ferguson_tom Posted June 6, 2013 Report Share Posted June 6, 2013 (edited) Hi Everyone I recently moved into a new house and love it to bits apart from the fact I need to have a bath everyday rather than a shower. It currently has a mixer tap with shower coming off the top, problem i am having is after the pressure drop through the hose and shower head it is either scalding hot or freezing cold. Basically i think there is a pressure difference between the hot and cold so the cold pushes back the hot in the mixer tap. We want to install a pump for the shower but was wondering what was involved how much would i expect it to cost. Currently have a water tank in the loft and an emmersion heater for the hot water. If could have a rough estimate just for the parts themselves and also for supply and fit be great. Not looking for anything too fancy one with a white box control unit on the wall be fine rather than all in built dials etc. Thanks, Tom Edited June 6, 2013 by ferguson_tom Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
al4x Posted June 6, 2013 Report Share Posted June 6, 2013 its more to do with the shower valve than anything it shouldn't be able to push back as you put. Pumps vary hugely in cost and lots depends where you put them and whether you just pump the shower or the whole supply and how accessible it is to install etc Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ferguson_tom Posted June 6, 2013 Author Report Share Posted June 6, 2013 (edited) With the current mixer tap i tried taking off the shower hose from the mixer unit and i could vary the temperature quite easily ( water was going everywhere at this point) i then put the hose on without the head and I could still vary the temperature but the flowrate was greatly reduced, then when you put shower head on the back pressure was too much so even with hot water running it was either freezing when you turned the cold tap on slightly or boiling hot when you turned the cold off. I am going to try a shorter larger bore hose and different head for the time being which might fix it, however me and the mrs have both decided we want a pumped shower. Just looking for it to pump the one shower and seems pretty accessible for installation. Edited June 6, 2013 by ferguson_tom Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TIGHTCHOKE Posted June 6, 2013 Report Share Posted June 6, 2013 You have a P.M. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keg Posted June 6, 2013 Report Share Posted June 6, 2013 In the two houses we have lived in, the pump was next to the hot water cylinder, both were fine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LondonLuke Posted June 6, 2013 Report Share Posted June 6, 2013 Definitely try large bore hose and simple head as first resort To avoid the cost of a pump you could try non return valves before opting for a pump (which aren't that cheap) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ferguson_tom Posted June 6, 2013 Author Report Share Posted June 6, 2013 Thanks for the advice so far everyone, to be honest we have wanted a pumper shower for a while and its a good excuse to get one now. We both really want one of the big rain shower head things and they only work with the pumped systems. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Asa Bear Posted June 6, 2013 Report Share Posted June 6, 2013 Is it a new house or new to you? The reason I ask is most new houses have mains fed hot water systems through a combi boiler or unvented cylinder. If it's a new house get the plumbers back out as it shouldn't be happening. If it's a new to you property do as Luke says. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Penelope Posted June 6, 2013 Report Share Posted June 6, 2013 Not always, Mine works fine off mains via combi boiler. Thanks for the advice so far everyone, to be honest we have wanted a pumper shower for a while and its a good excuse to get one now. We both really want one of the big rain shower head things and they only work with the pumped systems. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Del T Posted June 6, 2013 Report Share Posted June 6, 2013 I bet youll find that the hot is fed from the cylinder by gravity and the cold from the cold main. So two totally different pressures. The cold will be pushing the hot back through the mixer. Use your storage tank for the cold supply and a boss on the hw cylinder for the hot. Connect these to a pump and feed a cheap bar mixer. So theres quite a bit of pipework involved,plus you may need a larger storage tank too. Also I'm certain your meant to notify the local water authority as you'll be using more water but forget that,we all pay plenty for our water bills ! Hope that helps. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim Kelly Posted June 6, 2013 Report Share Posted June 6, 2013 (edited) Sounds like your cold's off the mains, as has been said. A single head pump on the hot of the right power (bar) should help, or a pressure reducing valve on the cold, or both. Good idea to put a check valve on the hot too to stop it back feeding. You'd have to put the hot on first I expect to get the pump to run before turning on the cold. Edited June 6, 2013 by Tim Kelly Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TaxiDriver Posted June 6, 2013 Report Share Posted June 6, 2013 You could change your bath mixer tap thingy for one with thermostatic protection to prevent you getting scalded ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
