Low Water Pressure

[iano]

Hi, I have a Combi Burner installed for heating water. The property is medium size, 1 Bedroom, Bathroom, Kithchen, Rads all at ground level. I've learned that a common problem with Combi Burner's is that the water flow is only good when using one appliance, e.g. using shower but flush toilet and flow is interupted. Will installing a booster pump solve the problem? Is it difficult to do?

[VikingHouse]

Hi Iano

We fit a lot of Condensing Combi Boilers and we sometimes have to fit pumps in parts of Dublin with low water pressure.
You will need to put back in the water tank if you are putting in a pump. I would recommend only to have the pump/tank operating the shower and leave the rest of the house operating as normal.
You could also get a valve fitted to turn off the water to the rest of the house while you were having your shower which you could turn back on when you were finished.

[heinbloed]

If you're using your own private well/borehole then a larger expansion barrel might do the trick as well.The pump would switch on a a certain pressure and automatically switches of at a certain pressure. So it wouldn't run all the time. This device which gives the signal to the pump can be adjusted to a higher pressure.
If your toilet cistern is not in permanent need it might help to reduce the inflow to it. So instead of filling up within 20 sec. go for 40sec. or 60sec. or the like.This would reduce the pressure demand to the mains.
The pipe leading from the road/pump to your home might also be to thin or flattened or bended in a "to small angle", restricting the flow. If you're connected to the public mains supply then check if the main valve-on the road,leading to your house- is fully opened.

[iano]

Hi, thanks for the replies. I should have stated that the building is an extension to an existing house with seperate supply of water (eixtsting has a traditional tank, etc.) with no problems with flow or pressure.

The local council have checked both supplies and the pressure from the 'road' is within specification to both parts of the house.

We are now considering consolidating the supply into one. This would allow us to feed both places from the one tank. This would increase the overall number of rads to 12, 2 kitchens, 2 bathrooms.

Do you foresee any problems with this system? Would we have to increase the tank size?