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OT Power Shower fitting - whichwhathow?
wombat - 15/1/13 at 01:44 PM

Hi, we currently have a Triton cold feed only electric shower. We have really low water pressure and as such the shower is rubbish. We have cold water tank in loft, shower directly below in bathroom and hot water tank in airing cupboard next door to bathroom. So looking to upgrade, but should we get another electric shower which has an in built pump but requires both hot n cold feed, or a mixer type with a separate pump? I am a bit confused with the required "head" both these types seem to need, and how I would get over it. (Cannot get cold water tank any higher in loft). Advice appreciated. Thx

twybrow - 15/1/13 at 02:25 PM

We had the same setup as you describe in my last house, and we fitted a Triton power shower (ie where the shower has an in built pump). It was easy to install (1 hot feed, 1 cold feed and an electrical connection). The advantage is that everything is contained within the box, and you will end up with a greta shower. The downside is you are limited to the style of shower you can have (ie you have more optiopns with a sperate moxer shower and pump, and the pumps can be noisy compared to a concealed pump.

One point - either way, you need to think about the size of your hot water tank. Our power shower could empty the tank in less than 15 minutes if you turned the power up to full (although it was like standing under a jet wash!). Likewise you may need a larger cold water header tank too (but that is easy to change).

John P - 15/1/13 at 02:46 PM

I think you'll find the T150Z Pumped Thermostatic Shower has a cold only input and uses electricity to both heat the water and power the internal pump.

The do cost around £210 though.

John.

tegwin - 15/1/13 at 02:47 PM

Depends where the shower/hot water cylinder is...

Pumps are noisy....

Ideally you could fit a twin sided pump right next to the hot water tank... run dedicated hot and cold pipes from pump to a decent thermostatic mixer shower.... It is impotant that both hot and cold are at the same pressure when they get to the shower, hence why it's best to pump both!

I have had issues installing pumps before... modern units really dont like any air.. So if the pump is not located bang on next to the hot water cylinder with a proper surrey flange in the tank you have issues!



When you say the water pressure is rubbish do you mean your mains water pressure is rubbish or the pressure from the header tank is rubbish? Worth checking the shower you currently have is attached to the mains cold rather than to the header tank!

wombat - 15/1/13 at 03:41 PM

Tegwin, cold feed is connected to mains not header.

Two row, Hot water tank dims are 900x450mm - 117ltrs/ max head 10m / max working pressure 3.5bar. How does that compare to what you had? Hindsight being a great thing, when the old tank split a couple of years ago I should have got a big tank then, bugger.

Cold tank in loft, hot tank next to bathroom, no issues with noise now son at Uni and daughter moved into another bedroom (hence reason we can change it now)

twybrow - 15/1/13 at 03:58 PM

quote:
Originally posted by wombat
Two row, Hot water tank dims are 900x450mm - 117ltrs/ max head 10m / max working pressure 3.5bar. How does that compare to what you had? Hindsight being a great thing, when the old tank split a couple of years ago I should have got a big tank then, bugger.

Cold tank in loft, hot tank next to bathroom, no issues with noise now son at Uni and daughter moved into another bedroom (hence reason we can change it now)


That is a smaller tank than we had - ours was around 150l.... But 1117 should still be enough even with a reasonable flow for a good shower - just dont wallow in there all day!

wombat - 15/1/13 at 05:13 PM

Tyw, it's not me, I'm a splash n dash n back in the garage showerererer.
Bloody girls take soooo long. :-)

Hellfire - 15/1/13 at 06:45 PM

My header tank and cylinder were same as yours in my old house. I fitted a thermostatic shower valve and separate 3 bar twin shower pump. Initially I fitted a positive pressure pump but the shower wouldn't always trigger the flow switches in the pump because the head of pressure was marginal (only had about 100mm between bottom of header tank and highest point of shower head). Swapped the pump for a universal/negative pressure one and the shower was superb. Not the cheapest option initially but hopefully works out cheaper than electric power shower over long term......

Phil

wombat - 15/1/13 at 07:47 PM

Phil, thx it's good to know its possible with so little head, I think we have around the same 100mm.
Don't suppose you remember type of pump, shower valve and supplier?
Bill

Hellfire - 15/1/13 at 08:27 PM

Shower pump is Stuart Turner Monsoon (Universal/Negative) 3 bar Twin. Thermostatic valve is Hudson Reed Twin Concealed (Can't remember exact model) The shower head and fixed arm cost as much as the shower valve.

The pump was purchased from E-bay. I wanted a Stuart Turner pump because they are an extremely well made, good quality and serviceable pump and last many years.

Phil