four-wheel-drive Posted June 6, 2013 Report Share Posted June 6, 2013 some time ago my water pressure was not that good having a bath was ok but no pressure in the shower so I had a pump fitted from the electric hot water tank and also the cold supply it worked really well I have got a combie oil burner now so no problem as it has a built in pump and I sold the other pump on as it was not required. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ferguson_tom Posted June 6, 2013 Author Report Share Posted June 6, 2013 I think the cold water is fed from the storage tank in the loft, otherwise it would have no point being there apart from to run the toilets also the downstairs kitchen tap is higher pressure so think that is off the mains. The hot water supply for the whole house is from the emmersion heater which is fed from the gas boiler (not a combi) The house is new to us but about 12 years old we are planning on being here for quite some time so happy to spend the money on doing it properly rather than the cheapest option to have a shower. Just wondering what sort of money to expect to pay for parts and labour as it will be quite a simple installation i would of thought to provide one pumped shower. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LondonLuke Posted June 6, 2013 Report Share Posted June 6, 2013 Depends on pump but I would think around the £200-300 mark as a ballpark. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim Kelly Posted June 6, 2013 Report Share Posted June 6, 2013 The cold water storage tank feeds your hot water cylinder. If your bath cold were from the tank there would be no pressure differential, so your shower would work properly, if with a weak flow. the best solution would be to run a cold feed down from the storage tank to a twin head pump and pump the hot and cold together for the bath/shower mixer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
-Mongrel- Posted June 6, 2013 Report Share Posted June 6, 2013 The cold water storage tank feeds your hot water cylinder. If your bath cold were from the tank there would be no pressure differential, so your shower would work properly, if with a weak flow. the best solution would be to run a cold feed down from the storage tank to a twin head pump and pump the hot and cold together for the bath/shower mixer. As Tim has said, this is the best solution. However, it is likely to be cheaper to pump the hot only and if necessary fit a flow restrictor to the cold to even up the flow rates. A large bore hose and head will only help and will allow you to get the best out of a pump. A more expensive pump will be more reliable and generally quieter. I'd advise you to spend £300+ on a pump. Overall on parts you'd maybe spend another £100-150 depending on how much you replace, you may need to factor in getting the pump a power supply if you aren't able or don't have one local. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
magman Posted June 6, 2013 Report Share Posted June 6, 2013 Loose the bath mixer get a decent mixer shower fitted above with both gravity or pumped feeds , problem sorted Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
-Mongrel- Posted June 6, 2013 Report Share Posted June 6, 2013 Loose the bath mixer get a decent mixer shower fitted above with both gravity or pumped feeds , problem sorted Lose the current bath mixer, replace the tap with a thermostatic bath shower mixer. Good shower mixer with no re-tiling etc! http://www.heatandplumb.com/acatalog/Grohe-34156000.html?utm_source=ProductSearch&utm_medium=GoogleBase&gclid=CIm2wrOc0LcCFY3HtAodwxEARA Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
magman Posted June 6, 2013 Report Share Posted June 6, 2013 Lose the current bath mixer, replace the tap with a thermostatic bath shower mixer. Good shower mixer with no re-tiling etc! http://www.heatandplumb.com/acatalog/Grohe-34156000.html?utm_source=ProductSearch&utm_medium=GoogleBase&gclid=CIm2wrOc0LcCFY3HtAodwxEARA If you do make sure you buy a new hose unless your a midget Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LondonLuke Posted June 6, 2013 Report Share Posted June 6, 2013 Just tee off the cold water feed and fit an electric one Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Asa Bear Posted June 6, 2013 Report Share Posted June 6, 2013 If you're stopping and don't mind spending money on the property get a professional in to replace your current vented cylinder for an unvented cylinder. That way you'll have mains pressure hot water throughout the house. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
-Mongrel- Posted June 6, 2013 Report Share Posted June 6, 2013 (edited) Just tee off the cold water feed and fit an electric one Yeah, because that'll run the drencher head they want won't it. Edited June 6, 2013 by -Mongrel- Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LondonLuke Posted June 6, 2013 Report Share Posted June 6, 2013 Yeah, because that'll run the drencher head they want won't it. Haha. It will. The head just needs to be size of a 50p Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ferguson_tom Posted June 7, 2013 Author Report Share Posted June 7, 2013 Thanks for the info everyone, more i look at it more i think i will get a professional in to have a look as they can do the job a lot tidier than what i will. Will let you know how i get on price wise. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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