Some fairly basic questions on shower pumps and towel rails?

[showerwall]

I wonder if anyone could answer some fairly basic questions on shower pumps and towel rails please?

1. In the past I have had a towel rail supplied with heat via the domestic hot water supply. This means that I have warm, dry towels throughout the year and don't have to rely on having the Central heating on. can I have a new towel rail installed in this way or is this now illegal or considered to be an undesirable situation?
2. If I can't have a towel rail heated by the domestic hot water supply and end up having to install a dual fuel rail, what are the rules in terms of an electrician wiring up the element? Does the supply have to be taken all the way back to the main circuit board or can he take a spur off a nearby socket (located outside the bathroom, obviously)?
3. Can someone please give me some honest explanations in relation to a shower pump. My cold water tank is located in the loft, more than 60 cms above the shower head. The hot water tank is on the same floor as the shower, in an airing cupboard in a study adjacent to the bathroom. I currently have an Aqualisa shower pump on the floor of this airing cupboard. As part of refurbishing the bathroom and installing a new shower cubicle I want to fit a new shower pump (the old one is many years old has some sort of push-button vacuum switch to turn it on - I have had to replace this push-button in the past and I gateher that they are no longer in common usage). I have been told (by Stuart Turner) that I need to fit a "Negative head" shower pump, a local plumber's merchants tells me and everything I have read seems to suggest that I only need to fit a "Posittive head" shower pump. What shoul I fit and why?
4. Can someone please explain whether I should use a 2 BAR or a 3 BAR shower pump and why?
5. Finally (sorry about this), would there be any down side to having the shower pump also supply the bath mixer tap?

Sorry for being so long-winded (and stupid), I would be very grateful for any helpful advice.

Thanks

 

[Newboy]

1. Perfectly ok to have the existing arrangement with a new radiator
2. No need to go back to the board. It can be taken from the ring main and fitted with an isolator/fuse/rcd
3. All positive head pumps require some flow through the pump before they kick in. With only 60cms of head it's likely that there will be insufficient flow for the pump to detect and then operate. A negative head pump is the only automatic option for low head installations.
4. A 2 bar pump is fine for a single standard shower outlet. If you were supplying multiple showers or rain heads/massage heads then you may need a higher flow/pressure.
5. No real downside to filling the bath via the pump except for noise. You would need to check the run time of the pump - they are not designed to run for long periods.

 

[picasso]

Just to add to newboys comments....

your new towel rad will have to dezincification resistant if its on the domestic hot water supply and

if your going to run the bath off the pump get a "whole house pump" as these can be run with just hot or cold running, shower pumps are designed to have both hot and cold running together.

 

[Newboy]

Just to add to newboys comments....
your new towel rad will have to dezincification resistant if its on the domestic hot water supply and

But not if it's on the hot water heating circuit

 

[picasso]

Of course but the op says its on the domestic supply so without a crystal ball its hard to tell from here.

 

[muggles]

5. No real downside to filling the bath via the pump except for noise. You would need to check the run time of the pump - they are not designed to run for long periods.

Stuart Turner Monsoons are rated for Continuous use

 

[Newboy]

5. No real downside to filling the bath via the pump except for noise. You would need to check the run time of the pump - they are not designed to run for long periods.

Stuart Turner Monsoons are rated for Continuous use

Fair point, subject to minimum 9l/min and maximum water temp of 65C

 

[Newboy]

Of course but the op says its on the domestic supply so without a crystal ball its hard to tell from here.

It would be a rare existing installation where the domestic hot water supply ran through a radiator on it's way to the taps!

 

[kittedup]

Of course but the op says its on the domestic supply so without a crystal ball its hard to tell from here.

It would be a rare existing installation where the domestic hot water supply ran through a radiator on it's way to the taps!

Got a whole road like that on my patch. Towel rails are very expensive and don't lady long.

Ted

 

[Newboy]

Of course but the op says its on the domestic supply so without a crystal ball its hard to tell from here.

It would be a rare existing installation where the domestic hot water supply ran through a radiator on it's way to the taps!

Got a whole road like that on my patch. Towel rails are very expensive and don't lady long.

Ted

So the only time the bathroom is heated is when the hot tap is running?!

 

[kittedup]

They are supplementary pal.

Best way they work is in the summer. Hang the towel over it before you take a shower. When you get out the shower, nice warm towel.

Like I say whole road like it here. Only place I've seen them mind.

Ted

 

[longdogs]

I have to be honest and say that I have never heard of it before although it is an interesting idea. Winter would surely be a problem though as the bathroom would be cold first thing in the morning until the hot water is used. I would think therefore that a duel rad would be better.

 

[kittedup]

You misunderstand mate.

There's a normal rad and the hw towel rail in there too.

Believe me when I first saw it I was surprised too.

Ted

 

[showerwall]

I have to be honest and say that I have never heard of it before although it is an interesting idea. Winter would surely be a problem though as the bathroom would be cold first thing in the morning until the hot water is used. I would think therefore that a duel rad would be better.

And a very tall dual fuel towel rail is what I finally went for - it is truly WONDERFUL!

Now all I need to do is to work out how to replace the quite useless "hot water" towel rail in my other bathroom without major construction work . . .

Many thanks for the replies.