I have been reading posts on this topic and they have helped me massively to at least (hopefully!) ask the right questions. I would be grateful if experts out there could help me figure out what the best course of action is in my situation:
Flow rate at outside tap is 17-18l/min, drops off to 10-12l/min at first floor shower and 12-15l/min at the 2nd floor (loft shower)
Static pressure is 2.5 bar when measured at off-peak time (e.g. 11am or 1am) and approx. 2.2 bar when measured at 8:30-9am or 7-8pm. Dynamic is 2bar – seems to be hovering at 2 bar regardless whether static is 2.5 or 2.2bar
15mm pipework everywhere
Combi boiler (WB Junior 28i)
The showers feel paltry! Both pressure and flow.
It used to feel better – then Thames Water did some works outside and both flow rate and pressure seem to have dropped off. They sent their engineer and he said that contractors must have gotten some grit into the pipework which might have gotten stuck at the old stopcock under the floors somewhere (new stopcock that previous owners of the house put in when did renovation is under the stairs) that’s why I have issues.
In addition, new people bought a neighboring house (it’s a Victorian terrace) and installed a sprinkler – when it’s on, my boiler doesn’t even turn on as floor rate/pressure drop right off.
So what do I do?
Are those figures all right and do I just have issues with shower valves/shower heads?
Do I need to upgrade pipework everywhere, including incoming mains? I guess it might solve flow, but not pressure?
Do I install an accumulator or Grundfoss Homebooster? Will it work with a combi?
And how do I go about it? How do I find a plumber who can advise properly? I had two over about the showers and none even measured the flow rate/pressure, none mentioned pipework as an issue, one never gave a diagnosis and just disappeared, the other said to try a valve without a diverter. It’s only after reading this excellent forum that I bought the pressure gauge and did it myself.
And then I want to upgrade the boiler as Junior 28 seems very undersized, but will a Highflow 440 ro 550 even work with those flow rates/pressure.
BTW, having two showers at the same time is not an issue, but having a great shower is important.
Flow rate at outside tap is 17-18l/min, drops off to 10-12l/min at first floor shower and 12-15l/min at the 2nd floor (loft shower)
Static pressure is 2.5 bar when measured at off-peak time (e.g. 11am or 1am) and approx. 2.2 bar when measured at 8:30-9am or 7-8pm. Dynamic is 2bar – seems to be hovering at 2 bar regardless whether static is 2.5 or 2.2bar
15mm pipework everywhere
Combi boiler (WB Junior 28i)
The showers feel paltry! Both pressure and flow.
It used to feel better – then Thames Water did some works outside and both flow rate and pressure seem to have dropped off. They sent their engineer and he said that contractors must have gotten some grit into the pipework which might have gotten stuck at the old stopcock under the floors somewhere (new stopcock that previous owners of the house put in when did renovation is under the stairs) that’s why I have issues.
In addition, new people bought a neighboring house (it’s a Victorian terrace) and installed a sprinkler – when it’s on, my boiler doesn’t even turn on as floor rate/pressure drop right off.
So what do I do?
Are those figures all right and do I just have issues with shower valves/shower heads?
Do I need to upgrade pipework everywhere, including incoming mains? I guess it might solve flow, but not pressure?
Do I install an accumulator or Grundfoss Homebooster? Will it work with a combi?
And how do I go about it? How do I find a plumber who can advise properly? I had two over about the showers and none even measured the flow rate/pressure, none mentioned pipework as an issue, one never gave a diagnosis and just disappeared, the other said to try a valve without a diverter. It’s only after reading this excellent forum that I bought the pressure gauge and did it myself.
And then I want to upgrade the boiler as Junior 28 seems very undersized, but will a Highflow 440 ro 550 even work with those flow rates/pressure.
BTW, having two showers at the same time is not an issue, but having a great shower is important.
