Increasing shower water pressure via combi bolier

[Googie]

Hi All

Just wondering as per the title is there any way of doing this and improving water pressure to my shower. Appreciate that a traditional shower pump is not an option so is there another way? Existing boiler is a Vaillant which, I am thinking of replacing so if there is a piece of kit compatible with a new boiler happy to look at that.

Thanks

G

[Snow and Rocks]

You need to find out or ask your plumber if the water supply pressure/flow is your limiting factor?

Most reasonably sized combi boilers are powerful enough to run a decent shower. What's your current boiler's KW rating?

[timberman]

If you've got space for it you could fit an accumulator tank,
they are pressurised to increase pressure and flow rates, plus you can also get pumped versions,

plenty of videos online showing what they do,

probably also worth checking incoming water pressure and flow rates to make sure your boiler isn't the weak link here

[Googie]

Thanks both-some good options there-seems I need to get a plumber involved in the process which makes sense-really miss a really strong flow power shower!

[OutInTheShed]

There may be a pressure regulator valve between in the incoming main and the boiler, most combis are rated for 3 bar max.
These valves can silt up, reducing flow.
The boiler itself can get limescale etc.
You can get bigger bore hoses and handsets intended for lower pressure.

I'd start by measuring the flow rate, remove the handset and measure it again.
Compare with flow rate of hot bath tap.
Measure flow rate at kitchen sink and outside tap for comparison.

See how running sink and shower at the same time affects each.


Check incoming pressure
Check all stop valves are fully open.
How does your neighbour's water pressure and flow rate compare?

[Googie]

Thanks for that -appreciated and will get plumber to investigate as part of a new boiler install.

[OutInTheShed]

If you really want a serious power shower, maybe a new combi boiler isn't the best idea?

I'm not fussed by powerful showers personally.
but if you do want to be excessive with hot water, I'd be looking at a tank and solar power.

[zb]

Have you tried changing the shower head?

When I moved in the flow and pattern was pathetic, one new shower head later job done. Was a Triton one I bought IIRC.

[Googie]

[quote=OutInTheShed]If you really want a serious power shower, maybe a new combi boiler isn't the best idea?

Fair point but don t want the hassle-it s not that the pressure is a dribble just not what I would like it to be

To zB yes shower head is new rain shower head with several settings so a decent one but just not blast your skin off!!

Thanks all for replies

[gmaz]

Googie said:

Thanks for that -appreciated and will get plumber to investigate as part of a new boiler install.

Do you have room for an unvented cylinder? If so you can get rid of the combi and get a system boiler instead.

Combis are crap (IMHO) as they take to long to get hot water to the tap by which time the user has turned the tap off. So, the Combi has switched on, lit up, warmed some water which will stay in the pipe to the tap.

[Googie]

Do you have room for an unvented cylinder? If so you can get rid of the combi and get a system boiler instead.


[/quote]

Thanks 4 that-Historically property had a standard HWC which was removed and now gives useful storage space. Can an unvented cylinder be located in the loft directly above boiler or must it be next to boiler ?

[gmaz]

Googie said:

Do you have room for an unvented cylinder? If so you can get rid of the combi and get a system boiler instead.

Thanks 4 that-Historically property had a standard HWC which was removed and now gives useful storage space. Can an unvented cylinder be located in the loft directly above boiler or must it be next to boiler ?

They can be anywhere as long as the piping can be plumbed in. I've heard that some installers are reluctant to put them in an unheated loft as they get too cold. It will take up more space than a conventional HWC as there is more plumbing and an expansion vessel.

[Snow and Rocks]

Ours is in our unheated loft and has been fine even in darkest Aberdeenshire winters down to minus 20c.

Before you even get to that though, it's worth checking what's actually the restriction at the moment. An unvented tank is useless if the incoming water pressure is crap.

How powerful is your current combi? 28or 32 kW etc?

[Trustmeimadoctor]

Googie said:

OutInTheShed said:

If you really want a serious power shower, maybe a new combi boiler isn't the best idea?

Fair point but don t want the hassle-it s not that the pressure is a dribble just not what I would like it to be

To zB yes shower head is new rain shower head with several settings so a decent one but just not blast your skin off!!

Thanks all for replies

But what's the flow rate of the head? They can be down below 2lpm or over 12 so a big difference usually these days they are around 5

But usually when people say pressure they mean flow rate

Also did you check you don't have a flow limiter somewhere in the chain like at the other end of the hose or actually in the outlet of the arm if wall or ceiling mounted

[Voguely]

Agree with the various points above. Additionally consider what else in the system may limit flow - if someone has previously fitted very narrow pipes from the boiler to your taps/showerhead then that will also make a difference, particuarly if it is a long run of pipe. Pipe volume is the square of radius, so the difference in volume even between a 15 and 22mm pipe is actually quite a bit.

Reiterating what others have said about showerhead itself, but also the mixer unit. We recently fitted a new bathroom and I was shocked how small the diameter of the internals of the mixer tap was on a modern unit compared to the old one it replaced - definitely will limit flow of the system regardless of what is going on at the boiler/pump level.

[p4cks]

Mine was really poor and I just lived with it until one day I decided to take the tap apart and remove the little metal gauze filter. Did the same on my bathroom taps and they were all totally transformed and it cost me fk all

[Googie]

Hi Guys

Thanks for all the replies-really helpful. I am out of my depth here

I think I do mean flow rate rather than pressure and obviously need to get a plumber in to review all the options mentioned,

[MarcelM6]

We have also got very low water pressure. On a party line at the end of a close.

Changed to a combi boiler last year and as part of the work had a whole home booster installed. It pressurised the whole house so now not only the showers but every tap has decent pressure. We are able to use a sprinkler for the first time in 25 years.

Usual pum manufacturers make them, Stuart Turner, grundvos etc. Cant remember which one ours is. But cost about £500 installed.

[OutInTheShed]

Googie said:

Hi Guys

Thanks for all the replies-really helpful. I am out of my depth here

I think I do mean flow rate rather than pressure and obviously need to get a plumber in to review all the options mentioned,

Bucket and stopwatch for starters.

[OutInTheShed]

MarcelM6 said:

We have also got very low water pressure. On a party line at the end of a close.

Changed to a combi boiler last year and as part of the work had a whole home booster installed. It pressurised the whole house so now not only the showers but every tap has decent pressure. We are able to use a sprinkler for the first time in 25 years.

Usual pum manufacturers make them, Stuart Turner, grundvos etc. Cant remember which one ours is. But cost about £500 installed.

There can be limits to what can be done with booster pumps, because if it sucks from the mains, it may suck air into next door's taps etc.