Increase pressure on a mixer shower

elrasho · 7 Jan 2013 at 11:00

I have a mixer shower and the pressure isn't enough for me. The boiler is on the ground floor and the shower is upstairs, what can I do to increase the pressure? I'm a plumbing noob

Stretch · 7 Jan 2013 at 11:24

Combi or tank?

tom_e · 7 Jan 2013 at 11:24

Get a power shower that's got it's own motor to increase the pressure.

estebanrey · 7 Jan 2013 at 11:24

Shower blindfolded. That'll put you a bit more on edge.

elrasho · 7 Jan 2013 at 11:27

Stretch said:
Combi or tank?

It's a combi. Don't want to install an Electric one, cba ripping off tiles.

Stretch · 7 Jan 2013 at 11:28

tom_e said:
Get a power shower that's got it's own motor to increase the pressure.

You can't do this with a combi boiler.

Stretch · 7 Jan 2013 at 11:30

elrasho said:
It's a combi. Don't want to install an Electric one, cba ripping off tiles.

The only way with a combi (without getting expensive) is to increase mains pressure. Call your local water company and get them round to check the pressure is within what they're legally obliged to provide.

tom_e · 7 Jan 2013 at 11:32

Stretch said:
You can't do this with a combi boiler.

We've got one running on a combi.

norm · 7 Jan 2013 at 11:38

Even a 10.8kW (highest you can get) electric shower the pressure isn't that great, well it's not so much the pressure (as you can adjust that at the nozzle) but the max flow rate of the water whilst keeping at warm temp.

Stretch · 7 Jan 2013 at 11:43

tom_e said:
We've got one running on a combi.

You're not allowed to pump mains water. Unless you've got a tank somewhere in your house the pump is illegal.

tom_e · 7 Jan 2013 at 11:49

Stretch said:
You're not allowed to pump mains water. Unless you've got a tank somewhere in your house the pump is illegal.

It's a rented house so there's every chance it's dodgy to be honest. Pretty sure we don't have a tank hiding anywhere though.

norm · 7 Jan 2013 at 12:19

Stretch said:
You're not allowed to pump mains water. Unless you've got a tank somewhere in your house the pump is illegal.

??

So using a pressure washer is illegal? What's the thinking behind this.

TheCrow · 7 Jan 2013 at 12:36

What combi boiler do you have (flow rate?) and what is your mains pressure?

elrasho · 7 Jan 2013 at 12:37

TheCrow said:
What combi boiler do you have (flow rate?) and what is your mains pressure?

How can I find out my mains pressure? I'll post the make and model of the boiler when I get home from work

Jez · 7 Jan 2013 at 12:41

Stretch said:
You're not allowed to pump mains water. Unless you've got a tank somewhere in your house the pump is illegal.

Surely absolute twoddle? Citation needed. This would make many many certified professionally installed pump installations illegal. As it would all pressure washers and other garden related pumps.

TheCrow · 7 Jan 2013 at 12:43

Use a pressure tester

SickAsAParrot · 7 Jan 2013 at 12:43

elrasho said:
It's a combi. Don't want to install an Electric one, cba ripping off tiles.

I've fitted several electric showers and never had to rip off tiles, they need to be surface mounted anyway so either bring the pipe and wire down from the ceiling or cut a 40mm hole through the tile if you can bring the pipe down through a stud wall.

=XDC=FluphyBunny · 7 Jan 2013 at 13:05

If there's a way to increase pressure won't you just end up with a high pressure cold shower as a combi won't be able to heat the water quick enough?

I know my electric shower is pretty hopeless for this, lots of water pressure but a hopeless low cable feeding it

Power shower and boiler would be my choice, but as always money is the issue.

anything I don't mind · 7 Jan 2013 at 13:08

1) Buy a boiler and put it in the loft
2) attached boiler to shower
3) use overflow to get water up to boiler or pump it from the ground floor to loft.

Hedge · 7 Jan 2013 at 13:11

Wish I had a strong shower at home. My shower at work is so powerful that it causes a vacuum that sucks the shower curtain inwards. I love it.