Plumbing Question
Author
Discussion

x5x3

Original Poster:

2,437 posts

284 months

Saturday 16th August 2008
quotequote all
I would appreciate people's thoughts on this - we bought a 3 Bar whole house twin pump recently (along with new bathrooms etc) and several people have said they are quite noisy - does anyone have experience of these?

UpTheIron

4,058 posts

299 months

Saturday 16th August 2008
quotequote all
Some brands are noisier than others. Also depends on where and how it is installed.

skeggysteve

5,724 posts

248 months

Saturday 16th August 2008
quotequote all
We've got a shower pump that is the airing/hot water tank cupboard which is in the kitchen.

It is noisy but you just get used to it. Actually our parrot, who lives in the kitchen, loves the noise smile

x5x3

Original Poster:

2,437 posts

284 months

Sunday 17th August 2008
quotequote all
UpTheIron said:
Some brands are noisier than others. Also depends on where and how it is installed.
I have checked and it is a Salamander if that helps?

I am not convinced the extra pressure when you have a shower is worth the noise every time any tap is turned on?

Autonotiv

2,673 posts

255 months

Sunday 17th August 2008
quotequote all
We have a salemander pump, 3 bar i think.

Its running 2 showers and a hot tap in a sink.

When you turn the tap on you can hear the pump start up and carry on once the taps turned off, bit of a shame as they are supposed to be the best!!frown

moles

1,860 posts

275 months

Sunday 17th August 2008
quotequote all
Salamander ones tend to start leaking as they have plastic impeller housings, better to get one with a brass casing. Grundfos are the best imo http://www.inspirationsbathrooms.com/icat/range142... and yes they are noisy (all of them are)

Edited by moles on Sunday 17th August 16:29


Edited by moles on Sunday 17th August 16:31

UpTheIron

4,058 posts

299 months

Sunday 17th August 2008
quotequote all
I've got two Salamander pumps, and previously had Stuart Taylor pumps previously. ST are definitely better quality (brass v plastic), all were similar noise level.

What is your pump mounted on? Rubber feet and bolting to a heavy base will probably help.


Pigeon

18,535 posts

277 months

Sunday 17th August 2008
quotequote all
All the ones I've seen have had a whiny buzzy noisy stty brush motor fitted, and predictably sound like an electric drill. If there is a model available with an induction motor then get that, it will only hum a bit. Bet there isn't though, because everything's cheaped-out st these days. Price these things go for vs. extra materials cost for an induction motor version, there's no excuse for it.

Autonotiv

2,673 posts

255 months

Sunday 17th August 2008
quotequote all
We considerd building ours into some sort of sound proof box type thing.

But my plumber mate said something about the heat may cause some problems?

Ricky_M

6,618 posts

250 months

Sunday 17th August 2008
quotequote all
They are all noisy unfortunately. Could you possibly audibly insulate the cupboard it is going in? Heat shouldn't be an issue then as it will probably be plonked next to the hot water cylinder anyway.

x5x3

Original Poster:

2,437 posts

284 months

Sunday 17th August 2008
quotequote all
thanks all - I have been recommended as an alternative some kind of clever cylinder which somehow uses mains pressure for hot and cold? It is also stainless steel and has a 20 year guarantee - do these work?

Ricky_M

6,618 posts

250 months

Tuesday 19th August 2008
quotequote all
How many Bathrooms do you have? If you are considering a cylinder swap, you may aswell go for a combination boiler, you will have high pressure hot water and it is heated on demand, so is much more efficient. Mains Pressure Hot Water Cylinders tend to only get installed in large houses with a high demand for hot water.

But yes they do work. Your cylinder at the moment is being fed from a cold water storage cistern, probably 1.5 metres at the most above the cylinder, which is why the pressure is so low. The mains pressure cylinder are filled directly from the mains and restricted to 3 bar (I think). You'll have the same pressure from the combination boiler, but you'll be heating up a large quantity of water as opposed to heating the amount you need on demand.

HTH

x5x3

Original Poster:

2,437 posts

284 months

Tuesday 19th August 2008
quotequote all
Ricky_M said:
How many Bathrooms do you have? If you are considering a cylinder swap, you may aswell go for a combination boiler, you will have high pressure hot water and it is heated on demand, so is much more efficient. Mains Pressure Hot Water Cylinders tend to only get installed in large houses with a high demand for hot water.

But yes they do work. Your cylinder at the moment is being fed from a cold water storage cistern, probably 1.5 metres at the most above the cylinder, which is why the pressure is so low. The mains pressure cylinder are filled directly from the mains and restricted to 3 bar (I think). You'll have the same pressure from the combination boiler, but you'll be heating up a large quantity of water as opposed to heating the amount you need on demand.

HTH
if I understood the plumber chap we spoke to correctly though the insulation on the new cylinders is so good the heated water lasts for days?

Ricky_M

6,618 posts

250 months

Wednesday 20th August 2008
quotequote all
x5x3 said:
Ricky_M said:
How many Bathrooms do you have? If you are considering a cylinder swap, you may aswell go for a combination boiler, you will have high pressure hot water and it is heated on demand, so is much more efficient. Mains Pressure Hot Water Cylinders tend to only get installed in large houses with a high demand for hot water.

But yes they do work. Your cylinder at the moment is being fed from a cold water storage cistern, probably 1.5 metres at the most above the cylinder, which is why the pressure is so low. The mains pressure cylinder are filled directly from the mains and restricted to 3 bar (I think). You'll have the same pressure from the combination boiler, but you'll be heating up a large quantity of water as opposed to heating the amount you need on demand.

HTH
if I understood the plumber chap we spoke to correctly though the insulation on the new cylinders is so good the heated water lasts for days?
They are a lot better than conventional cylinders, but if you have a small property a combination boiler makes more sense.

x5x3

Original Poster:

2,437 posts

284 months

Wednesday 20th August 2008
quotequote all
knowing absouletly zero about this subject does not help but I have now found out we are being recommended a "megaflow" system?