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Can I add pump to gravity fed system?

deadl0ck

Hi all,
Our system is gravity fed but the hot water pressure upstairs is non-existent. Its not much better than a large trickle.
Is it possible to add a pump to my system, but not a very strong one as the plumbing was never built for pressure?
So basically, what's the easiest way to fix this?

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gillad

deadl0ck wrote: »

Hi all,
Our system is gravity fed but the hot water pressure upstairs is non-existent. Its not much better than a large trickle.
Is it possible to add a pump to my system, but not a very strong one as the plumbing was never built for pressure?
So basically, what's the easiest way to fix this?

what type of heating system is it? solid fuel or oil

deadl0ck

Both

gillad

is there a water tank in the attic that feeds the hot water cylinder?
is the cylinder upstairs?

deadl0ck

There's a Large Water Tank in the attic that feeds the cylinder (and the rest of the house) and there's also a small header tank for the heating.
The Cylinder is upstairs in the hotpress.

gillad

Your system seems ok so it may be air trapped in the system.has it always been poor?

deadl0ck

Yeah - it's always been poor - Maybe it's just airlocked like you said.

I've taken some pics of tank setup and videos of the water running so you get an idea: https://photos.app.goo.gl/l6k0XiFrGxqKSnn73

Could it be anything to do with the type of taps ?

gillad

This might help...https://www.water.ie/support/questions-and-answers/how-to-check-for-and-clea/

you will need to bring a hose from the kitchen cold water supply to the upstairs taps for this to work

Wearb

I think that a pump is the best solution.

deadl0ck

gillad wrote: »

This might help...https://www.water.ie/support/questions-and-answers/how-to-check-for-and-clea/

you will need to bring a hose from the kitchen cold water supply to the upstairs taps for this to work

Did it before but didn't make much difference. I brought a hose up from outside that comes directly from our pump house and has the best pressure (as it has not gone through the water softener at that point).

I'l do it again, but I don't hold much hope for it

deadl0ck

Wearb wrote: »

I think that a pump is the best solution.

Do you know what pump would be suitable ? Is there such a thing as an inline pump with a pressure switch that would automatically switch on once a tap is opened and the pressure drops ?

Dtp1979

Having poor water flow in your taps has nothing to do with what heating system you have.
The taps you have are High pressure taps designed for high pressure systems. You need a whole house brass body pump 2-3 bar I’d recommend. It only activates when water flows so the system isn’t under constant pressure. Set it on a timer so the pump won’t run at 2am if somebody flushed a toilet

deadl0ck

Dtp1979 wrote: »

Having poor water flow in your taps has nothing to do with what heating system you have.
The taps you have are High pressure taps designed for high pressure systems. You need a whole house brass body pump 2-3 bar I’d recommend. It only activates when water flows so the system isn’t under constant pressure. Set it on a timer so the pump won’t run at 2am if somebody flushed a toilet

Cool , thanks.
Is that OK to put into a house that's plumbed for gravity fed system ?
My main fear is that the pressure might be too high and connections/fittings could start to leak all over the place (forgive my ignorance if this seems like a stupid concern !)

Dtp1979

deadl0ck wrote: »

Cool , thanks.
Is that OK to put into a house that's plumbed for gravity fed system ?
My main fear is that the pressure might be too high and connections/fittings could start to leak all over the place (forgive my ignorance if this seems like a stupid concern !)

As I was saying, you’re not actually increasing the pressure as such, or by much. You’ll get a much better flow rate from your taps and showers. Once the tap closes the pump stops

deadl0ck

OK - cool. Makes sense.

So - at a quick look do you mean something like this ? (Not necessarily that specific one, but as an example)

From a plumbing point of view, is it a matter of joining this inline to the hot water out pipe coming from the cylinder ? (Might be better getting a plumber to do this though, or is it a big job ?)

Dtp1979

deadl0ck wrote: »

OK - cool. Makes sense.

So - at a quick look do you mean something like this ? (Not necessarily that specific one, but as an example)

From a plumbing point of view, is it a matter of joining this inline to the hot water out pipe coming from the cylinder ? (Might be better getting a plumber to do this though, or is it a big job ?)

It’s a plumbers job 100%. Install a mixing valve to limit the hot water temp going in to the pump too.

Similar to that pump except that only does one supply. You need hot and cold

agusta

what is the hot water pressure like in your kitchen tap...,
how many hot taps have you upstairs

deadl0ck

agusta wrote: »

what is the hot water pressure like in your kitchen tap...,
how many hot taps have you upstairs

Downstairs is not too bad actually.

2 bathroom taps upstairs and 1 bath. Bath is OK but I know there was a bigger diameter pipe run to the bath so the flow is much better

rightjob!

Get a plumber to install a pump.brass body stuart turner 2/3 bar.
I would not be fond of the salamander pumps.

agusta

Maybe new taps for low pressure might be an option.

deadl0ck

agusta wrote: »

Maybe new taps for low pressure might be an option.

Fair point - should be a lot cheaper to try that first !

Anybody know any good online sources for low pressure taps ? (I didn't know there were such things - really hoping this could make a difference !)

Tigerandahalf

A pump upstairs connected near the cylinder would make a huge difference.
Having a proper power shower is a great benefit, not a trickle from an electric shower.

However would there be issues with an electric shower and the water to it being pumped. Maybe it wouldn't heat enough. Not in the trade so just wondering.

agusta

deadl0ck wrote: »

Fair point - should be a lot cheaper to try that first !

Anybody know any good online sources for low pressure taps ? (I didn't know there were such things - really hoping this could make a difference !)

Any local plumbing/bathroom showrooms have them, not expensive