Increase pressure on a mixer shower

norm said:
??

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

Technically yes, it's illegal if coming direct from the main. The only exception is fire hydrants and very low pressure/flow pumps.

Remember, before combi boilers, most people had a cold water tank in the loft to draw on. This breaks the link with the main.

If you pump water from the main it can create negative pressure meaning contaminate can be sucked in. Everyone know the water network is fully of holes right?

It can also cause back flow where water (potentially dirty) is sucked from other properties.

It can also create a situation where users are competing for water where it just isn't available and you end up with a pump arms race.

Jez said:
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.
Click to expand...

Not twaddle. You can have a pump installed, but you need a break tank. 99% of houses with combi boilers don't have a break tank.
 
Last edited:
Can you find the law? I cannot see anything on this. It doesnt seem right, as many many people will be pumping a mains supply.

The most basic example is a pressure washer, which are designed to be connected to a mains fed hose.
 
Does the cold water have good pressure?
If so turn the temperature of the hot water up on the boiler so it uses more cold on the shower to get the same temperature.
Not a very eco friendly solution though.
 
Jez said:
Can you find the law? I cannot see anything on this. It doesnt seem right, as many many people will be pumping a mains supply.

The most basic example is a pressure washer, which are designed to be connected to a mains fed hose.
Click to expand...

Thirded request for a legal citation, until then, I call shenanigans.

OP, simples and random, but have you checked the hose connecting the shower head to the mixer for any debris traps? Just un screw it look for/clean out any micro mesh filter things.
 
Last edited:
Last edited:
Wow, so all pressure washers and a lot of garden pumps (to use simple examples) are illegal then?
 
Jez said:
Wow, so all pressure washers and a lot of garden pumps (to use simple examples) are illegal then?
Click to expand...

Only if they are connected directly to the water main (Ie a tap) if you use a water butt not only are you complying with the regs, you may also find your pressure washer works better.
 
Connected to a mains fed hose pipe, as probably 99% of users do then?

I didnt know that, and upon googling i can see the bylaws stating it. Wow. :)
 
Jez said:
Connected to a mains fed hose pipe, as probably 99% of users do then?

I didnt know that, and upon googling i can see the bylaws stating it. Wow. :)
Click to expand...

Does a pressure washer even work in that way, you seem to be assuming that the pressure washer is drawing more from the mains water supply than would otherwise be available under normal water pressure?

Doesn't a pressure washer simply restrict the water available by limiting the flow but upping the pressure of the water used?
 
No, it pumps more water through. Mine is rated at approx 360L/min if i recall and works very well via my normal mains hose.

I would guess that 99% of users rig theirs up the same way.

Edit: i assume thats what happens anyway, the water absolutely pummels out!
 
Last edited:
Jez said:
No, it pumps more water through. Mine is rated at approx 360L/min if i recall and works very well via my normal mains hose.

I would guess that 99% of users rig theirs up the same way.

Edit: i assume thats what happens anyway, the water absolutely pummels out!
Click to expand...

360 litres per hour more likely. All but professional bad boy pressure washers will be well below 12 litres per minute and therefore perfectly in line with regs. A shower pump, on the other hand, even a little one could pump 10s of l/min depending on its supply which is why they are not allowed on the mains.
 
Shows what i know about pumps. It is harder to picture the quantity of water 12L/min actually equates to when seeing the output of a house, which was later revealed to be the pumping limit rather than there being a ban on pumping from the mains.

Learn something every day :)
 
Jez said:
Wow, so all pressure washers and a lot of garden pumps (to use simple examples) are illegal then?
Click to expand...

Pressure washers probably are way below 12 litres a minute. Filling up a bucket with my Karcher is slower than taking it off and using the tap directly.

Edit: Didn't see the second page til I posted, ignore me.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom