Factsheets - Showers, flow and control

Whilst all advice given is correct to the best of our knowledge, we cannot be held responsible for any problems should you choose to take our advice. If you’d like some advice on any of these issues, contact our London plumbers on 0208 964 6714.

Plumbing Glossary
Emergency plumbing
What to look for in a good plumber

How to disconnect & reconnect a washing machine
How to disconnect & reconnect a dishwasher
Buying a bathroom suite
Purchasing a Shower
Showers - flow and control
Showers - choosing a tray and door
Mould in bathrooms and showers
Taps and shower valves
How to replace a tap washer
How to replace tap cartridge for quarter turn taps

Earth bonding
Preparing for winter
Advice when doing building work

Power showering in flats
Water pressure
Pressure and stored hot water
Flow and pressure
Water softeners

Boiler problems – what to look out for and when to contact a plumber
How to tell if it’s time to replace your boiler
Boiler breakdowns
Things to consider when looking for a new boiler
Heating Systems - sealed or vented?
Flushing your heating system
How to stop cold spots in your radiators
How to look after your home central heating
Gas Rating
Asbestos Awareness

Please call us for queries or help with anything on 0208 964 6714 (24 hours a day)

Showers - flow and control

With an abundance of shower types on the market, it is important for the consumer to recognise what type of hot and cold system is in the property where the shower is to be installed.

There are two hot and cold systems:

• Low-pressure systems

These systems can be recognised usually by a cold water storage tank being in the loft. This feeds the cold water and the hot water, which is heated usually with a cylinder in an airing cupboard, to the bathroom via gravity. As the cold water storage tank in the loft is usually only one metre from the top of the shower-head, the pressure and flow-rate that this develops, is poor.

A basic shower pump giving a pressure of one bar- is equivalent to having the cold water storage tank ten metres above the shower-head. This type of thermostatic shower valve is most suited to a pumped-type shower to boost both the flow rate and the pressure. This makes the shower feel a lot more powerful and invigorating.

• High-pressure systems

These systems are usually fed directly from the water main in the street. The hot water is generally supplied by a combination boiler / instantaneous water heater or an Unvented Hot Water system. Although the system is high pressure, you must take into consideration the fact that you will only get the pressure and flow-rate through the shower valve that the water supplier is providing to the property and no more than that,

When considering installing a shower-valve, it is important that you have the required mains pressure from the street, to run the shower-valve being considered. All manufacturers provide this information for each of their valves.