noisy .... for its power and flow rates i have been very impressed with it.

every installation however will be different, mine is mounted on a concrete screed floor, using the antivibration pads supplied, and the airing cupboard walls are brick, the door is hollow and slightly noisy though, and could amplify noise - now if you had this on a wood floor, and partition walls in the airing cupboard, then it is possible your experiences will be different

Gasguru · 22 Apr 2008

Techflow QT range pumps are considerably quieter than ST and others.

minimoog · 23 Apr 2008

Gasguru said:
Techflow QT range pumps are considerably quieter than ST and others.

Thanks for that confirmation - I was going to order a QT80 today.

diynot

If you need to find a tradesperson to get your job done, please try our local search below, or if you are doing it yourself you can find suppliers local to you.

Select the supplier or trade you require, enter your location to begin your search.

Are you a trade or supplier? You can create your listing free at DIYnot Local

Power pumps

Goldspoon

Similar threads