mixer shower and pump pipe work HELP PLEASE

[normannew]

want to fit a mixer shower and pump in my bathroom and just a couple of questions, got a 1.5 bar grundfos niagara pump and thinking of installing under my bath, and what I am hoping to do is tee off my bath hot tap pipe (22mm) that comes from HW cylinder and tee off my mains fed cold tap then fitting a pressure reducing valve between the tee and pump inlet so it doesn't drop pressure to my bath tap, doing it this way will save a lot of pipe work from CW tank in loft and from HW cylinder in airing cupboard, will I have any problems doing it this way?

 

[turnpin]

HI Normannew and welcome
in my opinion whilst your plans may save you time and effort its definately not the correct way to install this pump always install your pump as per manufacturers instructions with dedicated supplies to the pump also its wise to install it where it can be easily acessed for
maintenance . Good luck regards turnpin

 

[PlumbBobBob]

hi normannew what you're suggesting would save you a lot of work but it would not be correct. the pump needs a dedicated feed for both hot and cold as turnpin has already said also the pump needs to kept relatively cool so under the bath wouldn't be a good place unless you're going to leave the bath panel off. the pump really needs to be situated at the base of the hot water tank in the airing cupboard as per the manufacturers instructions, fitting it anywhere else will probably invalidate the guarantee.

 

[royston]

As said above should be tank fed.

 

[normannew]

with putting the pump in airing cupboard would have to go back up into the loft from the outlets on the pump (can't go under floor from airing cupboard to bathroom as I have a tiled bathroom floor that I don't want to rip up) across the loft roof trusses and down the bathroom stud wall where mixer shower will be positioned, note my pipes I will be running will still be lower by a foot of the bottom of cold tank will this be detrimental to anything by going all the way back up to loft pump performance, flow of water etc

 

[Blackcatgas]

with putting the pump in airing cupboard would have to go back up into the loft from the outlets on the pump (can't go under floor from airing cupboard to bathroom as I have a tiled bathroom floor that I don't want to rip up) across the loft roof trusses and down the bathroom stud wall where mixer shower will be positioned, note my pipes I will be running will still be lower by a foot of the bottom of cold tank will this be detrimental to anything by going all the way back up to loft pump performance, flow of water etc

Welcome to the world of a proffesional plumber, try it your way though it will probably work (though not as good as it should).

 

[normannew]

Welcome to the world of a proffesional plumber, try it your way though it will probably work (though not as good as it should).

"try it my way" with a pressure reducing valve on mains cold then to the pump and hot feed on my bath to the pump? is the only problem doing it this way the pump overheating under the bath? or would something go wrong with the way I want to plumb it? I would've thought my airing cupboard would be warmer than under the bath

 

[Hankers]

Norman, you have been given the correct advice by everyone but clearly seem to want to go ahead with your method anyway. Here is my view.
If a plumber connected it in the way you describe he would rightly be called a cowboy because its a lazy bodge method of adding a pump.
It will work... but if someone turns on another tap or other water outlet while the pump is in use you risk starving the pump of water, this will cause it to overheat and ruin the seals.
If you have any problem with the pump, the manufacturer will say the warrenty has been invalidated

 

[Blackcatgas]

"try it my way" with a pressure reducing valve on mains cold then to the pump and hot feed on my bath to the pump? is the only problem doing it this way the pump overheating under the bath? or would something go wrong with the way I want to plumb it? I would've thought my airing cupboard would be warmer than under the bath

Why would you want to reduce the mains pressure cold feed only to run it to the pump to increase the pressure again. I take back what I said, dont do it your way, it will end in tears and expense.

 

[blue moon]

hi, stuart turner pumps have a dedicated pump installation advise line which has saved many a plumbers headaches, give them a call on 0844 98 000 97 and you will get the advice from the manufacturers point which im sure will be similar to all the above.

 

[normannew]

Norman, you have been given the correct advice by everyone but clearly seem to want to go ahead with your method anyway. Here is my view.
If a plumber connected it in the way you describe he would rightly be called a cowboy because its a lazy bodge method of adding a pump.
It will work... but if someone turns on another tap or other water outlet while the pump is in use you risk starving the pump of water, this will cause it to overheat and ruin the seals.
If you have any problem with the pump, the manufacturer will say the warrenty has been invalidated

I did want to go ahead with it that way because that is easier, but also want to do it right, was just weighing up pro's and cons for doing it that way

 

[normannew]

Why would you want to reduce the mains pressure cold feed only to run it to the pump to increase the pressure again. I take back what I said, dont do it your way, it will end in tears and expense.

I was going to reduce mains pressure then put it through pump to balance hot and cold, as I'm not a plumber didn't know if this was right but all of you have helped me come to conclusion that I need to put pump in airing cupboard, but will have to run outlet pipes from pump back up to loft and then down my bathroom wall just hope I don't lose too much pressure that way, outlet pipes will still be run below cw tank height

 

[PlumbBobBob]

that's exactly how i ran my pipes to the shower no problems with loss of power or temperature.

 

[normannew]

that's exactly how i ran my pipes to the shower no problems with loss of power or temperature.

will do that then, thanks very much

 

[hihowudoin]

i believe you will be contravening Water Regulations and be liable to prosecution, as it is illegal to pump mains water. power showers generally have independent H + C supplies from CWS + HWC