HMO Disaster not enough pressure to 6 bathrooms

[Paulx2]

Took on a HMO a couple of years ago.....8 rooms 3 stories with a shared kitchen and 5 bathrooms. Got a builder in who said it would be possible to put ensuites in every room and he started the work.

6 rooms with ensuites are virtually complete and all throughout he has been saying we can only test once the showers are wired in whether everything works.

Well, I have got nervous and I asked a plumber to come and have a look. He is saying it's a disaster and basically I will have to rip everything out and start again as the system at the property is gravity fed and that he can't drain the tank and fit a pump and tank because the mains pipe is 15mm throughout the whole property.

Absolutely no idea what to do at this point and am pretty devastated as we've sunk so much money into the place.

The HMO is all electric with no gas and there are those small water heaters in the rooms for the sinks. All in all, it's a nightmare. Any advice gratefully received. Cheers in advance.

 

[Ben-gee]

When you say ‘showers wired in’, are they all electric showers?
If so , 6 electric showers will likely be over 212 Amps if all run together so that will also be a Major Issue. (You are highly unlikely to have more than 100 A incoming to the property)

On what basis was the work taken on? This doesn’t seem a very professional set-up.

 

[Paulx2]

When you say ‘showers wired in’, are they all electric showers?
If so , 6 electric showers will likely be over 212 Amps if all run together so that will also be a Major Issue. (You are highly unlikely to have more than 100 A incoming to the property)

On what basis was the work taken on? This doesn’t seem a very professional set-up.

Hi Ben,
We have a very large electrical set up there (inherited) with each room having its own key meter. I don't think electricity is an issue but I may be wrong. Thanks for responding.

 

[ShaunCorbs]

Do you have a 3 phase meter eg should have 8 big wires going in and out ?

 

[Paulx2]

Yes, it's 3 phase. I'll get some photos.

 

[Murdoch]

So the OP trusted a builder with the plumbing design - oh dear

should have got a proper plumber involved

 

[Paulx2]

So the OP trusted a builder with the plumbing design - oh dear

should have got a proper plumber involved

Love posts like this

 

[Murdoch]

Love posts like this

Trust me, so do we when people think they are saving money and the outcome is likely a far bigger bill

 

[Paulx2]

Trust me, so do we when people think they are saving money and the outcome is likely a far bigger bill

Actually bought the property with that set up, was 5 shower rooms already in but I came here for a bit of advice.
Glad you find it funny. All the best.

 

[Chuck]

Actually bought the property with that set up, was 5 shower rooms already in but I came here for a bit of advice.

It's a question of horses for courses.

You'll need a plumber with relevant experience designing 'commercial' (as opposed to 'domestic') systems. Look under 'building services engineers' as well as 'plumbers'.

If you need to sue the builder to recover costs incurred by their incompetence the same firm should be able to provide a report on the work done by your builder that can be used as evidence. With any legal action, remember that (a) you can't get blood out of a stone, and (b) don't throw good money after bad.

If you want to inform yourself of the sort of technical things that need to be considered when plumbing HMOs use the search box at the top right of this page. The topic has been discussed several times over the last few years in the context of HMOs, small hotels, sports changing rooms, etc.

 

[Paulx2]

Thank you Chuck.

Very much appreciated