Water Pump - Increase Pressure

dutopia

We have just moved into a new house. It's a 3 bed semi A3 rated house with good specs, one of those specs is a 'pumped shower system'.

The pump is under the stairs on the ground floor. The pressure from the taps is very good, but we're not impressed by the pressure in the showers on the 1st floor. Is there any way to increase the pressure the pump can deliver or is it fixed?

embracingLife

I just spent the past few minutes writing out a reply, then when I went to Send the website timed out and deleted my reply! Feckin website! A quick reply before it happens again!

These water pumps are powerful enough to pump water everywhere so don't go fiddling with it if you don't know anything about it. They are set and not a good idea to touch them or.....you may end up with no water! Don't go running off getting some plumber/pump crowd to "adjust" the pump just yet-without doing what I suggest first.

Check to see if there is different water pressure in bathroom taps in same room or floor as this shower?! Tell us if there is another bathroom or taps on same floor and check the water pressure out of them compared to the shower.

Anyway, if not, my suggestion is that the metal mesh filters that are on inside the shower valve fitting thingy are full of gunk! These are slowing down the water coming out of shower and you wouldn't believe that this gunk is probably the culprit.

Look also for any brand name on front of shower lever which turns on/off water for shower and adjusts the water temperature of water when in shower. If the name is easy to see you can go their website and download a manual or tell us here and I'll check it out and then tell you how to access the valve to get at the mesh filters.
Its easier said than done, so don't attempt it unless you know exactly what you are doing etc-or you have expert advise to call on, couch,couch!

dutopia

embracingLife wrote: »

I just spent the past few minutes writing out a reply, then when I went to Send the website timed out and deleted my reply! Feckin website! A quick reply before it happens again!

These water pumps are powerful enough to pump water everywhere so don't go fiddling with it if you don't know anything about it. They are set and not a good idea to touch them or.....you may end up with no water! Don't go running off getting some plumber/pump crowd to "adjust" the pump just yet-without doing what I suggest first.

Check to see if there is different water pressure in bathroom taps in same room or floor as this shower?! Tell us if there is another bathroom or taps on same floor and check the water pressure out of them compared to the shower.

Anyway, if not, my suggestion is that the metal mesh filters that are on inside the shower valve fitting thingy are full of gunk! These are slowing down the water coming out of shower and you wouldn't believe that this gunk is probably the culprit.

Look also for any brand name on front of shower lever which turns on/off water for shower and adjusts the water temperature of water when in shower. If the name is easy to see you can go their website and download a manual or tell us here and I'll check it out and then tell you how to access the valve to get at the mesh filters.
Its easier said than done, so don't attempt it unless you know exactly what you are doing etc-or you have expert advise to call on, couch,couch!

It's sucks when that happens.

So I did that test, the water pressure is stronger downstairs for sure but it's still fairly strong in the taps upstairs. It can't be gunk, it's a brand new shower literally used 4 times so since we moved in. It's similar to this one. Could it be that the knobs for the shower were not set to allow more water to come through or something? The knob has a little lock button on it but it won't turn anymore even if pressed down. Maybe I have to get a plumber out.

embracingLife

I'm not a mind reader, you didn't say in your post that its a new shower.
Looks like best thing in your case is to get a plumber out to inspect it, could be controls etc.

My suggestion is also for other people who may have similar problems with their showers, especially ones a few years old.

thanks

whizbang

You are much more likely to have dirt in you filters in a new system, particularly after a few weeks, as the pipes are flushing out.
Definitely check shower and pump filters.