Shower pump selection guide

With the increasing demand for high performance showers, shower pumps are rapidly becoming the norm in the UK rather than the exception. Where a gravity fed hot water system is installed in the home, the installation of a shower pump can make a dramatic difference to the performance of the shower.

Watermill Products are one of the leading manufacturers of showering pumps in the UK, and have helped to create this section which, is aimed at providing information about the application and installation of shower pumps, and the range of products that are now available.

Gravity systems & water storage

When selecting a mixer shower for use on a gravity system, the most important thing to consider is the flow rate that is achievable from the shower rose. Unless you have water pressure of at least 0.5 bar, which is equivalent to a gap of five meters between the bottom of the cold water storage tank (2) and the shower rose (4) you will need to select a 'Low Pressure' shower valve, capable of supplying a satisfactory shower at water pressures as low as 0.1 bar, (which is approximately one meter difference).

You will be able to get a rough idea simply by observing the flow rate of water that you receive from the bath taps. Remember that you will be mixing hot and cold water but if it appears slow then the chances are that the showers performance will be disappointing.

The solution is to fit a shower pump that pushes the water to your shower mixer thus creating an invigorating powerful showering experience. If you opt for the pumped solution you must ensure that you have plenty of hot water storage capacity, for pumped showers can deliver anything between 11 - 25 Litres of blended water per minute, and this will drain the average sized cylinder very quickly.

You will have an idea of the amount of hot water that you have available by looking at the physical size of your cylinder and monitoring your everyday usage. For example the depth of hot water that you are able to achieve when running a bath before the hot water runs out. If you do not have large volumes of stored water you will need to upgrade your storage capacity.

Shower pumps: Watermill products Ltd

Follow this link to visit Watermill Products one of the leading manufacturers of showering pumps in the UK, who offer basic installation advice and a comprehensive shower pump selector guide.

Do I really need a shower pump?

The last two decades have seen steady growth in the demand for showers is both the new build and the 'one-off' refurbishment sectors. But is it really necessary to install a pump to provide power shower performance? Terry Scaife, Technical Services Manager of Aqualisa, examines the issues.