Do I Need A Shower Pump?

Do I need a shower pump?

Historically , British water systems are generally connected to a cold water storage tank which is kept in the loft. These are known as gravity fed systems which are low pressure, and rely on the height of the tank to provide water flow pressure for the house. Due to height restrictions imposed on where the water tank can go, low pressure is a resulting factor ( can be as low as 0.1 bar). For those who prefer Power Shower performance , it is necessary to pump a gravity fed system , or install a high pressure boiler or an unvented system. NOTE: Only low pressure gravity fed systems can be pumped, check with your installer that the cold water storage tank and hot water cylinder are big enough (the hot water may run out). The standard UK tank is 225 Litres, ( this should be sufficient ) but for larger homes a 450 litre tank is recommended. A 120 litre cylinder for hot water should be sufficient , but larger homes may require a 166 litre cylinder. Pumps must fit in accordance with current water regulations, and not be connected to water mains either directly or indirectly via a mains fed water heater.

Where will the shower pump be fitted?

The pumps work by pushing water rather than pulling it, and are situated as close to the water supply as possible. Therefore they are commonly fitted close to the hot water cylinder in the airing cupboard.

Pump specification

These pumps are all " Twin Impeller Pumps" which are designer to boost performance of two water supplies (hot and cold) to a fitting with separate flow controls. Whole house applications, one or two complete bathroom suites or a single mixer valve can have their performance boosted depending on the rating of the pump chosen. NOTE: Avoid pumping water to traditional WC systems, as this can reduce the lifespan of the pump. The disadvantages of pump systems are that there is an element of noise during operation, and also servicing issues need to be considered. However for many homes that require power showering from a gravity fed system , they are the only solution without having to replace the full hot water system.

How do I choose the correct shower pump?

To achieve the desired performance it's important that you choose the correct shower pump. Below is a table that can be used to identify which pump would be required to satisfy your installation.

APPLICATION	PR50D	BP65D	BP100D
	1.5 Bar	2 Bar	3 Bar
Basic Bathroom (basin taps, bath shower mixer taps)	Yes
2 Basic Bathroom Suites		Yes	Yes
Shower Mixer Valve - single spray pattern	Yes	Yes
Single Shower Mixer Valve - up to 3 spray patterns	Yes	Yes
Single Shower Mixer Valve, Multi Function up to 4 spray patterns		Yes
Shower Panel			Yes