For many homeowners in the UK, the quest for a powerful and consistent shower experience often leads to one solution: a shower pump. But do you need to make the investment? Let's have a look together:
Understanding The Need For Shower Pumps
Before making any decisions, it's crucial to grasp the fundamentals. In the UK, many older homes rely on a combination of gravity-fed hot and cold water systems. If you have a unpressurised hot water cylinder, then you have a Gravity Hot System. If this also combines with a cold water tank in your loft, then you have a Gravity Hot and Cold system.
The challenge most people face with these systems is that there is not enough pressure coming out of their outlets, because there isn't enough height between the tank and the shower. This will result in bad water pressure and an inconsistent flow, causing issues like sudden temperature changes when other taps are turned on elsewhere in the house.
Ultimately, gravity systems weren't designed to meet the demands of modern housing and bathrooms.
How Does A Shower Pump Help?
Fitting a modern shower pump can make a real difference. To break it down, think of 1.0 bar of pressure as akin to having a water tank positioned about 10 meters above your head. Certain shower pumps can even boost pressure up to a whopping 3.0 bar. So, if you're upgrading from low-pressure conditions, the change can truly be described as a game-changer.
Do You Really Need A Shower Pump?
If you're uncertain about your home's water pressure, a simple test can determine if a shower pump is needed. For the taps or showers causing concern, grab a measuring jug and time how long it takes to fill it. Be sure to check out our step by step guide to help you measure your flow rate.
Once you've measured your flow rate, if it's below 10 litres per minute, you probably have low water pressure. For a deeper understanding of low water pressure and solutions, explore our article on "Understanding Why Your Water Pressure Is Low". This resource offers valuable guidance to help you assess your water pressure situation and make informed decisions on how to address it.
Additional Considerations
Before installing a shower pump, consider the following:
Water Tank Capacity
Ensure both the hot and cold tanks are large enough to meet your needs. The last thing you want is to have a shower pump so powerful that it empties your tank before you have stepped in the shower. For the hot tank, if your hot water tap starts delivering cold water to your bath before it's even half full, you might need a larger cylinder.Noise & Placement
Modern pumps are quieter than older models, but they still produce some noise. It's advisable to place them in a cupboard, or on rubber mats, to dampen the sound.Build Quality & Efficiency
We say it a lot here at PlumbHQ, but we really believe in quality. Things can really go wrong quickly when water is being pumped incorrectly at high pressures in your home. Look out for reputable manufacturers when you are selecting your pump. If you are buying from PlumbHQ, you don't need to worry about this. We only source from the best in the industry.
Which Shower Pump Do You Need?
Do you think you're ready for a shower pump? Fed up with unpredictable showers? Let's sort it out together! Check out our shower pump buying guide and make your mornings a bit more brilliant.
Any more questions?
If you have any queries or questions about the products we sell, or even your next project, give us a shout! We'll try our best to give you a hand.